Movie

Empire of the Sun

1987 · 153 min

A sweeping, emotionally intense journey through a child's loss of innocence amid war, visually stunning and haunting.

Tagline: To survive in a world at war, he must find a strength greater than all the events that surround him.
Overview: Jamie Graham, a privileged English boy, is living in Shanghai when the Japanese invade and force all foreigners into prison camps. Jamie is captured with an American sailor, who looks out for him while they are in the camp together. Even though he is separated from his parents and in a hostile environment, Jamie maintains his dignity and youthful spirit, providing a beacon of hope for the others held captive with him.
How it feels: Melancholic, earnest, tense and bleak. Slow-burning and demanding.
About: Coming-of-age, survival, war, isolation
Content: Mild violence, gore and language. No sexual content.
Note: Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

Your rating is saved. See your suggestions, or find titles like this one below.

Rate it, and Mesmero finds titles that feel like it. You do not need an account.

Add to a list: Empire of the Sun

Rent in the US

More options Data from JustWatch

In your watch list

More like this

Like Empire of the Sun, but

Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Full breakdown

Tone: melancholicstrength 3 of 3
earneststrength 2 of 3
tensestrength 2 of 3
bleakstrength 1 of 3
Pacing: slow-burn, 1 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
Attention: demanding, 4 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
Themes: coming-of-age
survival
war
isolation
identity
Places: big city
countryside
prison
Era: period
Audience: teen
Form: nonlinear
Content intensity: Gore mild
Language mild
Violence mild
Sex none