Empire of the Sun (1987)

Empire of the Sun poster
Theatrical Performance
Domestic Box Office $22,238,696Details
Further financial details...

Metrics

Opening Weekend:$1,314,509 (5.9% of total gross)
Legs:6.99 (domestic box office/biggest weekend)
Domestic Share:100.0% (domestic box office/worldwide)
Theater counts:225 opening theaters/673 max. theaters, 3.9 weeks average run per theater
Infl. Adj. Dom. BO $60,585,562

Latest Ranking on Cumulative Box Office Lists

RecordRankAmount
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 3,601-3,700) 3,620 $22,238,696
All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 5,101-5,200) 5,199 $22,238,696

See the Box Office tab (Domestic) and International tab (International and Worldwide) for more Cumulative Box Office Records.


Watch Now On

Amazon VOD:Amazon
iTunes:iTunes
Google Play:Google Play

Movie Details

Domestic Releases: December 9th, 1987 (Limited) by Warner Bros.
Video Release: April 13th, 1993 by Warner Home Video
MPAA Rating: PG
Running Time: 150 minutes
Comparisons: vs. The Color Purple
Create your own comparison chart…
Keywords: Coming of Age, World War II, Coming-of-Age Drama, 1940s, POW, Set in Shanghai, Set in Japan, Missing Child, Family Reunion
Source:Based on Fiction Book/Short Story
Genre:Drama
Production Method:Live Action
Creative Type:Historical Fiction
Production/Financing Companies: Amblin Entertainment
Production Countries: United States
Languages: English

Ranking on other Records and Milestones

RecordRankAmountChart
Date		Days In
Release
New Year's Day (All Movies, 3-Day, Inflation Adjusted) 350 $8,511,788 Jan 1, 1988 26
Christmas (All Movies, 3-Day, Inflation Adjusted) 351 $8,191,935 Dec 25, 1987 19

Compare this performance with other movies…

Domestic Cumulative Box Office Records

RecordRankRevenue
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 3,601-3,700) 3,620 $22,238,696
All Time Domestic Inflation Adjusted Box Office (Rank 2,701-2,800) 2,723 $60,585,562
All Time Domestic Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank 2,901-3,000) 2,994 $22,238,696
Top 1987 Movies at the Domestic Box Office 49 $22,238,696
All Time Domestic Box Office for Based on Fiction Book/Short Story Movies (Rank 701-800) 753 $22,238,696
All Time Domestic Box Office for Live Action Movies (Rank 3,101-3,200) 3,167 $22,238,696
All Time Domestic Box Office for Historical Fiction Movies (Rank 301-400) 357 $22,238,696
All Time Domestic Box Office for Drama Movies (Rank 601-700) 640 $22,238,696
All Time Domestic Box Office for PG Movies (Rank 801-900) 804 $22,238,696
All Time Domestic Box Office for Warner Bros. Movies (Rank 501-600) 549 $22,238,696

Weekend Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Dec 11, 1987 9 $1,314,509   225 $5,842   $1,387,297 1
Dec 25, 1987 9 $2,914,509   673 $4,331   $6,610,192 3
Jan 1, 1988 10 $3,183,207 +9% 673 $4,730   $11,977,789 4
Jan 8, 1988 10 $1,822,927 -43% 673 $2,709   $14,574,930 5
Jan 22, 1988 16 $770,000   409 $1,883   $17,398,531 7

Daily Box Office Performance

Weekly Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Dec 25, 1987 10 $5,098,899   673 $7,576   $8,794,582 4
Jan 1, 1988 10 $3,957,421 -22% 673 $5,880   $12,752,003 5

Supporting Cast

John Malkovich    Basie
Miranda Richardson    Mrs. Victor
Nigel Havers    Dr. Rawlins
Christian Bale    Jim
Joe Pantoliano    Frank Demarest
Leslie Phillips    Maxton
Robert Stephens    Mr. Lockwood
Paul McGann    Lt. Price
David Neidorf    Tiptree
Ralph Seymour    Cohen
Ben Stiller    Dainty
Masato Ibu    Sgt. Nagata
Emily Richards    Jim's Mother
Rupert Frazer    Jim's Father
Peter Gale    Mr. Victor
Takatoro Kataoka    Kamikaze Boy Pilot
Zhai Nai She    Yang
Guts Ishimatsu    Sgt Uchida
Emma Piper    Amy Matthews
James Walker    Mr. Radik
Jack Dearlove    Singing Prisoner
Anna Turner    Mrs. Gilmour
Ann Castle    Mrs. Phillips
Yvonne Gilan    Mrs. Lockwood
Ralph Michael    Mr. Partridge
Sybil Maas    Mrs. Hug
Eric Flynn    British Prisoner
James Greene    British Prisoner
Simon Harrison    British Prisoner
Barrie Houghton    British Prisoner
Paula Hamilton    British Prisoner
Thea Ranft    British Prisoner
Tony Boncza    British Prisoner
Nigel Leach    British Prisoner
Sheridan Forbes    British Prisoner
Peter Copley    British Prisoner
Barbara Bolton    British Prisoner
Francesca Longrigg    British Prisoner
Samantha Warden    British Prisoner
Kieron Jecchinis    American Prisoner
Michael Crossman    American Prisoner
Gary Parker    American Prisoner
Ray Charleson    American Prisoner
Burt Kwouk    Mr. Chen
Tom Danaher    Col. Marshall
Kong Guo-Jun    Chinese Youth
Takao Yamada    Japanese Truck Driver
Hiro Arai    Japanese Sergeant, Air Field
Marc de Jong    Frenchman
Susan Leong    Amah
Nicholas Dastor    Paul
Edith Platten    Paul's Sister
Shirley Chantrell    Chinese Cook at Detention Centre
John Moore    Mr. Pym
Ann Queensberry    Mrs. Pym
Sylvia Marriott    Mrs. Partridge
Frank Duncan    Mrs. Hug's Father
Ronald Eng    Mr. Chen's Aide
Za Chuan Ce    Shopkeeper
Shi Rui Qing    Shopkeeper
Lu Ye    Merchant
Guo Xue Liang    Merchant
Ge Yan Zhao    Merchant

For a description of the different acting role types we use to categorize acting perfomances, see our Glossary.

Production and Technical Credits

Steven Spielberg    Director
J.G. Ballard    Story Creator
Tom Stoppard    Screenwriter
Steven Spielberg    Producer
Kathleen Kennedy    Producer
Frank Marshall    Producer
Robert Shipiro    Executive Producer
Norman Reynolds    Production Designer
Michael Kahn    Editor
Allen Daviau    Director of Photography
John Williams    Composer
Chris Kenny    Associate Producer
David Tomblin    Assistant Director
Frank Marshall    Second Unit Director
Ted Morley    Production Manager
Charles Bishop    Supervising Art Director
Maurice Fowler    Supervising Art Director
Norman Dorme    Supervising Art Director
Frederick Hole    Art Director
Harry Cordwell    Set Decorator
Michael D. Ford*    Set Decorator
Jimmy Devis    Second Unit Camera
Bob Ringwood    Costume Designer
Patrick Wheatley    Costume Supervisor
Colin Wilson    Associate Editor
Martin Cohen    Associate Editor
Craig Bassett    Associate Editor
Colin Charles    Sound Mixer
Tony Dawe    Sound Mixer
Robert Knudson    Re-recording Mixer
Don Digirolamo    Re-recording Mixer
John Boyd    Re-recording Mixer
Charles L. Campbell    Supervising Sound Editor
Louis L. Edemann    Supervising Sound Editor
Larry Carow    Sound Editor
Lucy Coldsnow    Sound Editor
Jim Isaacs    Sound Editor
Chuck Neely    Sound Editor
Rodger Sword    Sound Editor
Ken Wannberg    Music Editor
Paul Engelen    Make up
Vera Mitchell    Hairstylist

The bold credits above the line are the "above-the-line" credits, the other the "below-the-line" credits.


  1. Summary
  2. News
  3. Box Office
  4. International
  5. Video Sales
  6. Cast & Crew
  7. Trailer

Metrics

Opening Weekend:$1,314,509 (5.9% of total gross)
Legs:6.99 (domestic box office/biggest weekend)
Domestic Share:100.0% (domestic box office/worldwide)
Theater counts:225 opening theaters/673 max. theaters, 3.9 weeks average run per theater
Infl. Adj. Dom. BO $60,585,562

Latest Ranking on Cumulative Box Office Lists

RecordRankAmount
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 3,601-3,700) 3,620 $22,238,696
All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 5,101-5,200) 5,199 $22,238,696

See the Box Office tab (Domestic) and International tab (International and Worldwide) for more Cumulative Box Office Records.


Watch Now On

Amazon VOD:Amazon
iTunes:iTunes
Google Play:Google Play

Movie Details

Domestic Releases: December 9th, 1987 (Limited) by Warner Bros.
Video Release: April 13th, 1993 by Warner Home Video
MPAA Rating: PG
Running Time: 150 minutes
Comparisons: vs. The Color Purple
Create your own comparison chart…
Keywords: Coming of Age, World War II, Coming-of-Age Drama, 1940s, POW, Set in Shanghai, Set in Japan, Missing Child, Family Reunion
Source:Based on Fiction Book/Short Story
Genre:Drama
Production Method:Live Action
Creative Type:Historical Fiction
Production/Financing Companies: Amblin Entertainment
Production Countries: United States
Languages: English

Ranking on other Records and Milestones

RecordRankAmountChart
Date		Days In
Release
New Year's Day (All Movies, 3-Day, Inflation Adjusted) 350 $8,511,788 Jan 1, 1988 26
Christmas (All Movies, 3-Day, Inflation Adjusted) 351 $8,191,935 Dec 25, 1987 19

Supporting Cast

John Malkovich    Basie
Miranda Richardson    Mrs. Victor
Nigel Havers    Dr. Rawlins
Christian Bale    Jim
Joe Pantoliano    Frank Demarest
Leslie Phillips    Maxton
Robert Stephens    Mr. Lockwood
Paul McGann    Lt. Price
David Neidorf    Tiptree
Ralph Seymour    Cohen
Ben Stiller    Dainty
Masato Ibu    Sgt. Nagata
Emily Richards    Jim's Mother
Rupert Frazer    Jim's Father
Peter Gale    Mr. Victor
Takatoro Kataoka    Kamikaze Boy Pilot
Zhai Nai She    Yang
Guts Ishimatsu    Sgt Uchida
Emma Piper    Amy Matthews
James Walker    Mr. Radik
Jack Dearlove    Singing Prisoner
Anna Turner    Mrs. Gilmour
Ann Castle    Mrs. Phillips
Yvonne Gilan    Mrs. Lockwood
Ralph Michael    Mr. Partridge
Sybil Maas    Mrs. Hug
Eric Flynn    British Prisoner
James Greene    British Prisoner
Simon Harrison    British Prisoner
Barrie Houghton    British Prisoner
Paula Hamilton    British Prisoner
Thea Ranft    British Prisoner
Tony Boncza    British Prisoner
Nigel Leach    British Prisoner
Sheridan Forbes    British Prisoner
Peter Copley    British Prisoner
Barbara Bolton    British Prisoner
Francesca Longrigg    British Prisoner
Samantha Warden    British Prisoner
Kieron Jecchinis    American Prisoner
Michael Crossman    American Prisoner
Gary Parker    American Prisoner
Ray Charleson    American Prisoner
Burt Kwouk    Mr. Chen
Tom Danaher    Col. Marshall
Kong Guo-Jun    Chinese Youth
Takao Yamada    Japanese Truck Driver
Hiro Arai    Japanese Sergeant, Air Field
Marc de Jong    Frenchman
Susan Leong    Amah
Nicholas Dastor    Paul
Edith Platten    Paul's Sister
Shirley Chantrell    Chinese Cook at Detention Centre
John Moore    Mr. Pym
Ann Queensberry    Mrs. Pym
Sylvia Marriott    Mrs. Partridge
Frank Duncan    Mrs. Hug's Father
Ronald Eng    Mr. Chen's Aide
Za Chuan Ce    Shopkeeper
Shi Rui Qing    Shopkeeper
Lu Ye    Merchant
Guo Xue Liang    Merchant
Ge Yan Zhao    Merchant

For a description of the different acting role types we use to categorize acting perfomances, see our Glossary.

Production and Technical Credits

Steven Spielberg    Director
J.G. Ballard    Story Creator
Tom Stoppard    Screenwriter
Steven Spielberg    Producer
Kathleen Kennedy    Producer
Frank Marshall    Producer
Robert Shipiro    Executive Producer
Norman Reynolds    Production Designer
Michael Kahn    Editor
Allen Daviau    Director of Photography
John Williams    Composer
Chris Kenny    Associate Producer
David Tomblin    Assistant Director
Frank Marshall    Second Unit Director
Ted Morley    Production Manager
Charles Bishop    Supervising Art Director
Maurice Fowler    Supervising Art Director
Norman Dorme    Supervising Art Director
Frederick Hole    Art Director
Harry Cordwell    Set Decorator
Michael D. Ford*    Set Decorator
Jimmy Devis    Second Unit Camera
Bob Ringwood    Costume Designer
Patrick Wheatley    Costume Supervisor
Colin Wilson    Associate Editor
Martin Cohen    Associate Editor
Craig Bassett    Associate Editor
Colin Charles    Sound Mixer
Tony Dawe    Sound Mixer
Robert Knudson    Re-recording Mixer
Don Digirolamo    Re-recording Mixer
John Boyd    Re-recording Mixer
Charles L. Campbell    Supervising Sound Editor
Louis L. Edemann    Supervising Sound Editor
Larry Carow    Sound Editor
Lucy Coldsnow    Sound Editor
Jim Isaacs    Sound Editor
Chuck Neely    Sound Editor
Rodger Sword    Sound Editor
Ken Wannberg    Music Editor
Paul Engelen    Make up
Vera Mitchell    Hairstylist

The bold credits above the line are the "above-the-line" credits, the other the "below-the-line" credits.

Compare this performance with other movies…

Domestic Cumulative Box Office Records

RecordRankRevenue
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 3,601-3,700) 3,620 $22,238,696
All Time Domestic Inflation Adjusted Box Office (Rank 2,701-2,800) 2,723 $60,585,562
All Time Domestic Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank 2,901-3,000) 2,994 $22,238,696
Top 1987 Movies at the Domestic Box Office 49 $22,238,696
All Time Domestic Box Office for Based on Fiction Book/Short Story Movies (Rank 701-800) 753 $22,238,696
All Time Domestic Box Office for Live Action Movies (Rank 3,101-3,200) 3,167 $22,238,696
All Time Domestic Box Office for Historical Fiction Movies (Rank 301-400) 357 $22,238,696
All Time Domestic Box Office for Drama Movies (Rank 601-700) 640 $22,238,696
All Time Domestic Box Office for PG Movies (Rank 801-900) 804 $22,238,696
All Time Domestic Box Office for Warner Bros. Movies (Rank 501-600) 549 $22,238,696

Weekend Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Dec 11, 1987 9 $1,314,509   225 $5,842   $1,387,297 1
Dec 25, 1987 9 $2,914,509   673 $4,331   $6,610,192 3
Jan 1, 1988 10 $3,183,207 +9% 673 $4,730   $11,977,789 4
Jan 8, 1988 10 $1,822,927 -43% 673 $2,709   $14,574,930 5
Jan 22, 1988 16 $770,000   409 $1,883   $17,398,531 7

Daily Box Office Performance

Weekly Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Dec 25, 1987 10 $5,098,899   673 $7,576   $8,794,582 4
Jan 1, 1988 10 $3,957,421 -22% 673 $5,880   $12,752,003 5

Worldwide Cumulative Box Office Records

RecordRankRevenue
All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 5,101-5,200) 5,199 $22,238,696
All Time Worldwide Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank 4,301-4,400) 4,396 $22,238,696
Top 1987 Movies at the Worldwide Box Office 52 $22,238,696
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Based on Fiction Book/Short Story Movies (Rank 901-1,000) 982 $22,238,696
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Live Action Movies (Rank 4,501-4,600) 4,514 $22,238,696
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Historical Fiction Movies (Rank 501-600) 542 $22,238,696
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Drama Movies (Rank 1,101-1,200) 1,101 $22,238,696
All Time Worldwide Box Office for PG Movies (Rank 901-1,000) 917 $22,238,696
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Warner Bros. Movies (Rank 501-600) 596 $22,238,696