WatchThis

Movies like

Empire of the Sun

Loved the vibe? Here are ten films that hit similar notes—with match scores, reasons to watch, and where to stream in the US.

Empire of the Sun poster

Why people love it

Empire of the Sun works as a drama movie with a point of view—fans quote moments, but they also argue about what the film is actually saying about power, desire, or survival. The drama and history blend is the engine: it lets the film shift registers without feeling like two different movies stitched together.

dramahistorywarrewatchable

Runtime 2h 33m · ★ 7.5

Your 10 recommendations

Filter your results

Mood

Streaming (US)

Era

Showing 10 of 10 picks

  1. 96match

    1.The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2008)

    7.8 · Drama · War · History · 1h 34m

    Why you'll love it

    The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2008) is the natural next step after Empire of the Sun: same drama DNA, different perspective. The tense streak and history elevate it well above a simple genre exercise.

    Watch on

    • fuboTV
    • Paramount Plus Premium
    • Paramount Plus Essential
    • Paramount+ Amazon Channel
    • Amazon Video(Rent)
    • Apple TV Store(Rent)
    • Google Play Movies(Rent)
    • YouTube(Rent)
    + Save for later
  2. 94match

    2.The Thin Red Line (1998)

    7.4 · Drama · History · War · 2h 51m

    Why you'll love it

    Fans of Empire of the Sun who respond to its drama will find The Thin Red Line (1998) immediately familiar. Both films share a history sensibility without ever feeling like carbon copies of each other.

    Watch on

    • Amazon Video(Rent)
    • Apple TV Store(Rent)
    • Google Play Movies(Rent)
    • YouTube(Rent)
    • Fandango At Home(Rent)
    • Amazon Video(Buy)
    • Apple TV Store(Buy)
    • Google Play Movies(Buy)
    + Save for later
  3. 92match

    3.The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

    7.8 · Drama · History · War · 2h 42m

    Why you'll love it

    There's a reason Empire of the Sun fans keep landing on The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) — the drama is unmistakably related even when the plots diverge. Both films operate on the same emotional frequency, especially in their third acts.

    Watch on

    • Philo
    • Amazon Video(Rent)
    • Apple TV Store(Rent)
    • Google Play Movies(Rent)
    • YouTube(Rent)
    • Fandango At Home(Rent)
    • Spectrum On Demand(Rent)
    • Amazon Video(Buy)
    + Save for later
  4. 90match

    4.Heaven & Earth (1993)

    6.7 · History · War · Drama · 2h 20m

    Why you'll love it

    Heaven & Earth draws from the same drama well as Empire of the Sun, channeling history in ways that feel unmistakably related. The 1993 film makes a natural companion watch — similar in spirit but distinctly its own.

    Watch on

    • Amazon Video(Rent)
    • Apple TV Store(Rent)
    • Google Play Movies(Rent)
    • YouTube(Rent)
    • Fandango At Home(Rent)
    • Amazon Video(Buy)
    • Apple TV Store(Buy)
    • Google Play Movies(Buy)
    + Save for later
  5. 88match

    5.The Great Escape (1963)

    7.9 · Adventure · Drama · War · 2h 53m

    Why you'll love it

    The Great Escape (1963) captures the drama appeal of Empire of the Sun without simply imitating it. The war streak running through both films is what puts The Great Escape at the top of any "if you liked…" shortlist.

    Watch on

    • Amazon Prime Video
    • MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel
    • Philo
    • Amazon Prime Video with Ads
    • Amazon Video(Rent)
    • Apple TV Store(Rent)
    • Google Play Movies(Rent)
    • YouTube(Rent)
    + Save for later
  6. 86match

    6.The Last Emperor (1987)

    7.6 · Drama · History · 2h 43m

    Why you'll love it

    The drama appeal of Empire of the Sun — that tense edge, the history — translates cleanly into The Last Emperor (1987). Different setting, same essential satisfaction.

    Watch on

    • HBO Max
    • HBO Max Amazon Channel
    • Criterion Channel
    • Cinemax Amazon Channel
    • Cinemax Apple TV Channel
    • Amazon Video(Rent)
    • Apple TV Store(Rent)
    • Fandango At Home(Rent)
    + Save for later
  7. 84match

    7.Beasts of No Nation (2015)

    7.6 · Drama · War · 2h 17m

    Why you'll love it

    The filmmakers behind Beasts of No Nation (2015) clearly understood what makes drama work — the same quality that keeps Empire of the Sun rewatchable. Expect the same tense rhythm, executed with a fresh angle.

    Watch on

    • Netflix
    • Netflix Standard with Ads
    + Save for later
  8. 82match

    8.Suite Française (2015)

    7.2 · Drama · Romance · War · 1h 43m

    Why you'll love it

    Suite Française (2015) is the kind of film Empire of the Sun fans discover and immediately send to their group chat. The drama overlap is real, but it's the bittersweet emotional pull that seals the recommendation.

    Watch on

    • Amazon Prime Video
    • Amazon Prime Video with Ads
    • Amazon Video(Rent)
    • Apple TV Store(Rent)
    • Google Play Movies(Rent)
    • YouTube(Rent)
    • Fandango At Home(Rent)
    • Amazon Video(Buy)
    + Save for later
  9. 80match

    9.The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017)

    6.8 · Drama · History · Comedy · 1h 45m

    Why you'll love it

    The Man Who Invented Christmas shares Empire of the Sun's gift for drama — the 2017 film delivers history without overstaying its welcome. Consider it required viewing once you've finished rewatching your first pick.

    Watch on

    • HBO Max
    • HBO Max Amazon Channel
    • Cinemax Amazon Channel
    • Cinemax Apple TV Channel
    • Amazon Video(Rent)
    • Apple TV Store(Rent)
    • Google Play Movies(Rent)
    • YouTube(Rent)
    + Save for later
  10. 78match

    10.The Great Raid (2005)

    6.5 · Action · History · War · 2h 12m

    Why you'll love it

    Much of what makes Empire of the Sun compelling — the history, the war — shows up in The Great Raid (2005) in a slightly different form. Both films understand that tense storytelling works best when it trusts the audience.

    Watch on

    • Amazon Video(Rent)
    • Apple TV Store(Rent)
    • Google Play Movies(Rent)
    • YouTube(Rent)
    • Fandango At Home(Rent)
    • Amazon Video(Buy)
    • Apple TV Store(Buy)
    • Google Play Movies(Buy)
    + Save for later

FAQ

What should I watch after Empire of the Sun?
Try The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, The Thin Red Line, The Bridge on the River Kwai—each shares DNA with Empire of the Sun while changing the setting enough to feel fresh.
What genre is Empire of the Sun?
Empire of the Sun (1987) is best described as Drama, History, War. Stores and algorithms use different labels, but that mix is what fans actually recognize on a rewatch.
Is Empire of the Sun worth revisiting?
Viewer scores sit around 7.5/10 on TMDB—high enough that replays are common for people who like this drama lane.

Similar vibes

More movie guides

Browse every "movies like" page on the site—including ones still waiting to be indexed.