Editing Empire of the Sun (film) (section)

==Reception {{anchor|Release|Box office}}==
''Empire of the Sun'' was given a [[limited release]] on 11 December 1987 before being widely released on Christmas Day, 1987. The film earned $22.24 million in North America,<ref name="Boxofficemojo">[http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=empireofthesun.htm " Empire of the Sun"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511060137/http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=empireofthesun.htm |date=May 11, 2013 }}. ''[[Box Office Mojo]]'' ([[Amazon.com]]). Retrieved: September 16, 2008.</ref> and $44.46 million in other countries, accumulating a worldwide total of $66.7 million, earning more than its budget but still considered a box office disappointment by Spielberg.{{#tag:ref|In 1989, Spielberg was quoted as saying: "...''Empire of the Sun'' wasn't a very commercial project, it wasn't going to have a broad audience appeal... I've earned the right to fail commercially."<ref>[[#refFriedman2000|Friedman and Notbohn 2000]], p. 137.</ref>|group=N}}<ref name="visit" />

===Critical response===
{{Anchor|Critics|Critical response}}
Review aggregation website [[Rotten Tomatoes]] gives the film an approval rating of 77% based on reviews from 64 critics, with an average rating of 6.8/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "One of Steven Spielberg's most ambitious efforts of the 1980s, ''Empire of the Sun'' remains an under-rated gem in the director's distinguished filmography."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/empire_of_the_sun/ |title=Empire of the Sun (1987) |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]] |access-date=September 6, 2024 |archive-date=August 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120820101439/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/empire_of_the_sun/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Metacritic]] calculated an average score of 62 out of 100 based on 22 reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/empire-of-the-sun |title=Empire of the Sun Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=July 19, 2018 |archive-date=October 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024195452/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/empire-of-the-sun |url-status=live }}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.cinemascore.com/ |access-date=2022-02-28 |website=[[CinemaScore]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

J. G. Ballard gave positive feedback, and was especially impressed with Christian Bale's performance.<ref name="Sheen" /> Critical reaction was not universally affirmative,<ref name="faber" /> but [[Richard Corliss]] of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' stated that Spielberg "has energized each frame with allusive legerdemain and an intelligent density of images and emotions".<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,966149,00.html |title=Cinema: The Man-Child Who Fell to Earth EMPIRE OF THE SUN |last=Corliss |first=Richard |author-link=Richard Corliss |date=December 7, 1987 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |access-date= July 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080608174827/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0%2C9171%2C966149%2C00.html |archive-date=June 8, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Janet Maslin]] from ''[[The New York Times]]'' said Spielberg's movie-conscious spirit gave it "a visual splendor, a heroic adventurousness and an immense scope that make it unforgettable".<ref>[[Janet Maslin|Maislin, Janet]]. [https://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/09/movies/moviesspecial/09SUN.html "Empire of the Sun"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326221046/http://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/09/movies/moviesspecial/09SUN.html |date=March 26, 2017 }}. ''[[The New York Times]]'', December 9, 1987. Retrieved: September 16, 2008.</ref> [[Julie Salamon]] of ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' wrote that the film was "an edgy, intelligent script by playwright [[Tom Stoppard]], Spielberg has made an extraordinary film out of Mr. Ballard's extraordinary war experience."<ref>Salmon, Julie. [http://www.metacritic.com/movie/empire-of-the-sun/critic-reviews "Empire of the Sun"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024055918/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/empire-of-the-sun/critic-reviews |date=October 24, 2012 }}. ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'', December 9, 1987. Retrieved: January 31, 2011.</ref>{{Better source needed|date=November 2020}} [[J. Hoberman]] from ''[[The Village Voice]]'' decried that the serious subject was undermined by Spielberg's "shamelessly kiddiecentric" approach.<ref name="faber" /> [[Roger Ebert]] gave a mixed reaction, "Despite the emotional potential in the story, it didn't much move me. Maybe, like the kid, I decided that no world where you can play with airplanes can be all that bad."<ref>[[Roger Ebert|Ebert, Roger]]. [http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19871211/REVIEWS/712110301/1023 "Empire of the Sun"]. ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'', December 11, 1987. Retrieved: September 16, 2008. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120925223919/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F19871211%2FREVIEWS%2F712110301%2F1023 |date=September 25, 2012 }}</ref> On his [[At the Movies (1986 TV program)|TV show]] with [[Gene Siskel]], Ebert said that the film "is basically a good idea for a film that never gets off the ground". Siskel added, "I don't know what the film is about. It's so totally confused and taking things from different parts. On one hand, if it wants to say something about a child's-eye view of war, you got a movie made by [[John Boorman]] called ''[[Hope and Glory (film)|Hope and Glory]]'' that was just released that is much better, and much more daring in showing the whimsy that children's view of war is. On the other hand, this film wants to hedge its bet and make it like an adventure film, so you've got like ''[[Indiana Jones]]'' with the John Malkovich character helping the little kid through all the fun of war. I don't know what Spielberg wanted to do."<ref>[http://www.retrojunk.com/content/movie/15/index/ "Empire of the Sun"]. ''Siskel & Ebert''. Disney-ABC Domestic Television. December 12, 1987. Television.</ref>

===Awards {{anchor|Awards|Accolades}}===
[[File:Suo Gan - Susan Bullock (Darlun Fy Mam).oga|thumb|The opening song is an old [[Wales|Welsh]] folk song: ''[[Suo Gân]]'' or ''Huna Blentyn'' ([[English language|Eng]]: 'Sleep My Child'); here sung by Susan Bullock.]]
The film won awards from the [[National Board of Review of Motion Pictures]] for [[National Board of Review Award for Best Film|Best Film]] and [[National Board of Review Award for Best Director|Best Director]], and Bale received a special citation for Best Performance by a Juvenile Actor, the first National Board award bestowed on a child actor.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 17, 1988 |title='Empire of Sun' said best film by National Board |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7124370// |newspaper=The San Bernardino County Sun |location=San Bernardino, CA |agency=AP |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |access-date=October 20, 2016 |archive-date=August 31, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831045231/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7124370// |url-status=live }} {{Open access}}</ref><ref>[http://www.nationalboardofreview.org/award-years/1987/ "National Board of Review 1987 Award Winners"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190109043135/http://www.nationalboardofreview.org/award-years/1987/ |date=January 9, 2019 }}. ''National Board of Review''. Retrieved: October 21, 2016.</ref> At the [[60th Academy Awards]], ''Empire of the Sun'' was nominated for [[Academy Award for Best Production Design|Art Direction]], [[Academy Award for Best Cinematography|Cinematography]], [[Academy Award for Best Costume Design|Costume Design]] ([[Bob Ringwood]]), [[Academy Award for Best Film Editing|Film Editing]], [[Academy Award for Best Original Score|Original Music Score]], and [[Academy Award for Best Sound|Sound]] ([[Robert Knudson]], [[Don Digirolamo]], [[John Boyd (sound engineer)|John Boyd]] and [[Tony Dawe]]). It did not convert any of the nominations into awards.<ref>[http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/oscarlegacy/1980-1989/60nominees.html "Nominees & Winners for the 60th Academy Awards"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100408200704/http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/oscarlegacy/1980-1989/60nominees.html |date=2010-04-08 }} ''[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]]''. Retrieved: January 31, 2011.</ref> [[Allen Daviau]], who was nominated as cinematographer, publicly complained, "I can't second-guess the Academy, but I feel very sorry that I get nominations and Steven doesn't. It's his vision that makes it all come together, and if Steven wasn't making these films, none of us would be here."<ref name="visit" /> The film won awards for cinematography, sound design, and music score at the [[42nd British Academy Film Awards]]. The nominations included [[Production designer|production design]], [[costume design]], and [[film adaptation|adapted screenplay]].<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/BAFTA_Awards/1989 "42nd British Academy Awards"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081231153055/http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/BAFTA_Awards/1989 |date=December 31, 2008 }}. ''[[IMDb]]''. Retrieved: September 17, 2008.</ref> Spielberg was honored for this work by the [[Directors Guild of America]],<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/Directors_Guild_of_America_USA/1988 "DGA Awards: 1988"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090127052642/http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/Directors_Guild_of_America_USA/1988 |date=January 27, 2009 }}. ''[[IMDb]]''. Retrieved: September 17, 2008.</ref> while the [[American Society of Cinematographers]] honored [[Allen Daviau]].<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/American_Society_of_Cinematographers_USA/1988 "ASC Awards: 1988"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040225100001/http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/American_Society_of_Cinematographers_USA/1988 |date=February 25, 2004 }}. ''[[IMDb]]''. Retrieved: September 17, 2008.</ref> ''Empire of the Sun'' was nominated for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama|Best Motion Picture (Drama)]] and [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score|Original Score]] at the [[45th Golden Globe Awards]].<ref>[http://www.goldenglobes.org/browse/year/1987 "The 45th Annual Golden Globe Awards (1988)"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124174439/http://www.goldenglobes.org/browse/year/1987 |date=November 24, 2010 }}. ''[[Golden Globes]]''. Retrieved: January 31, 2011.</ref> John Williams earned a [[Grammy Award]] nomination.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/Grammy_Awards/1989 "Grammy Awards: 1988"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070806092928/http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/Grammy_Awards/1989 |date=August 6, 2007 }}. ''[[IMDb]]''. Retrieved: September 17, 2008.</ref>