Review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gives the film an approval rating of 75 % based on reviews from 51 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 underrated gem in the director 's distinguished filmography . " By comparison , Metacritic calculated an average score of 62 out of 100 based on 22 reviews , indicating " generally favorable reviews " . J. G. Ballard gave positive feedback , and was especially impressed with Christian Bale 's performance . Critical reaction was not universally affirmative , but Richard Corliss of '' Time '' stated that Spielberg " has energized each frame with allusive legerdemain and an intelligent density of images and emotions . " Janet Maslin from '' The New York Times '' called the film " a visual splendor , a heroic adventurousness and an immense scope that make it unforgettable . " Julie Salamon of '' The Wall Street Journal '' wrote that the film as " an edgy , intelligent script by playwright Tom Stoppard , Spielberg has made an extraordinary film out of Mr. Ballard 's extraordinary war experience . " J. Hoberman from '' The Village Voice '' decried that the serious subject was undermined by Spielberg 's " shamelessly kiddiecentric " approach . Roger Ebert gave a mixed reaction , " Despite the emotional potential in the story , it did n't much move me . Maybe , like the kid , I decided that no world where you can play with airplanes can be all that bad . " On his 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 do n'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 '' 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 do n't know what Spielberg wanted to do . " The film won awards from the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures for Best Film and 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 . At the 60th Academy Awards , '' Empire of the Sun '' was nominated for Art Direction , Cinematography , Editing , Original Music Score , Costume Design ( Bob Ringwood ) , and Sound ( Robert Knudson , Don Digirolamo , John Boyd and Tony Dawe ) . It did not convert any of the nominations into awards . Allen Daviau , who was nominated as cinematographer , publicly complained , " I ca n't second-guess the Academy , but I feel very sorry that I get nominations and Steven does n't . It 's his vision that makes it all come together , and if Steven was n't making these films , none of us would be here . " The film won awards for cinematography , sound design , and music score at the 42nd British Academy Film Awards . The nominations included production design , costume design , and adapted screenplay . Spielberg was honored for this work by the Directors Guild of America , while the American Society of Cinematographers honored Allen Daviau . '' Empire of the Sun '' was nominated for Best Motion Picture ( Drama ) and Original Score at the 45th Golden Globe Awards . John Williams earned a Grammy Award nomination
45th Golden Globe Awards
45th Golden Globe Awards
Empire of the Sun (film)