The Last Emperor (1987): cast, story & where to watch
1987 · Film · ★ 7.6
Released in 1987, The Last Emperor is a drama and history film directed by Bernardo Bertolucci, running about 163 minutes. “1500 slaves. 353,260,000 royal subjects. Warlords. Concubines. And 2 wives. He was the loneliest boy in the world.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. A dramatic history of Pu Yi, the last of the Emperors of China, from his lofty birth and brief reign in the Forbidden City, the object of worship by half a billion people; through his abdication, his decline and dissolute lifestyle; his exploitation by the invading Japanese, and finally to his obscure existence as just another peasant worker in the People's Republic.
Who’s in it. The Last Emperor stars John Lone as Pu Yi (Adult), Joan Chen as Wan Jung, Peter O'Toole as Reginald Johnston (R.J.) and Vivian Wu as Wen Hsiu, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.6/10, The Last Emperor has been warmly received by audiences. It went on to earn $44M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, Criterion Channel and Cinemax Amazon Channel and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Last Emperor page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Last Emperor tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Last Emperor (1987)?
- In US, The Last Emperor is available to stream on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV and Criterion Channel, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Last Emperor worth watching?
- The Last Emperor holds an audience score of 7.6 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and history. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in The Last Emperor?
- The Last Emperor stars John Lone, Joan Chen, Peter O'Toole, Vivian Wu and Ruocheng Ying.
- When was The Last Emperor released?
- The Last Emperor was released in 1987, with a runtime of about 163 minutes.