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Small Soldiers

Play trailer Poster for Small Soldiers PG-13 Released Jul 10, 1998 1h 50m Comedy Action Fantasy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
52% Tomatometer 52 Reviews 45% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
When teenager Alan (Gregory Smith) buys a set of Commando Elite action figures, he's unaware that they have been programmed with military technology. The toys, including leader Chip (Tommy Lee Jones), spring to life and start taking their directives seriously, beginning by "killing" their enemies, the toy Gorgonites. But Archer (Frank Langella) and the Gorgonites won't go down without a fight. Alan gets caught in the middle of the war, as does his neighbor and crush, Christy (Kirsten Dunst).
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Critics Consensus

Small Soldiers has plenty of visual razzle-dazzle, but the rote story proves disappointingly deficient in director Joe Dante's trademark anarchic spirit.

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Critics Reviews

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Jennie Punter Toronto Star Small Soldiers is no Toy Story, but director Joe Dante delivers a moderately entertaining movie with high production values and low-brow parody. Rated: 2/5 Feb 19, 2025 Full Review Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly Rated: C+ Sep 7, 2011 Full Review Liam Lacey Globe and Mail ...this smells like a script slapped together around a toy-product launch. Rated: 2/4 Apr 12, 2002 Full Review Douglas Davidson Elements of Madness You’d be forgiven for not being aware of this particular title, but, for some, it remains a good time between its outstanding cast, memorable moments, and killer official soundtrack. Jul 31, 2025 Full Review Danielle Solzman Solzy at the Movies Small Soldiers is a bold genre mashup that doesn’t always hit its targets, but there’s no denying its ambition or craft. Rated: 3.5/5 Jul 22, 2025 Full Review Justin Brown Medium Popcorn This movie's completely out of control but it's incredibly entertaining. Rated: 3/5 Feb 26, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Thom N If I have time explain to you why this movie is terrific, you will never understand. A high-powered critique of suburban banality and the military-industrial complex, whose visuals are still as gorgeous as the day they were made, this classic by Joe Dante (The Howling, Gremlins) manages to say a lot without ever really getting ham-fisted about it, and does so with an amazing ensemble cast of mostly those considered unknowns or recent has-beens. It's a quick watch, and time flies while it's on. A young Kirsten Dunst is innocent and sweet, and it's great to see Phil Hartman one more time before his untimely murder. Watch this movie - it's good for people of many ages. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/23/25 Full Review Stephen C Funny in 1 hour and 50 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $55,100,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In memory of actor and comedian Phil Edward Hartmann (September 24th, 1948-May 28th, 1998)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/04/25 Full Review Reily M It's Pretty Good, Could Have Been Better. It's Basically A DreamWorks Version Of Disney And Pixar's Toy Story, Kinda. The Characters Are Good, The Score Could Have Been Better But Is Alright, The Acting Is Very Good, And It Is Enjoyable To Watch. 4/5 Stars Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/12/25 Full Review Delazea B One of the best movies out there, people don’t truly understand the value of the movie wish there was a sequel maybe one day! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/26/25 Full Review Brad S. R It shows its age, to be sure, but there's a lot of upbeat silliness to love in this '90s pre-teen boy action flick. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/20/25 Full Review Hawk W I wish they made a sequel Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/08/25 Full Review Read all reviews
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Small Soldiers

Small Soldiers: Official Clip - The Gorgonites Fight Back Small Soldiers: Official Clip - The Gorgonites Fight Back 1:52 Small Soldiers: Official Clip - Have I Got a Shock for You Small Soldiers: Official Clip - Have I Got a Shock for You 1:42 Small Soldiers: Official Clip - Bombshells Small Soldiers: Official Clip - Bombshells 2:12 Small Soldiers: Official Clip - Pitching the Real Thing Small Soldiers: Official Clip - Pitching the Real Thing 1:59 Small Soldiers: Official Clip - Activating the Troops Small Soldiers: Official Clip - Activating the Troops 1:35 Small Soldiers: Official Clip - Bicycle Chase Small Soldiers: Official Clip - Bicycle Chase 2:12 Small Soldiers: Official Clip - Phil Surrenders Small Soldiers: Official Clip - Phil Surrenders 1:43 Small Soldiers: Official Clip - Speech of Speeches Small Soldiers: Official Clip - Speech of Speeches 1:02 Small Soldiers: Official Clip - Keeper of Encarta Small Soldiers: Official Clip - Keeper of Encarta 2:11 Small Soldiers: Official Clip - I Always Hated These Things Small Soldiers: Official Clip - I Always Hated These Things 1:59 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis When teenager Alan (Gregory Smith) buys a set of Commando Elite action figures, he's unaware that they have been programmed with military technology. The toys, including leader Chip (Tommy Lee Jones), spring to life and start taking their directives seriously, beginning by "killing" their enemies, the toy Gorgonites. But Archer (Frank Langella) and the Gorgonites won't go down without a fight. Alan gets caught in the middle of the war, as does his neighbor and crush, Christy (Kirsten Dunst).
Director
Joe Dante
Producer
Michael Finnell, Colin Wilson
Screenwriter
Gavin Scott, Adam Rifkin, Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio
Distributor
20th Century Fox, DreamWorks SKG
Production Co
DreamWorks SKG, Amblin Entertainment, Universal Pictures
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Comedy, Action, Fantasy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 10, 1998, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
May 1, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$55.1M
Runtime
1h 50m
Sound Mix
SDDS, DTS, Surround, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
35mm, Scope (2.35:1)
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