Small Soldiers

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Small Soldiers

PG-13

Released Jul 10, 1998

1h 50m

Comedy

Action

Fantasy

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Popcornmeter

51%

Tomatometer

53 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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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

Liam Lacey

Globe and Mail

...this smells like a script slapped together around a toy-product launch.

Rated: 2/4

Apr 12, 2002

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Kenneth Turan

Los Angeles Times

Though it starts promisingly, the picture ends as a standoff between the affection Dante and company bring to the project and its increasingly frenetic and tiresome emphasis on what special effects can make its little people do.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 14, 2001

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

The special effects are the selling point, and even they’re not always easy on the eyes.

Rated: 2/4

Aug 11, 2025

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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

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Audience Member

Im writing to hate on these dweeb movie “critics”. This movie is a child classic! It’s not supposed to be a masterpiece and invoke a certain aroma of feeling, it’s supposed to be bad ass and make kids want to buy and play with the toys from it. Stop being dweebs.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/09/25

Full Review

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

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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

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Joe Dante

Director

Kirsten Dunst

Christy Fimple

Gregory Smith

Alan Abernathy

Jay Mohr

Larry Benson

Phil Hartman

Phil Fimple

Kevin Dunn

Stuart Abernathy

Small Soldiers: Official Clip - The Gorgonites Fight Back

1:52

Small Soldiers: Official Clip - Have I Got a Shock for You

1:42

Small Soldiers: Official Clip - Bombshells

2:12

Small Soldiers: Official Clip - Pitching the Real Thing

1:59

Small Soldiers: Official Clip - Activating the Troops

1:35

Small Soldiers: Official Clip - Bicycle Chase

2:12

Small Soldiers: Official Clip - Phil Surrenders

1:43

Small Soldiers: Official Clip - Speech of Speeches

1:02

Small Soldiers: Official Clip - Keeper of Encarta

2:11

Small Soldiers: Official Clip - I Always Hated These Things

1:59

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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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