Starship Troopers

R

Released Nov 7, 1997

2h 9m

Sci-Fi

Action

List

72%

Tomatometer

81 Reviews

70%

Audience Score

100,000+ Ratings

In the distant future, the Earth is at war with a race of giant alien insects. Little is known about the Bugs except that they are intent on the eradication of all human life. But there was a time before the war... A Mobile Infantry travels to distant alien planets to take the war to the Bugs. They are a ruthless enemy with only one mission: Survival of their species no matter what the cost...

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Critics Consensus

A fun movie...if you can accept the excessive gore and wooden acting.

Read Critics Reviews

Lisa Alspector

Chicago Reader

Director Paul Verhoeven blends the conflicting elements of intentional camp and perverse sincerity into a single tone—and he doesn’t resort to simple irony.

Mar 16, 2023

Full Review

Jason Bailey

Vice

In its early scenes, 'Troopers 'is basically a goofy high school movie, complete with love triangles, a big game, and a school dance (and sex) after. Once they've begun infantry training, the flexing of machismo so over the top, it can only be satire.

Nov 14, 2017

Full Review

Nick Schager

Lessons of Darkness

More effective as a satire than as an action extravaganza.

Rated: B+

Jun 20, 2005

Full Review

Don Shanahan

Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast

The biting and ballsy social commentary of Verhoeven still holds up.

Nov 3, 2023

Full Review

Savina Petkova

A Good Movie To Watch

A strong, almost outrageous representation of the military-industrial complex in the States, Verhoeven's sci-fi film benefits from being over the top in everything: its acting, its convoluted plot, its politics.

Rated: 7.7/10

Oct 30, 2023

Full Review

Kristy Strouse

Film Inquiry

Satirical and witty while seemingly bizarre, Starship Troopers flips its source material on its head and creates a memorable science fiction flick. It’s camouflaged by the misdirection that it’s a dumb bug movie when it’s actually quite intelligent.

Sep 8, 2023

Full Review

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Brian C

Unfortunately, it has almost nothing to do with the amazing book by Robert Heinlein. It is a tantrum by Paul Verhoeven over what he thought was fascism in the book. You know, things like service before self and personal responsibility. It's a Great cult classic if you aren't a soy boy who finds it just too aggressively themed with testosterone and overt manly themes....like a willingness to protect other humans and put the greater good before self-interest.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/17/24

Full Review

Sam G

This movie has aged well--it is just as watchable as when it was first released. The F/X are good for the period, there's a reasonable storyline, and the cautionary tale about fascism is even more relevant today than it was over 25 years ago. The acting is wooden and character development is almost non-existent, but this is at its heart a war movie and the trials and tribulations of combatants are universal. Don't bother with any of the sequels--they all lack the visual flair and heart that make the original endearing.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/10/24

Full Review

Todd Andrew B

All around great B film! Definitely one of the best in the genre!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/09/24

Full Review

Audience Member

A pretty gripping and charming yet violent movie that I remember loving as a kid and still do as an adult! Denise Richards is drop dead gorgeous.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/29/24

Full Review

Audience Member

This movie has aged like a fine wine, what a great time watching it every time :)

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/23/24

Full Review

D. M

Really is an absolute must see. It is a campy action flick and the acting is a bit bad at times but overall the movie overcomes that with it's charm.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/19/24

Full Review

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Paul Verhoeven

Director

Casper Van Dien

Johnny Rico

Dina Meyer

Dizzy Flores

Denise Richards

Carmen Ibanez

Jake Busey

Ace Levy

Neil Patrick Harris

Carl Jenkins

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Starship Troopers: Official Clip - We Need Soldiers!

2:12

Starship Troopers: Official Clip - The Brain Bug

2:02

Starship Troopers: Official Clip - The Mother Bug

2:11

Starship Troopers: Official Clip - Welcome to the Rough Necks

2:08

Starship Troopers: Official Clip - Bugs! Bugs! We've Got Bugs!

2:13

Starship Troopers: Official Clip - Ripped Apart

2:12

Starship Troopers: Official Clip - Anatomy of a Sand Beetle

1:24

Starship Troopers: Official Clip - Basic Training

2:12

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Synopsis

In the distant future, the Earth is at war with a race of giant alien insects. Little is known about the Bugs except that they are intent on the eradication of all human life. But there was a time before the war... A Mobile Infantry travels to distant alien planets to take the war to the Bugs. They are a ruthless enemy with only one mission: Survival of their species no matter what the cost...

Director: Paul Verhoeven
Producer: Jon Davison, Alan Marshall
Screenwriter: Robert A. Heinlein, Edward Neumeier
Distributor: Trimark Pictures
Production Co: Touchstone Pictures, Big Bug Pictures, TriStar Pictures
Rating: R (Nudity|Graphic Sci-Fi Violence/Gore|Some Language)
Genre: Sci-Fi, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 7, 1997, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $54.7M
Runtime: 2h 9m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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