Starship Troopers

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Starship Troopers

R

Released Nov 7, 1997

2h 9m

Sci-Fi

Action

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

72%

Tomatometer

82 Reviews

70%

Popcornmeter

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.

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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

Ray Pride

Newcity

Cruelly visionary... You should see Verhoeven’s immense satiric mastery on the big screen, you should. (Beware those who identify with the bugs.) You want to know more.

Rated: 10/10

Feb 13, 2025

Full Review

Todd James

Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Alberta)

Despite the high-tech special effects, director Verhoeven allows for a lot of campy fun. This movie does not take itself seriously.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 6, 2024

Full Review

Don Shanahan

Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast

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

Nov 3, 2023

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Evan B

Starship Troopers is a great movie that everyone should get around to watching. While I love the movie, the director does not understand the book in which it was based on, but at least it makes the movie a bit more of its own thing.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/26/25

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Richard L

One of the greats in the pantheon of Sci-Fi movies - amazing scale, effects that hold up even after all these years, characters that feel human in spite of the admittedly choppy acting, and more memorable lines and moments than you can shake a stick at. A movie like this could not be made today.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/01/25

Full Review

Ben W

One of my top three All Time Favourite films. Visually, it looks stunning, even 30 yrs after it was released and I'm not just talking about the implausibly attractive cast. The single minded ferocity of arachnids is quite really quite scary...... but perhaps not as much as some of the humans..... It can be enjoyed on so many levels, a rip roaring sci fi epic, a clever take on the seductive appeal of the far right, a coming of age saga. Do yourself a favour, watch, relish and savour this awesome film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/18/24

Full Review

Alexandre N

A great sci-fi/comedy movie, with a fun story that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It sets bases for a franchise with good world building even if the sequel were not very good. The actors are fun to watch and the action scenes are pretty good.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/12/24

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Landon J

Fun cheesy military drama on the surface, but fails to capture any meaning from the source material from what I've heard. Worth a watch for the pure 90's goodness.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/31/24

Full Review

Andy B

A brilliant satire blended with action movie that went over many heads (mine included) at the time of release. Most of the effects still look great and you could argue the themes are more relevant than ever.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/22/24

Full Review

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Paul Verhoeven

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Casper Van Dien

Johnny Rico

Dina Meyer

Dizzy Flores

Denise Richards

Carmen Ibanez

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Ace Levy

Neil Patrick Harris

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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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