Stripes

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3:01

Stripes

R

1981

1h 45m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

41 Reviews

79%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Hard-luck cabbie John Winger (Bill Murray) -- directionless after being fired from his job and dumped by his girlfriend -- enlists in the U.S. Army with his close pal, Russell Ziskey (Harold Ramis). After his barely satisfactory performance in basic training, the irreverent Winger emerges as the figurehead for a ragtag band of Army misfits. However, his hijinks threaten to cause an international scandal when he inadvertently commandeers a military assault vehicle behind enemy lines.

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Critics Consensus

A raucous military comedy that features Bill Murray and his merry cohorts approaching the peak of their talents.

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Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

03/14/2021

Murray is completely democratic in this film: He taunts the strong and the weak alike.

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Gary Arnold

Washington Post

12/18/2015

The premise and star remain out of whack until the rambling, diffuse screenplay finally struggles beyond basic training.

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Variety Staff

Variety

03/26/2009

There's little in the way of art or comic subtlety here, but the film really seems to work.

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

10/28/2021

Reitman, Murray, and Ramis aren't even in the prime of their careers for Stripes but you couldn't tell this from watching the film.

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Jared Mobarak

Jaredmobarak.com

03/14/2021

7/10

The filmmakers take the usual army tropes and find the comedy by creating an atmosphere for the actors to go crazy with improvisation.

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John Ferguson

Radio Times

03/14/2021

3/5

[Murray's] sleazy charisma helps disguise the formulaic "you're in the army now" plotting.

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Joshua M

@Flameon Mar 20

More goofy than funny. It has a good reputation, but I suspect that is more for the stars than the film.

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Jordan S.

@jswez Jan 30

No idea what people find funny about this movie. Literally laughed one time. My least favorite Bill Murray or John Candy film.

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Mary S

@RT31692299 Jan 16

Totally bereft of identifiable plot. Sight gags are not enough to carry the show.

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Vincent S.

@Vin_E_At_The_Movies Jan 14

Bill Murray owns the screen every minute in his finest comedy classic. This beautiful, brilliant, raunchy Army comedy is a comic masterpiece with heart. John Candy, Warren Oates, Harold Ramis and everyone else in the cast, pitch perfect! This movie makes me very happy!

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Melissa L

@Agent99 Jan 13

I saw this in the theatre the year it was released. I don't think I've watched it since. After watching it again, I believe it's stood the test of time...it is still funny.

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John S

@RT92383055 Dec 14

Before the Ghostbusters became a big hit, there was Stripes. This quirky comedy about making a living from Uncle Sam, a great adventure. Nice date and buddy movie.

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Ivan Reitman

Director

Bill Murray

John Winger

Harold Ramis

Russell Ziskey

Warren Oates

Sgt. Hulka

P.J. Soles

Stella

Sean Young

Louise

Stripes: Official Clip - We're Mutants

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Stripes: Official Clip - Razzle-Dazzle at Graduation

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Stripes: Official Clip - Chicks Dig Me

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Stripes: Official Clip - The Aunt Jemima Treatment

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Stripes: Official Clip - Hulka Blows Up

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Stripes: Official Clip - Psycho and Ox

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Stripes: Official Clip - Willing to Learn

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Stripes: Official Clip - You're Going Nowhere, John

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Stripes: Trailer 1

3:01

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Synopsis

Hard-luck cabbie John Winger (Bill Murray) -- directionless after being fired from his job and dumped by his girlfriend -- enlists in the U.S. Army with his close pal, Russell Ziskey (Harold Ramis). After his barely satisfactory performance in basic training, the irreverent Winger emerges as the figurehead for a ragtag band of Army misfits. However, his hijinks threaten to cause an international scandal when he inadvertently commandeers a military assault vehicle behind enemy lines.

Director: Ivan Reitman
Producer: Daniel Goldberg, Ivan Reitman
Screenwriter: Len Blum, Daniel Goldberg, Harold Ramis
Distributor: RCA/Columbia, Columbia Pictures, Columbia TriStar Home Video
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 26, 1981, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Runtime: 1h 45m
Sound Mix: Dolby, Stereo
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, 1.66:1, Flat (1.85:1)