Stripes

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3:01

Stripes

R

Released Jun 26, 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

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

Mar 14, 2021

Full Review

Gary Arnold

Washington Post

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

Dec 18, 2015

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

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

Mar 26, 2009

Full Review

Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

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.

Oct 28, 2021

Full Review

Jared Mobarak

Jaredmobarak.com

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

Rated: 7/10

Mar 14, 2021

Full Review

John Ferguson

Radio Times

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

Rated: 3/5

Mar 14, 2021

Full Review

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Stephen C

Funny in 1.75 hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Also available in a director's cut with additional footage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/03/25

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Les N

Slightly dated and low budget....still, a good movie.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/28/25

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Max W

Stripes, despite featuring an excellent cast like Bill Murray and Harold Ramis, suffers from a lightweight script that leans heavily on the tropes of modern slacker comedies. As a result, it struggles to deliver a truly impactful experience.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/20/24

Full Review

Mike W

A fun movie. Warren Oates was great!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/09/24

Full Review

Brent A

10% rating ... I'm sorry, but the plot of this film is absurdley stupid. I may have chuckled once or twice.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

09/15/24

Full Review

Mason M

A fun film, not great but gets much better in the third act. You can't really say anything interesting about a movie as goofy as Stripes. But it is notable for having the longest mud wrestling scene that I've ever seen in a film.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/08/24

Full Review

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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

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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)

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