Tropic Thunder

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Tropic Thunder

R

Released Aug 13, 2008

1h 47m

Comedy

Action

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

82%

Tomatometer

251 Reviews

71%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller), pampered action superstar, sets out for Southeast Asia to take part in the biggest, most-expensive war movie produced, but soon after filming begins, he and his co-stars, Oscar-winner Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr.), comic Jeff Portnoy (Jack Black) and the rest of the crew, must become real soldiers when fighting breaks out in that part of the jungle.

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Critics Consensus

With biting satire, plenty of subversive humor, and an unforgettable turn by Robert Downey, Jr., Tropic Thunder is a triumphant late summer comedy.

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

The bulk of this movie, alas, comes down to weak sketches held together by ridiculous action, vast explosions and more or less everything else it should be parodying.

Jan 27, 2018

Full Review

Glenn Kenny

MUBI

Given the incoherence of its satirical aspirations (the film does end with a suggestion that everyone involved still loves this business we call show), and finally too scattershot to really make it as parody, Tropic Thunder is best appreciated as a goof.

Dec 13, 2017

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Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Rated: B+

Feb 18, 2012

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James Croot

The Post NZ

Gleefully un-PC, Tropic is still one of the most hilarious Hollywood comedies of the 21st Century.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 16, 2023

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Rude and crude, Tropic Thunder displays minimal mercy toward its targets.

Rated: 3.5/4

Feb 15, 2023

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Tropic Thunder certainly has flaws but at the end of the day, it is an over-the-top satire that shows everything that's wrong with Hollywood.

Aug 13, 2021

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Audience Member

Not a fan of this movie. But some of the scenes are really funny. Downey Jr. And Cruise were really great

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

05/05/25

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Audience Member

One of the worst movies I've ever seen

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

04/26/25

Full Review

Chuck M

Do not hesitate to throat punch anybody that says this movie sucks and unfriend them in life quickly. You don't need that kind of negativity!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/17/25

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Steffan K

It's the first movie in years that made me laugh so much. Only saw it for the first time today. What a gem!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/24/25

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Michael V

Get Some. Tropic Thunder is a 2008 satirical action comedy film directed by Ben Stiller 🚁 While, the first half is much better than the second half, this is a fun and entertaining movie with lots of visual and spoken gags. Definitely one for the boys… It’s very good! 😀 I’d definitely recommend it 👍🏼 A group of self-absorbed actors set out to make the most expensive war film ever. After ballooning costs force the studio to cancel the movie, the frustrated director refuses to stop shooting, leading his cast into the jungles of Southeast Asia, where they encounter real bad guys.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/21/25

Full Review

Johannes S

A wacky, fun, and completely random movie with great performances. Got some great laughs out of it.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/07/25

Full Review

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Ben Stiller

Director

Ben Stiller

Tugg Speedman

Jack Black

Jeff Portnoy

Robert Downey Jr.

Kirk Lazarus

Nick Nolte

Four Leaf Tayback

Steve Coogan

Damien Cockburn

Tropic Thunder: Official Clip - I'm Not Gay

2:12

Tropic Thunder: Official Clip - Simple Jack

0:46

Tropic Thunder: Official Clip - I Killed a Panda

1:43

Tropic Thunder: Official Clip - Rick Peck, Hollywood Agent

1:46

Tropic Thunder: Official Clip - Epic Explosion

2:13

Tropic Thunder: Official Clip - Most Dramatic War Movie

2:13

Tropic Thunder: Official Clip - Never Go Full Retard

2:13

Tropic Thunder: Official Clip - Tugg Speedman, Action Hero

1:10

Tropic Thunder: Official Clip - You're My Really Cool Brother

2:13

Tropic Thunder: Official Clip - What Do You Mean, You People?

1:09

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Synopsis

Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller), pampered action superstar, sets out for Southeast Asia to take part in the biggest, most-expensive war movie produced, but soon after filming begins, he and his co-stars, Oscar-winner Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr.), comic Jeff Portnoy (Jack Black) and the rest of the crew, must become real soldiers when fighting breaks out in that part of the jungle.

Director: Ben Stiller
Producer: Ben Stiller, Stuart Cornfeld, Eric McLeod
Screenwriter: Ben Stiller, Justin Theroux, Etan Cohen
Distributor: DreamWorks SKG, Paramount Pictures
Production Co: DreamWorks SKG, Red Hour Films
Rating: R (Pervasive Language|Drug Material|Sexual References|Violent Content)
Genre: Comedy, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 13, 2008, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 29, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $110.4M
Runtime: 1h 47m

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