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

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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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Donald Clarke

Irish Times

The tension between what the film says and what the film does helps support one of a dozen (or so) layers of snarky, self-aware humour.

Oct 18, 2008

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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

Full Review

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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James C

I laughed about 1.5 times (the scene with the directors head for the 1 and a couple of tiny ones elsewhere, eg Simple Jack!). It doesn't play with the conceit at all - surely, a bunch of war in thr jungle things happen and each character reacts as they would? - but it just Ambleside along with scene after scene of 'was there a joke there?!' and Jack Black doing the same routine in each and making it the only film with him in where I didn't laugh at him. RDJ is excellent but still not funny, like you can see he is acting fantastically for what they want from him but it'd not a funny character/idea. It just seems to not go all in on it's own hook and comes out an unfunny, dull mess. I am perplexed how this got good reviews!

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

08/10/25

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Nick M

This might be the funniest movie of all time

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/04/25

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Bradley H.

I could watch it every day

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/02/25

Full Review

Dwayne J.

One of the funniest movies ever

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/26/25

Full Review

Kyle W.

Too dumb for me but I get why people love it. RDJ rocks. 1 and done.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

07/23/25

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Anthony M.

This movie is definitely one of RDJ best roles.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/20/25

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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Tropic Thunder: Tropic Thunder's Best Scenes

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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: Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks SKG
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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