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Universal Soldier

Play trailer 2:25 Poster for Universal Soldier R Released Jul 10, 1992 1h 44m Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
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34% Tomatometer 35 Reviews 47% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
During the Vietnam War, soldier Luc Deveraux (Jean-Claude Van Damme) finds that his superior officer, Andrew Scott (Dolph Lundgren), has turned violently deranged, and the two fight to the death. After their bodies are retrieved, they are placed into a secret program in which they are reanimated and trained to become unquestioning killing machines. While Devereaux and Scott initially have no memory of their former lives, glimpses of their pasts start to return, rekindling their intense conflict.
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Universal Soldier

Universal Soldier

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Critics Consensus

Universal Soldier unites a pair of veteran action stars behind a potentially intriguing premise, but on this battlefield, entertainment value is largely AWOL.

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Critics Reviews

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Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader Both Van Damme and Lundgren are about as interesting as soup cans, so the main appeal of the picture is waiting for these soup cans to puncture or flatten each other in ever more horrific ways. Rated: 2/4 May 26, 2022 Full Review Kim Newman Empire Magazine This thick-headed item is miraculously well put together. Rated: 3/5 Nov 13, 2017 Full Review Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly Rated: D+ Sep 7, 2011 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews ...an irresistibly broad setup that's employed to expectedly (and appropriately) larger-than-life effect by Emmerich... Rated: 3/4 Apr 11, 2021 Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Fortunately, the characters all behave seriously, frequently stifling any hint of empathy - but their dialogue and actions scream of silliness. Rated: 6/10 Sep 25, 2020 Full Review Leigh Paatsch Herald Sun (Australia) All brawn, no brains, but grows on you if you can prefer your action in one big, dumb hulking slab of alpha-male aggression. Rated: 2.5/5 Jul 20, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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NoneYa B One of the greatest action films of the 90’s Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/22/24 Full Review Legendaryrey 7 One of my favorite movies of all time and the best movie of universal soldier franchise. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/16/24 Full Review Nico B Underrated flick. It's stupid, but so stupid that it's fun again. Van Damme works well as an almost emotionless soldier and Lundgren is a wonderfully over-the-top villain who makes necklaces out of other people's ears. Why? Because he is evil and crazy. The action in this film is unironically well done and really fun and the pacing is great too. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 10/05/24 Full Review Audience Member The best movie of universal soldier franchise, one of the best movies of Jean Claude Van-Damme & Dolph Lundgren and one of the best movies of Roland Emmerich. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/02/24 Full Review Audience Member I remember watching this movie over and over on vhs as a kid and loved it. Even when I view it today it's gives a nostalgia feeling. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/26/24 Full Review Jerod S In the robocop and terminator era, Universal Soldier tried to bring in a veteran plot line that was meh. Van Damme brings a lot of fight but not a lot of character. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 06/29/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Universal Soldier

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis During the Vietnam War, soldier Luc Deveraux (Jean-Claude Van Damme) finds that his superior officer, Andrew Scott (Dolph Lundgren), has turned violently deranged, and the two fight to the death. After their bodies are retrieved, they are placed into a secret program in which they are reanimated and trained to become unquestioning killing machines. While Devereaux and Scott initially have no memory of their former lives, glimpses of their pasts start to return, rekindling their intense conflict.
Director
Roland Emmerich
Producer
Craig Baumgarten, Joel B. Michaels, Allen Shapiro
Screenwriter
Richard David Rothstein, Christopher Leitch, Dean Devlin
Distributor
TriStar Pictures
Production Co
IndieProd, Centropolis Film Productions, Carolco Pictures Inc.
Rating
R
Genre
Sci-Fi
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 10, 1992, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 8, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$35.4M
Runtime
1h 44m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SR, CDS
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