Starship Troopers

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Starship Troopers

R

1997

2h 9m

Sci-Fi

Action

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

72%

Tomatometer

82 Reviews

70%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

In the distant future, the Earth is at war with a race of giant alien insects. Little is known about the Bugs except that they are intent on the eradication of all human life. But there was a time before the war... A Mobile Infantry travels to distant alien planets to take the war to the Bugs. They are a ruthless enemy with only one mission: Survival of their species no matter what the cost...

Critics Consensus

A fun movie...if you can accept the excessive gore and wooden acting.

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Lisa Alspector

Chicago Reader

03/16/2023

Director Paul Verhoeven blends the conflicting elements of intentional camp and perverse sincerity into a single tone—and he doesn’t resort to simple irony.

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Jason Bailey

Vice

11/14/2017

In its early scenes, 'Troopers 'is basically a goofy high school movie, complete with love triangles, a big game, and a school dance (and sex) after. Once they've begun infantry training, the flexing of machismo so over the top, it can only be satire.

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Nick Schager

Lessons of Darkness

06/20/2005

B+

More effective as a satire than as an action extravaganza.

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Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

Sep 12

3/5

Might not be the revisionist masterpiece some make it out to be, though its message does hit a lot harder than when audiences merely thought they were getting a bombastic sci-fi spectacle.

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Ray Pride

Newcity

02/13/2025

10/10

Cruelly visionary... You should see Verhoeven’s immense satiric mastery on the big screen, you should. (Beware those who identify with the bugs.) You want to know more.

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Todd James

Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Alberta)

08/06/2024

3/5

Despite the high-tech special effects, director Verhoeven allows for a lot of campy fun. This movie does not take itself seriously.

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David H.

@rivrocks Jun 5

Fun and clever and cute. That's all it was meant to be and that's all that it is.

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Ben S

@RT55799329 May 3

one of the best sci-fi movies ever made, boobs, gore, jokes, and a story line that just hits. loved this movie since the first time i saw it, and will always go back to it on a rainy day! the people of 1997 didnt know shit... i wish they better understood the concept then maybe, just maybe this could have been a franchise that stood the test of time. (but that was not to be) i hope a streaming service decides to buy the rights to this franchise becuase it is a materpeice that was ruined by its lack of budget and pushy fan base at the time, who ultimately paid the price.

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Matthew D

@OceanSage Apr 21

Paul Verhoeven satirizes military propaganda in sheer violent style. Director Paul Verhoeven, of Robocop, Total Recall, and Basic Instinct fame, delivers a sci-fi action-comedy with his brilliant Starship Troopers (1997). Verhoeven is brazenly insulting the pro-war ideals and pro-military enlistment values of America with Starship Troopers. It is not a support the troops movie, but rather a never enlist because you will be maimed, killed, or broken in the army. Verhoeven’s direction is incredibly gripping as he gets you to care about these foolish military hopefuls as they get killed one by one. Verhoeven really got a movie studio to sign up for the most irreverent and controversial satire in decades with Starship Troopers. Verhoeven even goes so far as to blame the government and military for attacking the bugs first a whole galaxy away, much like America invading foreign countries a planet away for their own imperialist intentions.

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Enrique R.

@NostalgicNerd Apr 20

A chessy sci-fi action movie with tons of action sequences and gore. The performances are great. Visually appealing to me, because there are some cool shots. But, overall I give Starship Troopers an B or a 8.5/10.

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RoniM T

@RT41624643 Mar 17

I absolutely loved this film, a lot of commentary on fascist society and blind obedience. I think it's a must-see, not only for the iconic, classic quotes but also for the plot and huge amount of satire, despite being inside a cheesy 90's film.

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Joseph T

@Joesysgabosh Feb 7

Worth watching top 10 movie

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Paul Verhoeven

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Casper Van Dien

Johnny Rico

Dina Meyer

Dizzy Flores

Denise Richards

Carmen Ibanez

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Synopsis

In the distant future, the Earth is at war with a race of giant alien insects. Little is known about the Bugs except that they are intent on the eradication of all human life. But there was a time before the war... A Mobile Infantry travels to distant alien planets to take the war to the Bugs. They are a ruthless enemy with only one mission: Survival of their species no matter what the cost...

Director: Paul Verhoeven
Producer: Jon Davison, Alan Marshall
Screenwriter: Robert A. Heinlein, Edward Neumeier
Distributor: Trimark Pictures
Production Co: Touchstone Pictures, TriStar Pictures, Big Bug Pictures
Rating: R (Nudity|Graphic Sci-Fi Violence/Gore|Some Language)
Genre: Sci-Fi, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 7, 1997, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $54.7M
Runtime: 2h 9m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)