Humans in a fascist, militaristic future wage war with giant alien bugs.Humans in a fascist, militaristic future wage war with giant alien bugs.Humans in a fascist, militaristic future wage war with giant alien bugs.
- Director
- Writers
- Edward Neumeier(screenplay)
- Robert A. Heinlein(book)
- Stars
Top credits
- Director
- Writers
- Edward Neumeier(screenplay)
- Robert A. Heinlein(book)
- Stars
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 3 wins & 16 nominations total
Videos1
- Director
- Writers
- Edward Neumeier(screenplay)
- Robert A. Heinlein(book)
- All cast & crew
- See more cast details at IMDbPro
Storyline
In the distant future high school kids are encouraged to become citizens by joining the military. What they don't know is that they'll soon be engaged in a full scale war against a planet of alien insects. The fight is on to ensure the safety of humanity. —Christopher Van Pelt
- Taglines
- Genocide doesn't compare to this.
- Genres
- Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
- Rated R for graphic sci-fi violence and gore, and for some language and nudity
- Parents guide
Did you know
- TriviaIn a 2016 interview, Casper Van Dien revealed in an interview about a funny incident when he was picking up his two daughters from school, "I went by the line at school to pick up my kids. You know, you drive up to the school and when I get there and there are these six 10 and 8 year old boys hanging out with my daughters. I pull up in the line and the boys go, 'Johnny Rico! Why didn't you tell us your dad was Johnny Rico?' And I said, 'What are you boys doing watching STARSHIP TROOPERS?' And they said, 'Our dads made us watch it with them!' Then my daughters get in the car and my 10-year-old says, 'Dad, were you really naked in STARSHIP TROOPERS?' And I said, 'Yeah,' and she said, 'How could you do that to me?!' Then my 8-year-old says, 'Wait, like naked naked?' And I said "Yup," and she said, 'Oh my God, my life is ruined!' That was the longest three minute ride home I have had in my life."
- GoofsIn the shower scene, Johnny's butt is already red before it is smacked.
- Quotes
Jean Rasczak: This is for all you new people. I have only one rule. Everybody fights, no one quits. If you don't do your job, I'll kill you myself! Welcome to the Roughnecks!
- Alternate versionsSeveral scenes were modified to tone down the movie for showing on Russian television. Aside from cutdowns similar to the Australian version to tone down the violence, of note is a modification to the video feed scene (where Rico 'walks' Carmen through his surroundings, camera in hand) - when his teammates take off their pants to moon the camera, static was added to cover the nudity up. Also, the shower room and the sex scene were slightly cut to remove frontal nudity.
- ConnectionsEdited into Attack of the 50 Foot Monster Mania (1999)
- SoundtracksInto It
Produced by Terry Becker (as Terri Becker), Bernard Estardy, Zoë Poledouris and Christopher Tyng
Written and Performed by Zoë Poledouris
Top review
Better -- and more disturbing -- each time I watch it
This movie never fails to generate strong reactions, both positive and negative.
Much of the negative criticizes the wooden acting, soap-opera beautiful stars, and unreasonably military tactics that lead to an enormous human body count.
But that misses the whole point. The actors and plotlines are supposed to be caricatures of themselves. We are presented with a seemingly utopian society, where everyone is beautiful, the world is united under a single government, and patriotism is rampant.
The further the movie goes, the more the viewer realizes just how horrific this supposed utopia really is. Patriotism is exploited to trick young men and women into going off to a pointless war. The beautiful people are mercilessly chopped to pieces by their insectoid opponents. And the united world government uses its control of the media to brainwash the public into supporting this bloody war.
Yes, the Nazi symbolism is a little heavy-handed. But that's the whole point -- the intertwining of this "perfect" society with such a deeply evil subtext is supposed to be disturbing. What's even more disturbing is how close to our recent (American) history this movie truly is. Yes, it's a caricature, but it's a caricature of a very real and frightening phenomenon.
How different are the government propaganda ads in Starship Troopers from the "Loose Lips Sink Ships" campaign or the "10% for War Bonds" posters in 1940s U.S.? How dangerous is it to have a society where everyone looks the same, thinks the same, and acts the same, even to their own death? This is the message behind Starship Troopers, and it's a chilling one at that.
And for me, it works.
Much of the negative criticizes the wooden acting, soap-opera beautiful stars, and unreasonably military tactics that lead to an enormous human body count.
But that misses the whole point. The actors and plotlines are supposed to be caricatures of themselves. We are presented with a seemingly utopian society, where everyone is beautiful, the world is united under a single government, and patriotism is rampant.
The further the movie goes, the more the viewer realizes just how horrific this supposed utopia really is. Patriotism is exploited to trick young men and women into going off to a pointless war. The beautiful people are mercilessly chopped to pieces by their insectoid opponents. And the united world government uses its control of the media to brainwash the public into supporting this bloody war.
Yes, the Nazi symbolism is a little heavy-handed. But that's the whole point -- the intertwining of this "perfect" society with such a deeply evil subtext is supposed to be disturbing. What's even more disturbing is how close to our recent (American) history this movie truly is. Yes, it's a caricature, but it's a caricature of a very real and frightening phenomenon.
How different are the government propaganda ads in Starship Troopers from the "Loose Lips Sink Ships" campaign or the "10% for War Bonds" posters in 1940s U.S.? How dangerous is it to have a society where everyone looks the same, thinks the same, and acts the same, even to their own death? This is the message behind Starship Troopers, and it's a chilling one at that.
And for me, it works.
helpful•780223
- obiwan26
- Jul 28, 2004
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- Bug Hunt at Outpost Nine
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $105,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $54,814,377
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $22,058,773
- Nov 9, 1997
- Gross worldwide
- $121,214,377
- Runtime2 hours 9 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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