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Starship Troopers

Play trailer Poster for Starship Troopers R 1997 2h 9m Sci-Fi Action Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
72% Tomatometer 81 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.
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Starship Troopers

Starship Troopers

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Critics Consensus

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

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Critics Reviews

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Lisa Alspector Chicago Reader Mar 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. Go to Full Review Jason Bailey Vice Nov 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. Go to Full Review Nick Schager Lessons of Darkness Jun 20, 2005
B+
More effective as a satire than as an action extravaganza. Go to Full Review Patrick Cavanaugh The Wolfman Cometh Sep 12, 2025
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. Go to Full Review Ray Pride Newcity Feb 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. Go to Full Review Todd James Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Alberta) Aug 6, 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. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Austin B @RT35999578 5 days ago Austin B Boswellllgmailcom See more Robert P @Superbad 5 days ago Starship Troopers = a *3.5* star Movie! See more Erik J @RottyMcRotface Aug 13, 2026 Solid flick. Worth the watch. See more Kyllian D @RT79022429 Aug 11, 2026 A film that couldn’t be read properly when it came out. Everything in it is pushed one notch too far, and that’s the point, but it never winks at you, so in 1997 people just saw a dumb action movie. Watch it now and the satire is impossible to miss, which completely flips the ending. It plays the game straight and that’s what makes it fun. A classic. See more Daniel L @Hotchopeppa Aug 2, 2026 Arguably one of the greatest action sci-fi movies of all time. Hands down one of my all time favourite movies. Still an amazing watch today. See more Muhammed U @RT91286855 Jul 8, 2026 Starship troopers is a fun and action-packed sci-fi movie that surprised me with how much deeper it is than it first appears i was young watching this movie, it felt so nostalgic. While it delivers exciting battles against giant alien bugs, it also satirizes militarism, propaganda, and blind patriotism in a clever way. The visual effects still hold up well for its time, and the intense combat keeps the story engaging. It's not just a war movie—it's a smart social commentary wrapped in entertaining science fiction. Overall, I found it both thrilling and thought-provoking. See more Read all reviews
Starship Troopers

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Cast & Crew

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Paul Verhoeven

Director

Casper Van Dien

Johnny Rico

Dina Meyer

Dizzy Flores

Denise Richards

Carmen Ibanez

Jake Busey

Ace Levy

Neil Patrick Harris

Carl Jenkins

Movie Clips

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Starship Troopers

Starship Troopers: Official Clip - We Need Soldiers! Starship Troopers: Official Clip - We Need Soldiers! 2:12 Now Playing Starship Troopers: Official Clip - The Brain Bug Starship Troopers: Official Clip - The Brain Bug 2:02 Now Playing Starship Troopers: Official Clip - The Mother Bug Starship Troopers: Official Clip - The Mother Bug 2:11 Now Playing Starship Troopers: Official Clip - Welcome to the Rough Necks Starship Troopers: Official Clip - Welcome to the Rough Necks 2:08 Now Playing Starship Troopers: Official Clip - Bugs! Bugs! We've Got Bugs! Starship Troopers: Official Clip - Bugs! Bugs! We've Got Bugs! 2:13 Now Playing Starship Troopers: Official Clip - Ripped Apart Starship Troopers: Official Clip - Ripped Apart 2:12 Now Playing Starship Troopers: Official Clip - Anatomy of a Sand Beetle Starship Troopers: Official Clip - Anatomy of a Sand Beetle 1:24 Now Playing Starship Troopers: Official Clip - Basic Training Starship Troopers: Official Clip - Basic Training 2:12 Now Playing View more videos

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Starship Troopers

Starship Troopers (1997) Starship Troopers (1997) Starship Troopers (1997) The Mobile Infantry fight off the bug horde while trapped within the Whiskey Outpost on Planet "P." On the Planet Klendathu, troopers prepare an attack against giant alien insects. A Mobile Infantry trooper (Curnal Aulisio) is captured by a Hopper Bug. Starship pilots Zander Barcalow (Patrick Muldoon) and Carmen Ibanez (Denise Richards) on alert in bug tunnels against possible attack by giant alien insects. (Left) - Casper Van Dien stars as Johnny Rico, a Mobile Infantry trooper in the war against giant alien insects. (Right) Dina Meyer stars as Dizzy Flores, one of the young Mobile Infantry recruits. View more photos

Movie Info

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)
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