Starship Troopers

Play trailer

Starship Troopers

R

1997

2h 9m

Sci-Fi

Action

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

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.

Read Critics Reviews

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.

Go to Full Review

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.

Go to Full Review

Nick Schager

Lessons of Darkness

06/20/2005

B+

More effective as a satire than as an action extravaganza.

Go to Full Review

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.

Go to Full Review

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.

Go to Full Review

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.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Matthew D

@OceanSage 1d

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.

See more

Enrique R.

@EnriqueRamosLovesMovies 1d

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.

See more

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.

See more

Joseph T

@Joesysgabosh Feb 7

Worth watching top 10 movie

See more

Griffith J

@griffithxjohnson Jan 6

It’s cheesy & campy but fully aware of itself while subtly adding themes of fascism & military glorification. Taking tons of inspiration from 60’s & 70’s science fiction, the tone is familiar & inviting. Adapting tough source material by writing a more narrative focused story works well. Yet what is special about the book is heavily glossed over & ultimately makes for an underwhelming film. It’s bold with the outrageous violence & use of CGI/practical effects but paired with some solid social commentary on the philosophy of war.

See more

Ray C

@RT17651982 Nov 22

Starship Troopers is cheesy and full of wooden acting. But, it's also a lot of fun.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

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

View more videos

Universal Soldier: The Return

5%

24%

Universal Soldier: The Return

Watchlist

Total Recall

81%

79%

Total Recall

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Total Recall

The Matrix Revolutions

33%

60%

The Matrix Revolutions

Watchlist

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines

70%

46%

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines

Judge Dredd

22%

31%

Judge Dredd

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Judge Dredd

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

New on Netflix in August 2022

Beyond Barbarella: Celebrating 50 Years of Sexy Sci-Fi

Who Should The Aliens Fight Next?

View more photos

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)

Most Popular at Home Now