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)
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
- All cast & crew
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 Starship Troopers: Deleted Scenes (1998)
- SoundtracksInto It
Produced by Terry Becker (as Terri Becker), Bernard Estardy, Zoë Poledouris and Christopher Tyng
Written and Performed by Zoë Poledouris
Top review
Swiftian satire at its finest
Let me start off with saying that I hate Heinlein. No, don't get me wrong, he's one of the best serious sci-fi writers of the 20-th century, along with Asimov, Stanislav Lem and Yefremov. But it is social and political aspect of his works that I just can't accept. It goes like some strange blend of Italian fascism, overwhelming racism and purely Kiplingian he-man romance. And Paul Verhauven does great job satirizing precisely this aspect of Heinlein's writing in his "Starship troopers".
Now, merely good satire is basically source material concept developed into absurd via its internal logic and laughed at. Truly great satire reconstructs the utopian world of writer's dream... just emphasizing some over-the-tops and inconsistencies. And it brings this world to rubbish to laugh at. It is always subtle and razor-sharp. That is why people often don't get it and despise "Starship Troopers" as a no-brainer actioner. It is far from that.
Enter the squeaky-clean fascist utopia. Everyone is mild-mannered and clean shaven, well-educated and white (living in Buenos-Aires, mind you). Big clean biology class, where all students must cut live bugs in halves to know what's inside (and for most part they like it). Your unfortunate exam results are readily available on the large screen for everybody to see, as well as your name in KIA list later. And don't forget to enlist - otherwise you can't vote and impress your girl. Kill big dangerous bugs - as an infantry trooper and with rifle fire only. Want to learn more - get a citizenship? Do you still want to live in such a society?
One of the best moments for me is when friends show our hero his KIA card through the regeneration-camera glass. They are all very happy indeed... and don't see anything wrong with it. While I'm getting shivers down my spine. It's really scary, they don't understand what IS wrong with it! And the downbeat ending, even if it doesn't look this way... joyful fascism goes strong! No bugs could defeat it! (and, you know, now you may enlist at an earlier age. Want to learn more?)
Summary: very good movie combining awesome CGI with profound satirical insight into technocratic fascist utopia.
Now, merely good satire is basically source material concept developed into absurd via its internal logic and laughed at. Truly great satire reconstructs the utopian world of writer's dream... just emphasizing some over-the-tops and inconsistencies. And it brings this world to rubbish to laugh at. It is always subtle and razor-sharp. That is why people often don't get it and despise "Starship Troopers" as a no-brainer actioner. It is far from that.
Enter the squeaky-clean fascist utopia. Everyone is mild-mannered and clean shaven, well-educated and white (living in Buenos-Aires, mind you). Big clean biology class, where all students must cut live bugs in halves to know what's inside (and for most part they like it). Your unfortunate exam results are readily available on the large screen for everybody to see, as well as your name in KIA list later. And don't forget to enlist - otherwise you can't vote and impress your girl. Kill big dangerous bugs - as an infantry trooper and with rifle fire only. Want to learn more - get a citizenship? Do you still want to live in such a society?
One of the best moments for me is when friends show our hero his KIA card through the regeneration-camera glass. They are all very happy indeed... and don't see anything wrong with it. While I'm getting shivers down my spine. It's really scary, they don't understand what IS wrong with it! And the downbeat ending, even if it doesn't look this way... joyful fascism goes strong! No bugs could defeat it! (and, you know, now you may enlist at an earlier age. Want to learn more?)
Summary: very good movie combining awesome CGI with profound satirical insight into technocratic fascist utopia.
helpful•4037
- sergey_smirnow
- Oct 8, 2002
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official sites
- 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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