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Small Soldiers

  • 19981998
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
98K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,417
348
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Tommy Lee Jones, Ernest Borgnine, Jim Brown, George Kennedy, Frank Langella, and Clint Walker in Small Soldiers (1998)
Trailer
Play trailer0:31
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Action
  • Adventure
  • Comedy

When missile technology is used to enhance toy action figures, the toys soon begin to take their battle programming too seriously.When missile technology is used to enhance toy action figures, the toys soon begin to take their battle programming too seriously.When missile technology is used to enhance toy action figures, the toys soon begin to take their battle programming too seriously.

IMDb RATING
6.2/10
98K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,417
348
  • Director
    • Joe Dante
  • Writers
    • Gavin Scott
    • Adam Rifkin
    • Ted Elliott
  • Stars
    • Kirsten Dunst
    • Gregory Smith
    • David Cross
Top credits
  • Director
    • Joe Dante
  • Writers
    • Gavin Scott
    • Adam Rifkin
    • Ted Elliott
  • Stars
    • Kirsten Dunst
    • Gregory Smith
    • David Cross
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 168User reviews
    • 96Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 4 nominations

    Videos1

    Small Soldiers
    Trailer 0:31
    Small Soldiers

    Photos256

    George Kennedy in Small Soldiers (1998)
    Frank Langella in Small Soldiers (1998)
    Tommy Lee Jones, Ernest Borgnine, Jim Brown, Bruce Dern, and George Kennedy in Small Soldiers (1998)
    Kirsten Dunst and Gregory Smith in Small Soldiers (1998)
    Small Soldiers (1998)
    Christopher Guest, Frank Langella, Jim Cummings, and Gregory Smith in Small Soldiers (1998)
    Tommy Lee Jones, Ernest Borgnine, Jim Brown, Bruce Dern, and George Kennedy in Small Soldiers (1998)
    Tommy Lee Jones, Denis Leary, Jay Mohr, David Cross, and Alexandra Wilson in Small Soldiers (1998)
    Tommy Lee Jones and Frank Langella in Small Soldiers (1998)
    Phil Hartman in Small Soldiers (1998)
    Tommy Lee Jones in Small Soldiers (1998)
    Kirsten Dunst and Gregory Smith in Small Soldiers (1998)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Kirsten Dunst
    Kirsten Dunst
    • Christy Fimpleas Christy Fimple
    Gregory Smith
    Gregory Smith
    • Alan Abernathyas Alan Abernathy
    David Cross
    David Cross
    • Irwin Wayfairas Irwin Wayfair
    Jay Mohr
    Jay Mohr
    • Larry Bensonas Larry Benson
    Alexandra Wilson
    Alexandra Wilson
    • Ms. Kegelas Ms. Kegel
    Denis Leary
    Denis Leary
    • Gil Marsas Gil Mars
    Dick Miller
    Dick Miller
    • Joeas Joe
    Jacob Smith
    Jacob Smith
    • Timmy Fimpleas Timmy Fimple
    Jonathan Bouck
    • Bradas Brad
    • (as Jonathan David Bouck)
    Kevin Dunn
    Kevin Dunn
    • Stuart Abernathyas Stuart Abernathy
    Ann Magnuson
    Ann Magnuson
    • Irene Abernathyas Irene Abernathy
    Wendy Schaal
    Wendy Schaal
    • Marion Fimpleas Marion Fimple
    Phil Hartman
    Phil Hartman
    • Phil Fimpleas Phil Fimple
    Archie Hahn
    Archie Hahn
    • Satellite Dish Installeras Satellite Dish Installer
    Robert Picardo
    Robert Picardo
    • Ralph, Clean Room Technicianas Ralph, Clean Room Technician
    Julius Tennon
    Julius Tennon
    • Toy World Supervisoras Toy World Supervisor
    Belinda Balaski
    Belinda Balaski
    • Neighboras Neighbor
    Rance Howard
    Rance Howard
    • Husbandas Husband
    • Director
      • Joe Dante
    • Writers
      • Gavin Scott
      • Adam Rifkin
      • Ted Elliott
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Fifteen-year-old Alan Abernathy, the son of a toy store owner, tries out some new action figures: The Commando Elite versus The Gorgonites. But three months ago, a toy company believes it is onto something when it employs the latest government military technology in a series of action figures, enabling them to talk. They underestimate the power of the special micro chips they've employed, however, as the two opposing sides of the toy line start thinking for themselves and engaging in real combat! The Commando Elite vow to wipe out the Gorgonites in a suburban neighborhood. Alan, his neighbor Christy Fimple, (on whom he has a massive crush) with the help of the kind Gorgonites, must protect his home and family from the Commandos. —Anthony Pereyra {hypersonic91@yahoo.com}
    • evil toy
    • toy
    • action figure
    • military
    • toy store
    • 124 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Big Trouble Small Soldiers
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Adventure
      • Comedy
      • Family
      • Sci-Fi
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG-13 for some menacing action/violence and brief drug references
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Joe Dante originally wanted the cast of Predator (1987) to voice the Commando Elite. Arnold Schwarzenegger would voice Chip Hazard, Shane Black would voice Kip Killagin, Carl Weathers would voice Butch Meathook, Jesse Ventura would voice Brick Bazooka, Sonny Landham would voice Nick Nitro, and Bill Duke would voice Link Static.
    • Goofs
      When Archer looks at the other Gorgonites on his box, Troglacon is shown after the Gorgonites rebuilt him. He should look the way Erwin designed him.
    • Quotes

      Major Chip Hazard: I love the smell of polyurethane in the morning.

    • Crazy credits
      The soldiers are credited as "The Original Dirty Dozen" and the Gorgonites are credited as "Spinal Tap". Many of the character voices actually come from those two movies.
    • Alternate versions
      The DVD features some deleted scenes:
      • Alan meets the principal of his new school, who tells him he doesn't like troublemakers.
      • An extended version of the scene where the dish technician tells Phil a lot more about the way the dish works and why the tree has to be moved.
      • Some added dialogue for Stuart and Irene about their old home Chicago right before Phil starts to saw off the branch.
      • The Gorgonites search Alans encyclopedia for Gorgon. Instead of their home they find the daughter of the Greek God Phorcys.
      • A discussion between Alan, Christy and their parents about what happened.
      • Phil and Stuart discover that Alan and Christy get away through a window.
      • The Toys discover Christys parents, her brother and Irene in the storeroom and ask for "any last requests".
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Armageddon/Henry Fool/Gone with the Wind/Buffalo '66/Passion in the Desert/Nights in Cabiria (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      War
      Written by Norman Whitfield & Barrett Strong

      Adapted by Layzie Bone (as Steven Howse), Flesh 'N' Bone (as Stanley Howse), Wish Bone (as Charles Scruggs), Tom Morello, Flea & Damon Elliott

      Performed by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony (as Bone Thugs-n-Harmony) with Flesh 'N' Bone (as Flesh-N-Bone), and Henry Rollins, Tom Morello & Flea

      Layzie Bone & Wish Bone appear courtesy of Ruthless Records

      Flesh-N-Bone appears courtesy of Mo' Thugs Records/Def Jam Records

      Henry Rollins appears courtesy of DreamWorks Records

      Tom Morello appears courtesy of Epic Records

      Flea appears courtesy of Warner Bros Records Inc.

      Produced by Damon Elliott

      (Contains a sample of "War" as performed by Edwin Starr)

      Sample courtesy of Motown Record Company, L.P.,

      Under license from Polymedia, a division of PolyGram Group Distribution, Inc.

      Original recording performed by Edwin Starr

      Courtesy of Motown Record Company, L.P.,

      By arrangement with PolyGram Film & TV Music

    User reviews168

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    Affectionately made and with a lot of charm
    SMALL SOLDIERS is, essentially, Joe Dante's third GREMLINS film, except that the antagonists aren't gremlins this time around but instead normal, plastic toys who have been brought to life via military technology. It's along the same lines as TOY STORY, which came out at around the same time, but I think the Dante movie has the edge; it's live action, for a start, and the special effects used to animate the soldiers are remarkable.

    The film goes for a light action-adventure template with plenty of laughs thrown into the mix along the way. Like GREMLINS, there's a lot of small-scale stuff going on here, like fireworks being used as weapons and characters encountering the dangers of garbage disposal units. It's a kid's film, with child actors in the lead roles, but one of those ones that adults are sure to enjoy too.

    Cast-wise, we're handed decent turns from Gregory Smith (before he won popular attention with EVERWOOD) and Kirsten Dunst (just before she graduated to adult roles in SPIDER-MAN). Elsewhere, we get Denis Leary chewing the scenery as the slimy corporate villain, and Dante lucky charm Dick Miller as an unlucky delivery driver. Best of all are the voice actors hired for the soldiers; they're led by Tommy Lee Jones but boast plenty of veteran talent, including Ernest Borgnine and Frank Langella. Overall, Dante gets the tone just right, leaving this a highly enjoyable family adventure.
    helpful•5
    0
    • Leofwine_draca
    • Aug 6, 2014

    FAQ1

    • What are the differences between the censored British TV Version and the Uncensored Version?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 10, 1998 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Commando Elite
    • Filming locations
      • Orange, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • Dreamworks Pictures
      • Amblin Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $40,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $54,682,547
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $14,047,592
      • Jul 12, 1998
    • Gross worldwide
      • $54,682,547
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 50 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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