IMDb > Starship Troopers (1997)
Starship Troopers
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Starship Troopers (1997) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 66 | slideshow) Videos (see all 4)
Starship Troopers (1997) -- MattTrailer.com - Trailer (Flash)

IMDb Holiday Movie Guide

Overview

User Rating:
7.1/10   77,343 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 13% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Edward Neumeier (screenplay)
Robert A. Heinlein (book)
Contact:
View company contact information for Starship Troopers on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
7 November 1997 (USA) more
Tagline:
Genocide doesn't compare to this. more
Plot:
Humans of a fascistic, militaristic future do battle with giant alien bugs in a fight for survival. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 wins & 11 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(121 articles)
The Sunday Movie Quiz – The Answers
 (From HeyUGuys. 22 November 2009, 4:01 PM, PST)

'New Moon,' 'Himym' And Lady GaGa In Today's Twitter-Wood
 (From MTV Movies Blog. 18 November 2009, 4:00 PM, PST)

User Comments:
Brilliant & timely critique of fascism more (946 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for graphic sci-fi violence and gore, and for some language and nudity.
Runtime:
129 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
DTS | SDDS (8 channels) | Dolby Digital
Certification:
Australia:PG (TV rating) | Iceland:16 | South Korea:15 (video rating) (cut) | South Korea:18 (original rating) | Canada:18A (Canadian Home Video rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Belgium:KNT | Brazil:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Ontario) | Chile:14 | Denmark:11 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Germany:Not Rated (SPIO/JK) (video rating) (uncut) | Germany:18 (theatrical rating) (uncut) | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:18 | Italy:T | Japan:PG-12 | Mexico:C | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:M18 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (original rating) | UK:18 (video rating) | USA:R (No. 34343) | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The song, "I Have Not Been to Paradise", (a cover of the David Bowie song "I have not been to Oxford Town") is sung by Zoë Poledouris, the eldest daughter of Basil Poledouris, the film's composer. more
Goofs:
Continuity: During the punishment, the leather piece Rico is biting down on changes positions between shots. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Newsreel announcer: Young people from all over the globe are joining up to fight for the future.
Soldier #1: I'm doing my part.
Soldier #2: I'm doing my part.
Soldier #3: I'm doing my part.
Young kid dressed up as a soldier: I'm doing my part too.
[Soldiers laugh]
Newsreel announcer: They're doing their part. Are you? Join the Mobile Infantry and save the world. Service guarantees citizenship.
more
Movie Connections:
Spoofed in Monsters, Inc. (2001) more
Soundtrack:
I Have Not Been To Oxford Town more

FAQ

What are the songs played during the high school prom dance?
What is the song played during Rico and Zander's brawl?
more
159 out of 261 people found the following comment useful.
Brilliant & timely critique of fascism, 11 August 2004
Author: Delysid from Vancouver, BC, Canada

The truth is that this is a brilliant film that, like Verhoeven's earlier "Robocop", is an insightful satire and critique of fascism and at the same time succeeds as a sci-fi thriller. It can be enjoyed at both levels, though obviously it is much richer when the viewer comprehends the satirical and critical level as well.

It's not as if the satire is so subtle it's hard to get. If anything, it hits you over the head with it. But at the same time, it is very disciplined and consistent in not tipping its hand and giving the game away, which to me makes it much more successful and enjoyable than if the satire and social critique were blatantly broadcast. That's the strange and wonderful thing about "Starship Troopers" and "Robocop" -- one viewer might totally not get it, while to another, the critical/satirical level is totally in your face and is what the film is really all about.

I don't know if I'm describing it well, but watch it with the film-makers' commentary turned on (on the DVD version), and director Paul Verhoeven and writer Ed Neumeier lay it all out very clearly: the film is about how war makes fascists of us all. Very timely today (2004) with US imperialism wreaking havoc in Iraq & Afghanistan.

On a technical level, the film is excellent. The bug special effects are top notch and the whole bug society and hierarchy is deeply thought through, as is the future Earth society's politics and technology. The acting is excellent, and the balance between the characters' interpersonal story line, the bug war story line, and the underlying political satire and critique, is perfectly handled.

A truly exceptional film, Verhoeven's best so far, topping even "Robocop" in my opinion, and fully deserving a 10 out of 10 score, which I rarely give.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (946 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Starship Troopers (1997)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
some MAJOR problems i have dodgethat
Am I a bad person for loving this movie? jelloshot0808-1
JOIN THE MOBILE INFANTRY!!! andropantos
Is it just me or is Dizzy the better looking gal? spoilers*** evanjamesyoung
Do people get it? Dario_Uruguay
i HOPE future generations dodgethat
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Across the Universe Alien: Resurrection Beowulf Serenity Akira
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Action section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.