IMDb > Tropic Thunder (2008)
Tropic Thunder
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

Tropic Thunder (2008) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 151 | slideshow) Videos (see all 31)
Tropic Thunder (2008) -- Through a series of freak occurrences, a group of actors shooting a big-budget war movie are forced to become the soldiers they are portraying.
Tropic Thunder (2008) -- Clip: Blu-Ray vs. HD DVD
Tropic Thunder (2008) -- Interview: Ben Stiller "On playing "Tugg Speedman""
Tropic Thunder (2008) -- Ben Stiller's latest comedy "Tropic Thunder" has stirred anger among advocates for the mentally disabled for its use of politically incorrect words. Ben Tracy reports.
Tropic Thunder (2008) -- Through a series of freak occurrences, a group of actors shooting a big-budget war movie are forced to become the soldiers they are portraying.
IMDb Holiday Movie Guide

Overview

User Rating:
7.2/10   90,717 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 9% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Ben Stiller
Writers (WGA):
Ben Stiller (screenplay) &
Justin Theroux (screenplay) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Tropic Thunder on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
13 August 2008 (USA) more
Genre:
Action | Adventure | Comedy | War more
Tagline:
The movie they think they're making... isn't a movie anymore. more
Plot:
Through a series of freak occurrences, a group of actors shooting a big-budget war movie are forced to become the soldiers they are portraying. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 8 wins & 16 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(1291 articles)
Justin Theroux goes to 'Space'
 (From Monsters and Critics. 19 November 2009, 6:57 PM, PST)
Justin Theroux boards 'Space Invader'
 (From screeninglog. 19 November 2009, 9:23 AM, PST)
User Comments:
Ben Stiller and company hit the comedic mark with "TROPIC THUNDER." more (510 total)
US TV Schedule:
Sat. Nov. 286:15 PMMAX   

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Jeff Kahn ... Snooty Waiter - Fatties Trailer

Robert Downey Jr. ... Kirk Lazarus - Hot LZ
Anthony Ruivivar ... Platoon Sergeant Shot in Head - Hot LZ

Jack Black ... Jeff Portnoy - Hot LZ

Jay Baruchel ... Kevin Sandusky - Hot LZ

Brandon T. Jackson ... Alpa Chino - Hot LZ

Ben Stiller ... Tugg Speedman - Hot LZ

Eric Winzenried ... Chopper Pilot - Hot LZ

Steve Coogan ... Damien Cockburn - Vietnam Crew

Valerie Azlynn ... Damien's Assistant - Vietnam Crew

Matt Levin ... Cameraperson - Vietnam Crew

David Pressman ... First Assistant Director - Vietnam Crew

Amy Stiller ... Script Supervisor - Vietnam Crew

Danny McBride ... Cody - Vietnam Crew
Dempsey Silva ... Special Effects Assistant - Vietnam Crew
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for pervasive language including sexual references, violent content and drug material.
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
107 min | USA:121 min (unrated director's cut)
Country:
USA | UK | Germany
Language:
English | Mandarin
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS
Certification:
UK:15 | Ireland:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Australia:MA | Canada:14A (Alberta/Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:18A (British Columbia) (Canadian Home Video rating) | Canada:13+ (Québec) | Sweden:15 | Iceland:16 | Netherlands:16 | Finland:K-13 | Brazil:16 | Singapore:M18 | Japan:PG-12 | Portugal:M/12 | South Africa:16LV | Germany:12 | USA:R (NO. 44367) | Argentina:13 | Peru:14 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | France:U | Malaysia:18PL (cut) | Argentina:16 (DVD rating) | South Korea:18 | Austria:12 | Denmark:15 | Ireland:15 (DVD rating) | Hong Kong:III | Norway:15
Filming Locations:
Hawaii, USA more
Company:
DreamWorks SKG more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The 'Booty Sweat' energy drink seen in the movie can be purchased on Amazon.com as part of a promotional tie-in. more
Goofs:
Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Les Grossman (Tom Cruise) says that "Speedman is a dying star, a white dwarf heading for a black hole. That's physics. It's inevitable." But a white dwarf do not head for a black hole, white dwarf is the final state of average and small stars. White dwarfs will eventually become black dwarfs once they cool off, in a very very long time, so long that there's no known black dwarf existed in our universe. more
Quotes:
Alpa Chino: Drink Booty Sweat, baby! Drink Booty Sweat!
Kirk Lazarus: [mockingly] Yeah, get him chuggin' on some of Alpa's ass-water. That'll bring him around, it's a cure-all...
more
Movie Connections:
Spoofs Chaplin (1992) more
Soundtrack:
I'd Love To Change The World more

FAQ

What is "black face"?
What songs are in the trailer?
A Note Regarding Spoilers
more

User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
224 out of 399 people found the following comment useful.
Ben Stiller and company hit the comedic mark with "TROPIC THUNDER.", 1 August 2008
8/10
Author: space_base from Canada

Advanced screening: Toronto (July 31, 2008) Tropic Thunder is a film I've anticipated (from it's trailers/ Downey Jr's "Blackface" controversy) for quite awhile, but knowing Ben Stiller's hit (Reality Bites) or miss (Zoolander) directing filmography, I kept my expectations relatively lukewarm. Luckily that wasn't necessary because it's Stiller's best effort as a director to date as well as one of the best comedies of the year.

Starting with the best fake-trailers this side of Grindhouse, TROPIC THUNDER develops into the most uniquely wacky blend of satire/action/ and gross-out I've ever seen. At first it appears to be a straight-up spoof on popular war films, then it becomes a film within a film, then an attack on Hollywood and the film industry in general. Also present are some rather shocking (and hilarious) sight gags (exploding film-crew members, the brutal slaughter of an endangered species) that managed to catch everyone off guard (yet not offend them).

The main reason TROPIC THUNDER works so well though is it's stellar ensemble cast. You have the likes of Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr, Jack Black, Jay Baruchel, Steve Coogan, and Nick Nolte all turning in terrific comedic performances that they obviously had fun with. Tom Cruise gives the extended cameo of the year as a studio executive, while Tobey Maguire and a slew of other actors make notable appearances. Ultimately it is Downey Jr. who steals almost every scene as the platoon's very white, African-American squad leader.

Rude, witty, and ballsy, TROPIC THUNDER is a great time at the movies. It's hard finding worth-while large budget comedies these days, but DIRECTOR Ben Stiller, supported by a strong cast and a great premise, has proved himself to be the right man for the task. 8/10

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (510 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Tropic Thunder (2008)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
not the kind of movie women usually like, however Demelz
Do women really love it? jemfin
One real death? annvath080389
im seriously impressed ben stiller directed this cloverfield99
The Performance by Robert Downey Jr. crowebeanfan
Blackface gnome-5
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Brighton Wok: The Legend of Ganja Boxing Rambo The Deer Hunter The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Team America: World Police
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.