‎Small Soldiers (1998) directed by Joe Dante • Reviews, film + cast • Letterboxd

Small Soldiers

1998 Directed by Joe Dante

The few, the proud, the small.

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

Gregory Smith Kirsten Dunst Denis Leary Phil Hartman David Cross Jay Mohr Kevin Dunn Ann Magnuson Wendy Schaal Jacob Smith Tommy Lee Jones Frank Langella Ernest Borgnine Jim Brown Bruce Dern George Kennedy Clint Walker Christopher Guest Michael McKean Harry Shearer Sarah Michelle Gellar Christina Ricci Dick Miller Belinda Balaski

110 mins More details at IMDb TMDb Report this film

Popular reviews

Review by josh lewis ★★★★ 5

"i think WWII was my favorite war."

a film that investigates the ways we sell war to young boys under the guise of "action" by having action figures literally ingest the brutal policies and tactics of the american military ("how could they be dangerous? everything on 'em are standardized!") due to ludicrously overt corporatism and militarism—the enemy line of "monsters" they create to affirm the existence of the army ones are even pacifists, simply seeking a homeland. dante expertly weaves the cutesy domestic spielberg movie with the use of war movie tropes/imagery to create a microcosm that is at once disarmingly adorable (every wide shot of an intricately designed makeshift vehicle traversing a lawn is hilarious) and genuinely horrifying; as…
Review by Joe ★★★★ 1

"It's a baton death march!"

The big budget children's entertainment of the 1990s is the savage attack on American values of the 21st century. I would have been 10 when I saw this in theaters (I remember it was the first time I heard anyone use the expression "it sucks"), and at the time I was surprised to see the titular soldiers revealed to be the villains of the piece, but I was too young to really appreciate the (barely) subtext about consumerism, capitalism, militarism, and the disgusting babies the three make together. This is about a giant, unambiguously evil corporation selling a false narrative to kids, about heroic soldiers who are actually bloodthirsty dunderheads fighting against evil monsters who…
Review by Chris Richmond ★★★ 7

This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

Comparing this to Toy Story just because both have toy characters is like comparing Finding Nemo to Free Willy. I really don't get it. I think the only reason people tend to draw this comparison is the proximity of the two films' release dates.

Small Soldiers works as a fun attack on capitalism, consumerism, the glorification of war and violence, and the intersection of those three concepts.

Making fun of movies like The Dirty Dozen, Patton, and dozens more, Dante satirizes left and right, exposing the Commandos as the single-purpose, bloodthirsty meatheads they are.

Likewise, Irwin's (David Cross) Gorgonites represent the underdogs: non-white, unconventional-appearing peace-lovers designed to teach, rather than solely to entertain.

Cross is great here, as is pretty…
Review by Digital Press ★★★½ 1

If this movie doesn’t make you smile for 109 minutes then you may be one of those artificial intelligence things.
Review by Hamushy ★★★ 2

One would think that a movie like Small Soldiers would just be a basic family film featuring toys on a rampage and it certainly delivers on that promise. But more than that, this Toy Story meets The Dirty Dozen cross, utilizes the formula that made director Joe Dante's Gremlins so successful. Joe Dante has an abundance of skill when it comes to fast-paced storytelling as well as a good grasp on satire and meta humor.

After the large military weapons supplier, Globotech Industries, acquires a toy company. Two developers are tasked with creating interactive action-figures consisting of one superior military unit and one inferior unit of monsters, but as a result of underestimating technology these toys turn out to possess…
Review by Travis Lytle ★★★★

With "Small Soldiers," Joe Dante serves up an entertaining and well-made family adventure. The film, about warring bands of action figures brought to life when they are loaded with military-grade microchips, is cut from a similar cloth as Dante's "Gremlins" and worthy of praise.

Nicely cast, bouncily edited, and triumphantly scored thanks to the late Jerry Goldmsmith, "Small Soldiers" is a solidly crafted film. Its special effects are outstanding, calling to mind the great Ray Harryhausen.

The most remarkable strengths of "Small Soldiers," however, can be found in its overall tone and plastic protagonists. The film takes its situation mostly seriously and never panders to its younger audience. Its stakes are ratcheted up as the plot becomes more dire, the relative calm of the first acts descending into dangerous mayhem. The film's human characters are relatable enough; but the toy Gorgons supply pathos to the proceedings and add some solid and surprising thematic depth.

Recent reviews

Review by Ben Challoner ★★★

The better version of Avatar!
Review by HotDonkeyBear ★★★

A fun but completely derivative slice of 90s family entertainment that stretches the term, "Cult Classic" completely out of shape and recognition. This is basically Gremlins meets Toy Story with a touch of Home Alone 3. The blend of CG and practical effects work well and the cast are all good but you get the impression Dante wasn't allowed to spread his wings so much. Small Soldiers is frothy, forgettable fun.

We'll be discussing Small Soldiers along with Dog Soldiers and Toy Soldiers on the January 10th episode of the Sudden Double Deep film podcast. Check us out!!!

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Review by Logan Van Winkle ★★½

This is by far the weirdest movie about the Vietnam War.
Review by Greg Andersson ★★★

Dante plays with the Gremlins formula again but with an axe to grind against technology and corporate America. The CG doesn’t always hold up so well, but Stan Winston’s practical puppetry is great. The voice actors and supporting cast are all top notch here, so it’s too bad the lead is no good and is written to be a real unlikeable dick. Lesser Dante is still better than other filmmakers’ best efforts, at least. There are worse ways to kill 100 minutes.
Review by DopeAssGhost ★★★½ 2

This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

SMALL SOLDIERS (1998)
"When missile defense technology is used to enhance toy action figures, the toys soon begin to take their battle programming too seriously. Soon, a war between the two factions of action figures, the Gorgonites and the Commando Elite, breaks out."

For me, kids movies didn't get no better than what the 1980's and 1990's churned out! They were funnier, sharper, and best of all, darker. Nowadays, you'd be lucky to be graced with a PG or PG-13 children aimed film that mutters the word "crap."
Small Soldiers at the time of its release received mixed feedback from critics, mainly adults who found the film too intense for kids. Director Joe Dante who helmed the director's chair for…
Review by lnavey ★★½

Trying to bond with my little brother by watching films from my childhood. This holds up.
Review by cmrn ½

This movie terrified me.
Review by lily ★★★

haven’t seen this in a long time but i’m glad i rewatched it was funny
Review by Digital Press ★★★½ 1

If this movie doesn’t make you smile for 109 minutes then you may be one of those artificial intelligence things.