‎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 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.
Review by matt lynch ★★★½ 1

"We have met the enemy, and he is you!"

you know that sneaking suspicion you had that corporate/military hegemony was slowly supplanting your rights and accumulating your property?

Recent reviews

Review by Emory LaserWolf ★★½ 1

Not great.
Review by sol ★★★★½

These guys would obliterate Buzz Lightyear.
Review by Brian Salisbury ★★★

Still love it
Review by Tuosma ★★★½

(Old Impressions, not based on a recent viewing)

A charming kids movie with more substance than you'd think.
Review by David D. ★★★

Cute little battle.
Review by weehunk ★★

Watched it for Phil Hartman. R.I.P.
Review by Varghese Eapen ★★★★

Predecessor to Toy Story 2 and Team America, this was an entertaining ride. It's no Gremlins but is bound to keep you invested in it's outrageous concept. Joe Dante has to be applauded for subverting tropes about who is good and who is supposedly "evil". Sucks that this was the final film of SNL legend and the genius behind many iconic Simpsons characters;Phil Hartman. Great use of songs by Queen, Spice Girls (lmao) and Richard Wagner. I completely forgot how cute Kirsten Dunst was back then (even now!)
Review by christinarules ★★★½

cute
Review by duck_thoop ★★★

I can't help but think this movie is a goodbye to Phil Hartman.