Small Soldiers

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Small Soldiers

PG-13,

1998,

1h 50m,

Comedy/

Action/

Fantasy

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51%

53 Reviews

Tomatometer

45%

100,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

51%

Tomatometer

53 Reviews

45%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

When teenager Alan (Gregory Smith) buys a set of Commando Elite action figures, he's unaware that they have been programmed with military technology. The toys, including leader Chip (Tommy Lee Jones), spring to life and start taking their directives seriously, beginning by "killing" their enemies, the toy Gorgonites. But Archer (Frank Langella) and the Gorgonites won't go down without a fight. Alan gets caught in the middle of the war, as does his neighbor and crush, Christy (Kirsten Dunst).

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Critics Consensus

Small Soldiers has plenty of visual razzle-dazzle, but the rote story proves disappointingly deficient in director Joe Dante's trademark anarchic spirit.

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Jennie Punter

Toronto Star

Feb 19, 2025

2/5

Small Soldiers is no Toy Story, but director Joe Dante delivers a moderately entertaining movie with high production values and low-brow parody.

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Jane Horwitz

Washington Post

Dec 7, 2011

A clever mix of real-life actors and special effects.

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Liam Lacey

Globe and Mail

Apr 12, 2002

2/4

...this smells like a script slapped together around a toy-product launch.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Aug 11, 2025

2/4

The special effects are the selling point, and even they’re not always easy on the eyes.

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Douglas Davidson

Elements of Madness

Jul 31, 2025

You’d be forgiven for not being aware of this particular title, but, for some, it remains a good time between its outstanding cast, memorable moments, and killer official soundtrack.

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Jul 22, 2025

3.5/5

Small Soldiers is a bold genre mashup that doesn’t always hit its targets, but there’s no denying its ambition or craft.

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Harry P

Dec 26, 2018

A movie that has Joe Dante stamped all over it. Amusing and darkly entertaining a'la gremlins with animated characters and special effects that completely outshine the largely forgettable human cast (with one or two exceptions). I wasn't expecting much going into this and maybe that's another reason I found it a more enjoyable than many.

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Abraham R

Sep 5, 2018

This movie shaped me as a person

Abraham S

Sep 5, 2018

This movie is severely under rated.The cast alone warrants a 5 star rating. It is so fun to watch.

George G

Sep 5, 2018

great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anakin S

Jun 4, 2018

awesome funny movie love the action-packed in this movie the characters are good as well. Chip Hazard is my favorite. This really is the big movie.There should be a sequel right now.

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Anakin S

Jun 3, 2018

I remember watching this several times as a kid. But going back as an adult, the movie isn't as good as I remember.

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Joe Dante

Director

Kirsten Dunst

Christy Fimple

Gregory Smith

Alan Abernathy

Jay Mohr

Larry Benson

Phil Hartman

Phil Fimple

Kevin Dunn

Stuart Abernathy

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Synopsis

When teenager Alan (Gregory Smith) buys a set of Commando Elite action figures, he's unaware that they have been programmed with military technology. The toys, including leader Chip (Tommy Lee Jones), spring to life and start taking their directives seriously, beginning by "killing" their enemies, the toy Gorgonites. But Archer (Frank Langella) and the Gorgonites won't go down without a fight. Alan gets caught in the middle of the war, as does his neighbor and crush, Christy (Kirsten Dunst).

Director: Joe Dante
Producer: Michael Finnell, Colin Wilson
Screenwriter: Gavin Scott, Adam Rifkin, Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio
Distributor: 20th Century Fox, DreamWorks SKG
Production Co: DreamWorks SKG, Amblin Entertainment, Universal Pictures
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy, Action, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 10, 1998, Original
Release Date (Streaming): May 1, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $55.1M
Runtime: 1h 50m
Sound Mix: SDDS, DTS, Surround, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Scope (2.35:1)

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