Tropic Thunder

"Get some."

2008 1h 47m EN

👍

6.7

SOLID

★6.7TMDB · 7,256

ActionComedyWar

Synopsis

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A group of self-absorbed actors set out to make the most expensive war film ever. After ballooning costs force the studio to cancel the movie, the frustrated director refuses to stop shooting, leading his cast into the jungles of Southeast Asia, where they encounter real bad guys.

“Get some.”

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Cast

Ben Stiller
Tugg Speedman
Robert Downey Jr.
Kirk Lazarus
Jack Black
Jeff Portnoy
Jay Baruchel
Kevin Sandusky
Brandon T. Jackson
Alpa Chino
Brandon Soo Hoo
Tran
Matthew McConaughey
Rick Peck
Tom Cruise
Les Grossman

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Ben Stiller
Writers: Justin Theroux, Etan Cohen, Ben Stiller
Languages: English, Mandarin
Countries: United States of America, United Kingdom, Germany

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Mid-budget at $92M — the now-extinct middle tier of Hollywood.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 18 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Mandarin.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 3 countries: United States of America, United Kingdom, Germany.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

CAST

Did you know

235+ people credited in cast and crew — a small city's worth of labour.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Ben Stiller, shot by John Toll. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Theodore Shapiro. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Greg Hayden shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Ben Stiller directs. John Toll behind the camera. Theodore Shapiro scores. Greg Hayden cuts. Profitable at the box office. Produced in United States of America, United Kingdom, Germany. Dialogue in English, Mandarin.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Mid-budget at $92M — the now-extinct middle tier of Hollywood.
2Released 18 years ago.
3Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Mandarin.
4International production across 3 countries: United States of America, United Kingdom, Germany.
5235+ people credited in cast and crew — a small city's worth of labour.
6Directed by Ben Stiller, shot by John Toll. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
7Original score by Theodore Shapiro. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
8Editor Greg Hayden shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
9Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jr. and Jack Black carry the top of the cast.
10Marketing tagline: "Get some.".
11IMDB entry: tt0942385 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
12Classified under 23 themes, including "vietnam", "movie business", "satire", "parody".

The technical file

Cinematography: John Toll
Original score: Theodore Shapiro
Editing: Greg Hayden
Production design: Jeff Mann
Costume design: Marlene Stewart
Makeup / hair: Kazu Hiro
VFX supervisor: Michael L. Fink
Sound: Ron Bartlett
Stunt coordinator: Brad Martin
Runtime: 107 min · 1h 47m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $92,000,000
Box office: $195,702,811
Return: 213% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: Tropic Thunder (2008)

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Community reviews

What people are saying

JPV8522022-02-20
★ 8/10
Still as funny as the first time I saw this, probably way back in 2008. Good send-up on war movies and just great comedic performances all around, but especially Robert Downey Jr. 3.75/5
CinemaSerf2025-09-18
★ 7/10
This pretty much takes a swipe at the whole cinema experience starting with the exuberant trails that make every film look like a potential award winning extravaganza through to the main feature - a parody that clashes “Platoon” (1986) with “Predator” (1987) and adds a mix of “Good Morning, Vietnam!” (1987) for good measure, too! Superstar action star “Tugg” (Ben Stiller) has made a couple of stinkers lately and so his agent (Matthew McConaughey) has sent him to join a testosterone-charged cast to star in a jungle warfare film being directed by British newbie “Damien” (Steve Coogan). Pretty swiftly the tub-thumping is causing consternation as he; rude-boy comic actor “Portnoy” (Jack Black) and the action hero “Lazarus” (Robert Downey Jnr.) are strutting like peacocks whilst the director struggles to impose himself. Or - does he? No sooner are they deep amongst the foliage than “Damien” declares that there are hidden cameras and booby traps all over the place, and that these pampered and egotistical prima donnas are actually going to have to get their hands and their freshly ironed combat fatigues dirty. Sadly, his enthusiasm soon falls foul of something the French had left behind and then the woes of these gents starts to accumulate. You see, there are real drug dealers here and they don’t want visitors - especially those who look like they are armed to the teeth. Goaded on by a couple of fairly ruthless children with ninja skills, the baddies set out to eradicate their visitors and so mettle is going to be tested, loyalties challenged and just about everything that can explode will explode - offering the stuntmen a chance to risk life and limb and for Heinz to make a fortune in ketchup sales. There is a fun chemistry here between Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jnr., Jack Black hams up the vulgarity quite entertainingly and the lively and pithy style of the writing really does quite brutally ridicule this style of gung-ho American action feature. It even manages to have a go at award ceremonies too, and all of that gushing celebration whilst at the same time the losers can’t wait to stick a knife in your back - cue Jon Voight. This is my favourite Stiller film and it has held together well with much of the humour seeming just as apposite now as it did then.