View source for Small Soldiers

{{short description|1998 film by Joe Dante}}
{{About|the film|the soundtrack|Small Soldiers (soundtrack)|the video game|Small Soldiers (video game)}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Small Soldiers
| image          = Small_soldiers_movie_poster.jpg
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Joe Dante]]
| producer       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Michael Finnell]]
* [[Colin Wilson (film producer)|Colin Wilson]]
}}
| writer     = {{Plainlist|
* [[Gavin Scott]]
* [[Adam Rifkin]]
* [[Ted Elliott (screenwriter)|Ted Elliott]]
* [[Terry Rossio]]
}}
| starring       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Kirsten Dunst]]
* [[Gregory Smith (actor)|Gregory Smith]]
* [[Jay Mohr]]
* [[Phil Hartman]]
* [[Kevin Dunn]]
* [[Denis Leary]]
* [[Frank Langella]]
* [[Tommy Lee Jones]]<!--Per billing block-->}}
| music          = [[Jerry Goldsmith]]
| cinematography = [[Jamie Anderson (cinematographer)|Jamie Anderson]]
| editing        = Marshall Harvey
| studio         = {{plainlist|
* [[DreamWorks Pictures]]
* [[Universal Pictures]]
* [[Amblin Entertainment]]
}}
| distributor    = {{plainlist|
* DreamWorks Pictures (North America)
* Universal Pictures (through [[United International Pictures]]; international)
}}
| released       = {{Film date|1998|07|10}}
| runtime        = 108 minutes
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = $40 million<ref name=NUM/>
| gross          = $71.8 million<ref name=NUM>{{cite the numbers|id=Small-Soldiers|title=Small Soldiers (1998)|access-date=October 4, 2023}}</ref>
}}
'''''Small Soldiers''''' is a 1998 American [[action comedy film]] directed by [[Joe Dante]]. It stars [[Kirsten Dunst]] and [[Gregory Smith (actor)|Gregory Smith]], along with the voices of [[Frank Langella]] and [[Tommy Lee Jones]]. It depicts two factions of toys which turn sentient and sapient after mistakenly being installed with a military microprocessor, in turn putting two families in danger when one faction turns lethal.

The film was theatrically released on July 10, 1998 to mixed reviews and grossed $71.8 million against a $40 million budget. ''Small Soldiers'' marks the last on-screen film role of [[Phil Hartman]], who was murdered two months before the film's premiere; the film is dedicated to his memory. It was also [[Clint Walker]]'s final film role, prior to his retirement from acting in 1998 and death in 2018.

==Plot==
<!-- Please review WP:FILMPLOT guidelines before adding material. The plot summary should be 400-700 words. -->
When top defense contractor GloboTech Industries acquires the Heartland Toy Company, CEO Gil Mars commissions toy designers Larry Benson and Irwin Wayfair to develop [[smart toy|toys capable of "playing back"]]. Mars selects Larry's "Commando Elite" action figures for the project, with Irwin's "Gorgonites"{{snd}}peaceful monsters intended to be [[educational toys]]{{snd}}as their enemies. Facing a tight deadline of three months to get the toys ready for shipment, Larry unwittingly equips the toys with GloboTech's X1000 [[microprocessor]], which he later learns was meant for the [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]].

Working at his family's toy store, teenager Alan Abernathy persuades delivery driver Joe to give him a set of the new GloboTech toys, activating Major Chip Hazard, head of the Commando Elite, and Archer, the Gorgonites' leader. Alan develops a crush on his neighbor Christy Fimple, and returns home to discover Archer in his backpack, realizing the toys are self-aware and capable of learning. That night, Chip Hazard activates his comrades to attack the Gorgonites, and Alan finds the store in disarray and the new toys missing. Christy helps clean up and Alan calls GloboTech's customer service line to file a complaint. Larry and Irwin hear his message and discover the X1000 is a military-grade [[artificial intelligence]] chip, susceptible to [[electromagnetic pulse|EMPs]].

Following Alan home, the Commando Elite interrogate Archer, but Alan intervenes and is wounded by Nick Nitro, whom he partially destroys in the garbage disposal. His parents hear the commotion, but refuse to believe his explanation about the toys. Alan and Archer find the Gorgonites hiding in the store's dumpster; unlike the militant Commando Elite, the Gorgonites were programmed with Irwin's original friendly and inquisitive personalities, and merely seek their home, which they believe to be in [[Yosemite National Park]] after seeing an image on Alan's computer. Tapping the Abernathys' phone line, the Commando Elite learn of Alan's interest in Christy. Infiltrating her house, they capture her younger brother Timmy, sedate their parents, and use Nick Nitro's AI chip to transform Christy's "Gwendy" fashion dolls into reinforcements. Taking Christy hostage, they demand that Alan surrender the Gorgonites.

Alan and Archer sneak into the Fimples' house and rescue Christy. The Commando Elite pursue them with improvised vehicles built in the Fimples' garage, but are destroyed in a fiery crash; only Chip Hazard survives. At the Abernathys' house, Alan, Christy, and the Gorgonites try to convince their families of the truth about the toys, and Irwin and Larry arrive to talk to Alan about his voicemail. Chip Hazard arrives with a new army of Commando Elite and more improvised vehicles and weapons, having hijacked a recall shipment driven by Joe, and lays siege to the house, cutting off the electricity. When Irwin suggests an EMP, the group realizes they can overload the nearby power lines. Christy, Irwin, and Larry make their way to the Fimples' house to ensure a larger surge, and the Gorgonites emerge and fight back against the Commando Elite. Climbing the utility pole, Alan is attacked by Chip Hazard, who battles and defeats Archer, but Alan thrusts him into the power transformers as Larry and Irwin wedge open the breakers, triggering the EMP blast and destroying the toys.

In the morning, as the authorities clean up, Mars arrives and pays off Joe and both families for the damage. He then instructs Larry and Irwin to repurpose the Commando Elite for military use. Alan and Christy start a relationship, and he discovers the Gorgonites survived the EMP underneath the Fimples' satellite dish. Alan brings the Gorgonites to Yosemite, sharing a goodbye before sending them off in his father's toy boat to find their home.

==Cast==
{{div col}}
* [[Kirsten Dunst]] as Christy Fimple
* [[Gregory Smith (actor)|Gregory Smith]] as Alan Abernathy
* [[Jay Mohr]] as Larry Benson
* [[Phil Hartman]] as Phil Fimple
* [[Kevin Dunn]] as Stuart Abernathy
* [[David Cross]] as Irwin Wayfair
* [[Ann Magnuson]] as Irene Abernathy
* [[Denis Leary]] as Gil Mars
* [[Dick Miller]] as Joe
* [[Wendy Schaal]] as Marion Fimple
* [[Robert Picardo]] as Ralph Quist
* [[Jacob Smith (actor)|Jacob Smith]] as Timmy Fimple
* [[Alexandra Wilson]] as Ms. Kegel
* Jonathan Bouck as Brad
* [[Belinda Balaski]] as Neighbor
* [[Rance Howard]] as Husband
* [[Jackie Joseph]] as Wife
{{div col end}}

''Small Soldiers'' was Hartman's last on-screen role before his death. The film is dedicated to his memory.<ref>{{cite news|title=1998's top closing moments|work=[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]]|date=1998-12-06|page=Arts 1|author=Philpot, Robert}}</ref>

===Voice cast===
====Gorgonites====
* [[Frank Langella]] as Archer
* [[Christopher Guest]] as Slamfist/Scratch-It
* [[Michael McKean]] as Insaniac/Troglokhan
* [[Harry Shearer]] as Punch-It
* [[Jim Cummings]] as Ocula

====Commando Elite====
* [[Tommy Lee Jones]] as Major Chip Hazard, the [[Platoon leader|Platoon Leader]]
* [[George Kennedy]] as Brick Bazooka, the [[artillery]] and [[ammunition]] expert
* [[Jim Brown]] as Butch Meathook, the [[Sniper]]
* [[Ernest Borgnine]] as Kip Killigan, the [[assassinating]] [[covert operations]] expert
* [[Clint Walker]] as Nick Nitro, the [[Demolitions]] specialist
* [[Bruce Dern]] as Link Static, the Communications expert

====Others====
* [[Sarah Michelle Gellar]] and [[Christina Ricci]] as Gwendy Dolls
Excluding Jones and Dern, the Commando Elite are voiced by cast members from the 1967 film ''[[The Dirty Dozen]]''. Dern replaced ''The Dirty Dozen'' actor [[Richard Jaeckel]], who died before shooting began. Excluding Langella and Cummings, the Gorgonites are voiced by cast members from the 1984 film ''[[This Is Spinal Tap]]''. The film was the last role for Walker before his retirement from acting.

==Production==
On making the film, director [[Joe Dante]] recalled, "Originally I was told to make an edgy picture for teenagers, but when the sponsor tie-ins came in the new mandate was to soften it up as a kiddie movie. Too late, as it turned out, and there are elements of both approaches in there. Just before release it was purged of a lot of action and explosions."<ref>{{cite web|last=Brew|first=Simon|title=The Den of Geek interview: Joe Dante|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-den-of-geek-interview-joe-dante/|publisher=The Den of Geek|access-date=March 20, 2024|date=February 21, 2008|archive-date=December 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208073829/http://www.denofgeek.us/movies/gremlins/13227/the-den-of-geek-interview-joe-dante|url-status=live}}</ref> As an example of the deleted content, he mentioned that at the end of the movie, the Abernathy's house explodes. The explosion was shot, but the studio did not want to show it on-screen. Dante believes that the studio had hopes that ''Small Soldiers'' would be the start of a [[film series]].<ref name="Abrams">{{cite web|last1=Abrams|first1=Simon|title=Like Going to Church: Joe Dante on "The Movie Orgy"|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/interviews/like-going-to-church-joe-dante-on-the-movie-orgy|website=rogerebert.com|date=8 August 2016 |access-date=February 1, 2021}}</ref>

For the film's effects shots, Dante stated that the original idea was to use mostly puppets provided by [[Stan Winston]]. However, Dante said that while shooting, it was "much simpler and cheaper" to use [[computer-generated imagery]] (CGI) after the scenes had been shot, so the film is "one-third puppetry and the rest CGI."<ref>{{cite news|last=Reid|first=Claire|title=Behind-The-Scenes Filming Of 'Small Soldiers' Will Change How You See The Movie|url=https://www.ladbible.com/entertainment/film-and-tv-this-behind-the-scenes-clip-of-small-soldiers-is-so-good-20180826|website=ladbible.com|access-date=March 21, 2024|date=August 26, 2018|archive-date=March 22, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240322063325/https://www.ladbible.com/entertainment/film-and-tv-this-behind-the-scenes-clip-of-small-soldiers-is-so-good-20180826|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Release==
===Box office===
''Small Soldiers'' opened in 2,539 theaters and earned $14 million on its opening weekend. At the end of its theatrical run, the film grossed $55.1 million in the United States and Canada and $16.6 million internationally, totaling in $71.8 million worldwide.<ref name=NUM/>

===Critical response===
On [[review aggregator]] [[Rotten Tomatoes]], ''Small Soldiers'' has an approval rating of 49% based on 47 reviews, with an average rating of 6.10/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "''Small Soldiers'' has plenty of visual razzle-dazzle, but the rote story proves disappointingly deficient in director Joe Dante's trademark anarchic spirit."<ref>{{Cite Rotten Tomatoes|title=Small Soldiers (1998)|id=small_soldiers|type=m|access-date=October 4, 2023}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=August 7, 1998 |author1=EW Staff |title=Critical Mass |url=https://ew.com/article/1998/08/07/critical-mass-36/ |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=December 7, 2022 |archive-date=December 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221210163553/https://ew.com/article/1998/08/07/critical-mass-36/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Siskel & Ebert]] gave it Two Thumbs Down. [[Roger Ebert]] gave the film 2.5 out of 4 stars, saying: "The toys are presented as individuals who can think for themselves, and there are believable heroes and villains among them. For smaller children, this could be a terrifying experience."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ebert|first=Roger|date=July 10, 1998|title=Small Soldiers movie review & film summary (1998) {{!}} Roger Ebert|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/small-soldiers-1998|access-date=2020-07-17|website=rogerebert|language=en|archive-date=2020-08-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809211737/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/small-soldiers-1998|url-status=live}}</ref> Caroline Westbrook of ''[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]'' gave the film 3 out of 5 stars and said: "It's ''[[Gremlins]]'' with toy soldiers, except not quite as dark or funny."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Westbrook|first=Caroline|date=2000-01-01|title=Small Soldiers|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/small-soldiers-review/|access-date=2020-07-17|website=Empire|language=en|archive-date=2019-12-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226040544/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/small-soldiers-review/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Lawsuit===
In 2000, filmmaker Gregory P. Grant filed a suit against [[Steven Spielberg]], [[DreamWorks Pictures]] and [[Universal Pictures]], alleging that they had infringed on the copyright of his 1990 short film ''Ode to GI Joe''. Grant claimed that he had met with [[Amblin Entertainment]] in 1991 to discuss the potential to expand his short film into a full feature. The project went as far as commissioning a treatment from Grant and a 16mm copy of the short film at Spielberg's request but, according to Grant, Amblin dropped the project. However, Grant added that Amblin pushed another film, at the time titled ''Toy Soldiers'', into development nearly a month after Grant's project was passed on. Grant's attorneys stressed that several scenes and ideas from ''Small Soldiers'' were too similar and taken outright from Grant's short film and treatment.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/film/2000/may/09/news.stevenspielberg|title=Spielberg sued over Small Soldiers|first=Betsy|last=Reed|date=May 9, 2000|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=October 4, 2023|url-status=live|archive-date=October 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005011313/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2000/may/09/news.stevenspielberg}}</ref>

==Merchandise==
A [[Small Soldiers (soundtrack)|soundtrack]] containing classic rock blended with hip hop was released on July 7, 1998, by [[DreamWorks Records]]. It peaked at 103 on the ''Billboard 200''. The film score was composed and conducted by veteran composer [[Jerry Goldsmith]]. In addition, a [[Small Soldiers (video game)|video game based on the film]] was developed by [[Danger Close Games|DreamWorks Interactive]] and released by [[Electronic Arts]] on September 30, 1998. [[Kenner Products]] (a subsidiary of [[Hasbro]]) produced a line of toys, which featured the Gorgonites and the Commando Elite.

The 2020 shooter game ''[[Hypercharge: Unboxed]]'', developed by [[Digital Cybercherries]], drew inspiration from ''Small Soldiers''. The development team conceived the game's idea while watching the movie on television.<ref>{{cite web|last=Benzer|first=TJ|date=August 31, 2022|url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/132108/hypercharge-unboxed-interview-video|title=Hypercharge: Unboxed devs on the game's origins & persevering through setbacks|website=[[Shacknews]]|access-date=February 18, 2024|archive-date=February 28, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240228222549/https://www.shacknews.com/article/132108/hypercharge-unboxed-interview-video|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Video games===
Four video games were released in 1998:

* ''[[Small Soldiers (video game)|Small Soldiers]]'' - [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] ([[Electronic Arts]]/ [[Danger Close Games|DreamWorks Interactive]])
* ''Small Soldiers: Squad Commander'' - [[PC game|PC]] ([[Atari Interactive|Hasbro Interactive]]/ DreamWorks Interactive)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/pc/582385-small-soldiers-squad-commander|title=Small Soldiers: Squad Commander for PC – GameFAQs|website=gamefaqs.gamespot.com}}</ref>
* ''Small Soldiers'' - [[Game Boy]] ([[THQ]]/ [[Tiertex Design Studios]]/ DreamWorks Interactive)
* ''Small Soldiers: Globotech Design Lab'' - PC (Hasbro Interactive)

==Film rating controversy== 
[[Burger King]] created a line of kids' meal toys to promote ''Small Soldiers''. They were met with some controversy after the film received a PG-13 rating from the [[Motion Picture Association of America]] (MPAA). Burger King executives claimed this caught the company by surprise as they were led to believe the film would receive no higher than a PG rating. According to [[Joe Dante]], the MPAA gave the film a PG-13 rating due to the scene in which the Commandos put drugs in Phil and Marion's drink. The pamphlet accompanying the toys included the disclaimer "While toys are suitable for children of all ages, the movie ''Small Soldiers'' may contain material that is inappropriate for younger children." Some restaurants accepted an exchange for Mr. Potato Head toys.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Neville|first1=Ken|title="Small Soldiers," Big Controversy|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/36690/small-soldiers-big-controversy|website=E Online|date=10 July 1998|access-date=12 May 2015|archive-date=31 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120731113927/http://www.eonline.com/news/36690/small-soldiers-big-controversy|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Abrams" />

==Cancelled remake==
A remake of ''Small Soldiers'' was in development by [[20th Century Studios|20th Century Fox]] called ''Toymageddon''. The script was purchased in January 2014, and director [[Justin Lin]] was set to produce the film. The story was described to be set in a "toy factory that begins to run amok." At that time it was not explicitly stated to be a remake of ''Small Soldiers''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kit |first=Borys |title=Fox Buys 'Toymageddon' for Justin Lin to Produce (Exclusive) |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=January 27, 2014 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/fox-buys-toymageddon-justin-lin-674723 |access-date=September 7, 2019 |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308225219/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/fox-buys-toymageddon-justin-lin-674723 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Due to the [[acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney]] on March 20, 2019, [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]] later in August cancelled the film along with over 200 other projects, which revealed the film was intended as a remake of ''Small Soldiers''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Boone |first=Brian |title=Canceled Fox movies we'll never get to see |website=Looper |date=August 6, 2019 |url=https://www.looper.com/161823/canceled-fox-movies-well-never-get-to-see/ |access-date=September 7, 2019 |archive-date=September 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190914012027/https://www.looper.com/161823/canceled-fox-movies-well-never-get-to-see/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Donnelly |first=Matt |title=Disney Flushes Fox Film Development, 'Redirects' Strategy After Big Q3 Loss |website=Variety |date=August 6, 2019 |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/disney-fox-xmen-marvel-studio-losses-1203294296/ |access-date=September 7, 2019 |archive-date=August 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810154755/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/disney-fox-xmen-marvel-studio-losses-1203294296/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
* {{IMDb title|0122718}}
* {{Mojo title|smallsoldiers|Small Soldiers}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|small_soldiers|Small Soldiers}}
{{Small Soldiers}}
{{Joe Dante}}
{{Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio}}

[[Category:1998 films]]
[[Category:1998 action comedy films]]
[[Category:1990s science fiction comedy films]]
[[Category:1990s fantasy comedy films]]
[[Category:Action figures]]
[[Category:Amblin Entertainment films]]
[[Category:American action comedy films]]
[[Category:American science fiction comedy films]]
[[Category:American fantasy comedy films]]
[[Category:American science fantasy films]]
[[Category:DreamWorks Pictures films]]
[[Category:Films about toys]]
[[Category:Puppet films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Jerry Goldsmith]]
[[Category:Films directed by Joe Dante]]
[[Category:Films shot in California]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Ted Elliott]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Terry Rossio]]
[[Category:Films about sentient toys]]
[[Category:Universal Pictures films]]
[[Category:American robot films]]
[[Category:American satirical films]]
[[Category:1990s English-language films]]
[[Category:1990s American films]]
[[Category:American children's comedy films]]
[[Category:1998 science fiction films]]
[[Category:English-language science fantasy films]]
[[Category:English-language science fiction comedy films]]
[[Category:English-language action comedy films]]
[[Category:English-language fantasy comedy films]]