Was Starship Troopers a hit?
04-22-03, 11:57 AM
#1
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Was Starship Troopers a hit?
The reason why I am wondering is because there seems to be a sequel in the works and is to be directed, I think, by Phil Tippett. Haven't seen Paul Verhoeven's name around the project so I would assume this possible sequel may be much tamer in its sexual and violent content. And it certainly does not show quite a bit of promise when they cast that girl fm American Idol.
I personally loved the movie since it showed rich, good-looking kids being thrown into the pit of war against creatures that are way beyond their means and Verhoeven sure did not pull any punches when it came to severed heads & decapitated bodies. But I do remember majority of critics and the audience just lambasting the movie due to its "Beverly Hills 90210 goes to war" theme. And it comes as a surprise that a sequel is being made considering everyone felt the first movie was a flop.
I personally loved the movie since it showed rich, good-looking kids being thrown into the pit of war against creatures that are way beyond their means and Verhoeven sure did not pull any punches when it came to severed heads & decapitated bodies. But I do remember majority of critics and the audience just lambasting the movie due to its "Beverly Hills 90210 goes to war" theme. And it comes as a surprise that a sequel is being made considering everyone felt the first movie was a flop.
However, it was a DVD hit!
04-22-03, 02:00 PM
#3
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love it, but not for the gore...it's a very poignant social commentary about fascism and not questioning your leaders or their motives during wartime. if i were a civics or govt professor, i'd be discussing it in class right now.
it didn't do terribly well at the theaters because it was marketed as a "serious" action flick when it's more of a social satire.
anyway, i doubt i'll have any trouble ignoring a sequel if it's bad, and who knows, it might be good.
it didn't do terribly well at the theaters because it was marketed as a "serious" action flick when it's more of a social satire.
anyway, i doubt i'll have any trouble ignoring a sequel if it's bad, and who knows, it might be good.
04-22-03, 02:05 PM
#4
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From IMDb:
Business Data for
Starship Troopers (1997)
Budget
$95m (USA)
Opening Weekend
DEM 5,118,110 (Germany) (1 February 1998) (526 screens)
£2.221m (UK) (4 January 1998) (360 screens)
$22.058m (USA) (9 November 1997) (2,971 screens)
Gross
$52m (22 February 1998) (Non-USA)
DEM 15,096,442 (Germany) (22 February 1998)
DEM 13,171,316 (Germany) (15 February 1998)
$65m (Non-USA) (10 May 1998)
$62m (Non-USA) (3 May 1998)
$58.1m (Non-USA) (15 March 1998)
$56.4m (Non-USA) (8 March 1998)
$54.7m (Non-USA) (1 March 1998)
$52m (Non-USA) (22 February 1998)
$33m (Non-USA) (1 February 1998)
$25.3m (Non-USA) (25 January 1998)
$20.5m (Non-USA) (18 January 1998)
$17.6m (Non-USA) (11 January 1998)
$12.2m (Non-USA) (4 January 1998)
$7m (Non-USA) (21 December 1997)
$2.5m (Non-USA) (30 November 1997)
£6.315m (UK) (8 February 1998)
£6.153m (UK) (1 February 1998)
£5.851m (UK) (25 January 1998)
£5.365m (UK) (18 January 1998)
£4.217m (UK) (11 January 1998)
£2.221m (UK) (4 January 1998)
$54.7m (USA) (22 February 1998)
$54.628m (USA) (15 February 1998)
$54.531m (USA) (8 February 1998)
$54.331m (USA) (25 January 1998)
$54.308m (USA) (19 January 1998)
$54.277m (USA) (11 January 1998)
$54.251m (USA) (4 January 1998)
$54.188m (USA) (28 December 1997)
$54.095m (USA) (21 December 1997)
$53.791m (USA) (14 December 1997)
$52.925m (USA) (7 December 1997)
$51.005m (USA) (30 November 1997)
$46.268m (USA) (23 November 1997)
$39.193m (USA) (16 November 1997)
$22.058m (USA) (9 November 1997)
Weekend Gross
DEM 1,290,765 (Germany) (22 February 1998) (453 screens)
DEM 2,099,959 (Germany) (15 February 1998) (533 screens)
£74,413 (UK) (8 February 1998) (108 screens)
£175,173 (UK) (1 February 1998) (162 screens)
£225,771 (UK) (25 January 1998) (214 screens)
£645,501 (UK) (18 January 1998) (334 screens)
£1.142m (UK) (11 January 1998) (378 screens)
£2.221m (UK) (4 January 1998) (360 screens)
Admissions
459,531 (France) (27 January 1998)
1,314,236 (Germany) (23 February 1998)
1,142,933 (Germany) (16 February 1998)
865,303 (Germany) (9 February 1998)
427,141 (Germany) (2 February 1998) (opening week)
Theatrical Rentals
$24.393m (USA)
Production Dates
29 April 1996 - September 1996
Starship Troopers (1997)
Budget
$95m (USA)
Opening Weekend
DEM 5,118,110 (Germany) (1 February 1998) (526 screens)
£2.221m (UK) (4 January 1998) (360 screens)
$22.058m (USA) (9 November 1997) (2,971 screens)
Gross
$52m (22 February 1998) (Non-USA)
DEM 15,096,442 (Germany) (22 February 1998)
DEM 13,171,316 (Germany) (15 February 1998)
$65m (Non-USA) (10 May 1998)
$62m (Non-USA) (3 May 1998)
$58.1m (Non-USA) (15 March 1998)
$56.4m (Non-USA) (8 March 1998)
$54.7m (Non-USA) (1 March 1998)
$52m (Non-USA) (22 February 1998)
$33m (Non-USA) (1 February 1998)
$25.3m (Non-USA) (25 January 1998)
$20.5m (Non-USA) (18 January 1998)
$17.6m (Non-USA) (11 January 1998)
$12.2m (Non-USA) (4 January 1998)
$7m (Non-USA) (21 December 1997)
$2.5m (Non-USA) (30 November 1997)
£6.315m (UK) (8 February 1998)
£6.153m (UK) (1 February 1998)
£5.851m (UK) (25 January 1998)
£5.365m (UK) (18 January 1998)
£4.217m (UK) (11 January 1998)
£2.221m (UK) (4 January 1998)
$54.7m (USA) (22 February 1998)
$54.628m (USA) (15 February 1998)
$54.531m (USA) (8 February 1998)
$54.331m (USA) (25 January 1998)
$54.308m (USA) (19 January 1998)
$54.277m (USA) (11 January 1998)
$54.251m (USA) (4 January 1998)
$54.188m (USA) (28 December 1997)
$54.095m (USA) (21 December 1997)
$53.791m (USA) (14 December 1997)
$52.925m (USA) (7 December 1997)
$51.005m (USA) (30 November 1997)
$46.268m (USA) (23 November 1997)
$39.193m (USA) (16 November 1997)
$22.058m (USA) (9 November 1997)
Weekend Gross
DEM 1,290,765 (Germany) (22 February 1998) (453 screens)
DEM 2,099,959 (Germany) (15 February 1998) (533 screens)
£74,413 (UK) (8 February 1998) (108 screens)
£175,173 (UK) (1 February 1998) (162 screens)
£225,771 (UK) (25 January 1998) (214 screens)
£645,501 (UK) (18 January 1998) (334 screens)
£1.142m (UK) (11 January 1998) (378 screens)
£2.221m (UK) (4 January 1998) (360 screens)
Admissions
459,531 (France) (27 January 1998)
1,314,236 (Germany) (23 February 1998)
1,142,933 (Germany) (16 February 1998)
865,303 (Germany) (9 February 1998)
427,141 (Germany) (2 February 1998) (opening week)
Theatrical Rentals
$24.393m (USA)
Production Dates
29 April 1996 - September 1996
04-22-03, 03:11 PM
#5
DVD Talk Legend
Originally posted by chess
it's a very poignant social commentary about fascism and not questioning your leaders or their motives during wartime. if i were a civics or govt professor, i'd be discussing it in class right now.
it's a very poignant social commentary about fascism and not questioning your leaders or their motives during wartime. if i were a civics or govt professor, i'd be discussing it in class right now.
04-22-03, 04:39 PM
#6
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
I think it's a great movie. The sad thing is that there's not many people I know who've seen it. I tried to get a couple of people to watch it once, and they just mocked it calling it a "movie about some giant bugs." Unfortunately, I think there's a lot of people out there who will never see it for that very reason.
04-22-03, 06:33 PM
#8
DVD Talk Gold Edition
i'd say it is somewhat of a hit..it made it's money back and then some. Most people I know have seen it, and enjoy it.. Quite a few of them own the DVD as well
04-22-03, 08:12 PM
#10
DVD Talk Hero
Starship Troopers was an excellent movie, one of Verhoeven's best. Much better than either Robocop or Total Recall.
Yeah, it does have a Beverly Hills 90210-type cast. That's part of the theme. The whole movie is a total piss-take on old war/propaganda movies. The soldiers are supposed to be the "All-American boy/girl" types to a fault. That's part of the joke.
Starship Troopers was a black comedy satire masquerading as an action sci-fi flick.
Yeah, it does have a Beverly Hills 90210-type cast. That's part of the theme. The whole movie is a total piss-take on old war/propaganda movies. The soldiers are supposed to be the "All-American boy/girl" types to a fault. That's part of the joke.
Starship Troopers was a black comedy satire masquerading as an action sci-fi flick.
04-22-03, 08:15 PM
#11
DVD Talk Hero
Apparently, a sequel is in the works: http://www.moviehole.net/
Go to the link, looks like they have a poster, too.
Scoopie, Scoopie, Scoop. Just in, the official cast list for the soon to be shooting "Starship Troopers 2" - and yep, that's "American Idol" starlet Kelly Clarkson as one of the leads.Those that have got the nod to star in the Phil Tippett sequel are; [in alphabetical order] Billy Brown, Richard Burgi, Kelly Carlson, Cy Carter, Sandrine Holt, Ed Lauter ["Cujo"], J.P. Manoux, Lawrence Monoson, Colleen Porch, Drew Powel, Ed Quinn, Jason-Shane Scott, Brenda Strong ("Red Dragon"). The film begins shooting next month in LA.
04-22-03, 08:39 PM
#15
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Starship Troopers ended up being a moderate hit after DVD sales are factored in. But it does have a following and is popular among a certain crowd. But the thing that really made this sequel possible is the fact that it is in fact, quite low budget. I don't know the actual figure (i've heard 6 million, 20 million, but it's not that high) it's being made pretty low cost. They suppose that having Phil Tippet directing (he was the head special effects guy on the original) will allow good effects work for lower money since he can get his crew to work for less I suppose. Nonetheless, this is no mega budget theatrical sequel. It might be straight to video for that matter.
04-22-03, 10:38 PM
#16
DVD Talk Legend
I really don't have any confidence in the sequel the way it is being done. This movie is still in the process of being a hit IMO; it's still finding its audience and getting new fans about six years after its release, and that is the sign that a film is worth something.
The way to do a sequel, IMO, would be to wait another ten to fifteen years when it is obvious there is a large fan base for the original. Then, make a sequel that focuses on the surviving characters in their old age as they still fight the battles against the bugs. By then, Casper Van Dien, Denise Richards, and, God willing, Doogie Howser will have all proven themselves as B-movie/straight to video legends ready to pass the torch to the new generation of bad actors.
My guess as to why Starship Troopers didn't do too well in its theatrical run:kids sneaking into it after paying money for another movie. I remember seeing Starship its opening weekend, and that theater was far from empty; it had a lot of teeny boppers in seats. This was more or less a result of the R rating, which a lot of parents didn't seem to mind until they found out the movie had nudity (GASP!), which no kid should see. Violent deaths and mutilations are fine, but no nudity.
The way to do a sequel, IMO, would be to wait another ten to fifteen years when it is obvious there is a large fan base for the original. Then, make a sequel that focuses on the surviving characters in their old age as they still fight the battles against the bugs. By then, Casper Van Dien, Denise Richards, and, God willing, Doogie Howser will have all proven themselves as B-movie/straight to video legends ready to pass the torch to the new generation of bad actors.
My guess as to why Starship Troopers didn't do too well in its theatrical run:kids sneaking into it after paying money for another movie. I remember seeing Starship its opening weekend, and that theater was far from empty; it had a lot of teeny boppers in seats. This was more or less a result of the R rating, which a lot of parents didn't seem to mind until they found out the movie had nudity (GASP!), which no kid should see. Violent deaths and mutilations are fine, but no nudity.
04-23-03, 12:06 AM
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http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthr...hreadid=268432
It originally was a story about Clancy Brown's character, but the character was changed.
It originally was a story about Clancy Brown's character, but the character was changed.
Last edited by devilshalo; 04-23-03 at 12:08 AM.
04-23-03, 12:15 AM
#19
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Originally posted by Josh-da-man
Yeah, it does have a Beverly Hills 90210-type cast. That's part of the theme. The whole movie is a total piss-take on old war/propaganda movies. The soldiers are supposed to be the "All-American boy/girl" types to a fault. That's part of the joke.
Starship Troopers was a black comedy satire masquerading as an action sci-fi flick.
Yeah, it does have a Beverly Hills 90210-type cast. That's part of the theme. The whole movie is a total piss-take on old war/propaganda movies. The soldiers are supposed to be the "All-American boy/girl" types to a fault. That's part of the joke.
Starship Troopers was a black comedy satire masquerading as an action sci-fi flick.
This sequel sounds like straight to video fodder though. Can't they leave well enough alone.
Last edited by cultshock; 04-23-03 at 12:17 AM.
04-23-03, 09:46 AM
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I doubt the film made much money back after you consider marketing. If it cost 95 million, and made 121 million worldwide, advertising was probably somewhere in the 5-10 million range (it was billed as one of Sony's big summer movies that year) Thats not a hit by any stretch.
it has done well on DVD though, so who knows.
it has done well on DVD though, so who knows.
04-23-03, 10:43 AM
#21
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Another one of those love it/hate it flicks. I love it, wifey hates it. Of course we reverse on Buffy (I kinna stand it!). Another vote for the book. If you like that book, look for David Gerrold's Chtorr series and Orson Scott Card's Ender series.
08-24-03, 09:13 PM
#22
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
I'm constantly amazed at how many people missed the point of this excellent movie. I recently read all of the old reviews off of mrqe.com and I was amazed at how few professional, long-time critics recognized that the entire film is a satire, so many of them judge it strictly as a action movie. Fer crissake, there's Doogie Howser wearing an SS leather trenchcoat in this movie, the satire is not exactly subtle. News for those critics out there who missed the boat on "Starship Troopers"... I've got another bombshell for you:
"Born in the USA" is NOT a patriotic sing along.
"Born in the USA" is NOT a patriotic sing along.
08-25-03, 02:13 AM
#23
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Originally posted by cultshock
Totally agree. And I like the book even better (but I think the film is about as fine an interpretation as is possible). I think there was a large part of the audience expecting a big budget popcorn flick and just didn't "get it".
Totally agree. And I like the book even better (but I think the film is about as fine an interpretation as is possible). I think there was a large part of the audience expecting a big budget popcorn flick and just didn't "get it".
08-25-03, 05:12 AM
#24
DVD Talk Special Edition
I like Starship Troopers, gore for gore's sake. action for action's sake. good fun. indeed the plot good have been worked upon and the movie could've flowed more smoothly. But it was lovely.
08-25-03, 08:09 AM
#25
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Originally posted by joeydaninja
I like Starship Troopers, gore for gore's sake. action for action's sake. good fun. indeed the plot good have been worked upon and the movie could've flowed more smoothly. But it was lovely.
I like Starship Troopers, gore for gore's sake. action for action's sake. good fun. indeed the plot good have been worked upon and the movie could've flowed more smoothly. But it was lovely.
Originally posted by keyed
I'm of the opposite opinion. The movie is a mindless big budget popcorn movie and that's the only reason it even made as much as it did. I hated the film and thought it was a mockery of the book. My sole consolation is that I can easily picture how they would rip it in MST3k.
I'm of the opposite opinion. The movie is a mindless big budget popcorn movie and that's the only reason it even made as much as it did. I hated the film and thought it was a mockery of the book. My sole consolation is that I can easily picture how they would rip it in MST3k.