Tropic Thunder

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Tropic Thunder

R

2008

1h 47m

Comedy

Action

Adventure

War

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

82%

Tomatometer

249 Reviews

71%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller), pampered action superstar, sets out for Southeast Asia to take part in the biggest, most-expensive war movie produced, but soon after filming begins, he and his co-stars, Oscar-winner Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr.), comic Jeff Portnoy (Jack Black) and the rest of the crew, must become real soldiers when fighting breaks out in that part of the jungle.

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Critics Consensus

With biting satire, plenty of subversive humor, and an unforgettable turn by Robert Downey, Jr., Tropic Thunder is a triumphant late summer comedy.

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

Jan 27, 2018

The bulk of this movie, alas, comes down to weak sketches held together by ridiculous action, vast explosions and more or less everything else it should be parodying.

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Glenn Kenny

MUBI

Dec 13, 2017

Given the incoherence of its satirical aspirations (the film does end with a suggestion that everyone involved still loves this business we call show), and finally too scattershot to really make it as parody, Tropic Thunder is best appreciated as a goof.

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Donald Clarke

Irish Times

Oct 18, 2008

The tension between what the film says and what the film does helps support one of a dozen (or so) layers of snarky, self-aware humour.

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James Croot

The Post NZ

Aug 16, 2023

4/5

Gleefully un-PC, Tropic is still one of the most hilarious Hollywood comedies of the 21st Century.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Feb 15, 2023

3.5/4

Rude and crude, Tropic Thunder displays minimal mercy toward its targets.

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Aug 13, 2021

Tropic Thunder certainly has flaws but at the end of the day, it is an over-the-top satire that shows everything that's wrong with Hollywood.

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Moshe F

@MosheMF Oct 3, 2026

A painfully unfunny attempt at satire. The targets were obvious and doubtless deserving of mockery, but that's not the same as actually being funny.

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 27, 2026

Tropic Thunder = a *4* star Movie!

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Libby R

@RT05611577 Aug 24, 2026

this movie is the most iconic comedy movie . i always come back to this movie . they don’t make comedies like this anymore ! i never get tired laughing

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calder H

@sans. Aug 24, 2026

absolute peak, top ten comedy movies

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Pramit B

@pramit Aug 24, 2026

It's hilarious. The type of movie that would definitely get cancelled nowadays, but it still makes you laugh out loud.

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Sahana P

@Ppotato Aug 15, 2026

Definitely a movie of its time period, not very PC. The acting is great, overalll a fun time watch

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Ben Stiller

Director

Ben Stiller

Tugg Speedman

Jack Black

Jeff Portnoy

Robert Downey Jr.

Kirk Lazarus

Nick Nolte

Four Leaf Tayback

Steve Coogan

Damien Cockburn

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Synopsis

Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller), pampered action superstar, sets out for Southeast Asia to take part in the biggest, most-expensive war movie produced, but soon after filming begins, he and his co-stars, Oscar-winner Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr.), comic Jeff Portnoy (Jack Black) and the rest of the crew, must become real soldiers when fighting breaks out in that part of the jungle.

Director: Ben Stiller
Producer: Ben Stiller, Stuart Cornfeld, Eric McLeod
Screenwriter: Ben Stiller, Justin Theroux, Etan Cohen
Distributor: Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks SKG
Production Co: DreamWorks SKG, Red Hour Films
Rating: R (Pervasive Language|Drug Material|Sexual References|Violent Content)
Genre: Comedy, Action, Adventure, War, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 13, 2008, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 29, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $110.4M
Runtime: 1h 47m

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