This Day in Horror History: Paul Verhoven’s STARSHIP TROOPERS Opened in 1997
Mike Sprague
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On this day in horror history, RoboCop and Total Recall director Paul Verhoeven’s sci-fi action adaptation of Robert A. Heinlein’s Starship Troopers opened in 1997.
It stars Casper Van Dien, Dina Meyers, Jake Busey, Denise Richards, Neil Patrick Harris, Amy Smart, Marshall Bell, Dean Norris, Clancy Brown, and Michael Ironside.
Written by Edward Neumeier, based on Robert A. Heinlein’s 1959 novel of the same name, the story follows a young soldier named Johnny Rico and his exploits in the Mobile Infantry, a futuristic military unit. Rico’s military career progresses from recruit to non-commissioned officer, and finally to officer, against the backdrop of an interstellar war between mankind and an insectoid species known as Arachnids.
Starship Troopers grossed $54.5M in the U.S. and $121.2M worldwide on a budget of $105M. Better yet, it was nominated for an Oscar for Best Visual Effects.
The film spawned enough of a following for two live-action films sequels Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation and Starship Troopers 3: Marauder, and two CGI films, Starship Troopers: Invasion and Starship Troopers: Traitor of Mars.
The film sports a 65% over on Rotten Tomatoes with a Critics Consensus that reads: A fun movie…if you can accept the excessive gore and wooden acting.
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