Netflix Is About to Lose the Most Underrated “Outrageous” Sci-Fi War “Masterpiece” You Need to Watch

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For many fans, Paul Verhoeven’s film is the perfect example of a “misunderstood cult classic.” If you haven’t seen it, or want to watch it again, subscribers don’t have much time – it leaves the platform on October 31st.

Paul Verhoeven’s 1997 film is a violent and darkly humorous take on the ‘bug’ movie genre, packed with his signature style. However, it was largely misunderstood, with many failing to recognize its sharp satire of fascism and powerful critique of military power. Some viewers mistakenly thought the film supported the very ideas it was criticizing, while others struggled with its combination of outrageous, over-the-top action and a surprisingly serious underlying message.

As a big sci-fi fan, I remember when Starship Troopers came out in November 1997. It had a really impressive cast – Casper Van Dien, Denise Richards, Jake Busey, Dina Meyer, even Neil Patrick Harris! But despite some initial buzz, it quickly faded. A lot of critics called it out as having some pretty questionable political themes, and honestly, the marketing didn’t really grab anyone. Plus, it just didn’t seem to connect with viewers. Considering it cost a whopping $100 million to make, with tons of CGI and practical effects, the $120 million it made worldwide was a real letdown. It’s a shame, because it looked amazing!

Despite being Paul Verhoeven’s fourth highest-grossing film – after Basic Instinct, Total Recall, and Hollow Man – Starship Troopers initially received mixed reviews, currently holding a 72% critic score and a 70% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. While many negative reviews date back to its original release, the film has since been praised as captivating, shocking, cleverly written, and simply excellent. Starship Troopers demonstrates that box office success isn’t the only measure of a film’s lasting impact, and it has become well-regarded despite a disappointing theatrical run.

‘Starship Troopers’ Developed an Unexpected Franchise


TriStar Pictures

Movies that don’t perform well in theaters rarely get sequels. However, despite the original Starship Troopers not being a huge box office success, the franchise continued with Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation and Starship Troopers 3: Marauder (2008). These sequels went straight to video and didn’t involve the original director, Paul Verhoeven, though actor Casper Van Dien returned as Rico in the third film. Later, two animated movies, Starship Troopers: Invasion (2012) and Starship Troopers: Traitor of Mars (2017), were released, and there was also a short-lived animated TV series in 1999.

For nearly fifteen years, fans have speculated about a remake, with many hoping it would be a closer adaptation of the original Robert A. Heinlein novel. However, director Paul Verhoeven wasn’t satisfied with any of the proposed ideas, and the project stalled further due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Now, a remake is finally happening, with Neill Blomkamp set to write and direct. Reports from March indicate Blomkamp will base his version more on the book than on Verhoeven’s film. As of yet, there’s no news on when production will begin or when the movie might be released.

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2025-10-22 13:17