Overview
Two misfits find themselves in over their heads in the military, leading to unexpected chaos and hilarity.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- irreverent
- witty
- anarchic
- lazy sunday
- group movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film an irreverent and charming showcase for Bill Murray’s comic instincts, though its uneven and diffuse execution weakens the premise.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
John Winger's platoon repeatedly clashes with drill-sergeant authority and conventional army discipline.
John Winger and Russell Ziskey enlist together and rely on one another through training and the overseas crisis.
Winger joins the army after personal failure but continually challenges Sergeant Hulka and military expectations.
The EM-50 urban assault vehicle becomes the means for Winger and his allies to rescue their platoon without official support.
Films like Stripes, and why
Caddyshack
irreverent buddy comedy driven by a charismatic outsider, crude humor, and anarchic ensemble energy
Private Benjamin
military spoof combining fish out of water recruits, broad comedy, and affectionate ensemble camaraderie
Meatballs
Bill Murray-led comedy built around sardonic one-liners, rebellious behavior, and mismatched companions
The Dirty Dozen
ensemble military comedy balancing dysfunctional recruits, absurd authority figures, and light action adventure
Movie Details
- Director
- Ivan Reitman
- Release Date
- 1981-06-26
- Runtime
- 106 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (1077)
Cast
- Bill Murray
- Harold Ramis
- Warren Oates
- P. J. Soles
- Sean Young
- John Candy
- John Larroquette
- John Voldstad
- John Diehl
- Lance LeGault
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Stripes about?
- Two aimless friends enlist in the army and turn a misfit platoon’s overseas crisis into a wildly unauthorized rescue operation.
- What is Stripes like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Stripes as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Stripes violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Stripes as mild.
- What did critics think of Stripes?
- Critics broadly found the film an irreverent and charming showcase for Bill Murray’s comic instincts, though its uneven and diffuse execution weakens the premise.
- Which films are like Stripes?
- Films with a similar feel include Caddyshack, Private Benjamin, Meatballs, and The Dirty Dozen.
- How long is Stripes?
- Stripes runs 106 minutes.
- Where can I watch Stripes?
- In United States, Stripes streams on Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel.
