Small Soldiers
When militarized action figures become self-directed combatants, a teenager and his unlikely toy allies turn a suburban home into a battlefield.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Moderate
- playful
- witty
- frenetic
- family movie night
- nostalgic 1990s rewatch
What critics said
Critics generally found the film visually energetic and inventive but held back by a rote story that lacked Joe Dante's characteristic anarchic edge.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The Commando Elite and Gorgonites gain independent thought through military microchips and conduct real combat in a neighborhood.
A toy company embeds government military technology into action figures, turning a product line into an uncontrolled weapons system.
Alan, Christy, and the Gorgonites defend homes and family members as the Commando Elite attack throughout their suburban neighborhood.
The film foregrounds miniature action figures, talking toys, and effects-driven combat staged against ordinary human environments.
Films like Small Soldiers, and why
Gremlins
shared killer-toy premise, suburban chaos, darkly comic fantasy, and practical-effects spectacle
The Indian in the Cupboard
shared child-centered adventure, ordinary suburban setting, animated toys, and family-friendly peril
Toy Story
shared miniature-scale action, talking toy characters, comic adventure, and inventive effects-driven spectacle
Explorers
shared suburban science fiction comedy, teenage protagonists, and playful conflict between human and nonhuman forces
Movie Details
- Director
- Joe Dante
- Release Date
- 1998-07-10
- Runtime
- 110 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (2420)
Cast
- Gregory Smith
- Kirsten Dunst
- Denis Leary
- Phil Hartman
- David Cross
- Jay Mohr
- Kevin Dunn
- Ann Magnuson
- Wendy Schaal
- Jacob Smith
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- 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 Small Soldiers about?
- When militarized action figures become self-directed combatants, a teenager and his unlikely toy allies turn a suburban home into a battlefield.
- What is Small Soldiers like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Small Soldiers as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Small Soldiers violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Small Soldiers as moderate.
- What did critics think of Small Soldiers?
- Critics generally found the film visually energetic and inventive but held back by a rote story that lacked Joe Dante's characteristic anarchic edge.
- Which films are like Small Soldiers?
- Films with a similar feel include Gremlins, The Indian in the Cupboard, Toy Story, and Explorers.
- How long is Small Soldiers?
- Small Soldiers runs 110 minutes.
- Where can I watch Small Soldiers?
- In United States, Small Soldiers streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
