Released in the summer of 1998 by DreamWorks Pictures, Small Soldiers is a chaotic, satirical, and surprisingly sharp blockbuster that has aged into a cult classic. Let’s take a detailed look back at the film that made us all side-eye our G.I. Joes.
The film's protagonist, Andrew Archer (played by Chris O'Donnell), is a teenager who becomes involved in the battle between the G.I.s and a rival corporation, Architech. Architech produces a line of toys called the "Cy-Bots," which are sleek and high-tech, but also ruthless and efficient. The Cy-Bots are led by the charismatic and power-hungry leader, Archer (played by Ben Stiller). small soldiers 1998
This tonal clash is what makes the movie special. It isn't afraid to be scary. The Commando Elite are genuinely intimidating. They don’t just punch; they use nail guns, firecrackers, and eventually improvised weapons like tennis ball cannons and flamethrowers. The film satirizes the military-industrial complex and corporate greed in a way that flies over kids' heads but hits home for adults. Denis Leary’s character sums it up best when he realizes the chaos his cost-cutting has caused: "Don't tell the press." Released in the summer of 1998 by DreamWorks
If you grew up in the 1990s, you likely remember the distinct genre of "kids' movies that were actually kind of terrifying." We had Jumanji with its killer mosquitoes, Indian in the Cupboard with its existential crisis, and The Witches with its turn-the-kids-into-mice plot. But in 1998, director Joe Dante took things a step further. He gave us Small Soldiers , a film that answered the terrifying childhood question: What if my action figures actually came to life... and they were heavily armed? The film's protagonist, Andrew Archer (played by Chris
Aggressive, ultra-patriotic soldiers programmed to seek and destroy.
The filmmakers (director Joe Dante, producer Steven Spielberg, and effects company Stan Winston) built fully functional, radio-controlled puppets for the main Commando Elite and Gorgonites. These animatronic puppets could walk, move their mouths, and gesture — allowing actors like Tommy Lee Jones (as Chip Hazard) and Frank Langella (as Archer) to record their dialogue live on set while puppeteers operated the creatures in real time. CGI was used only for complex action shots (flying, rapid combat) and the “moving toy box” sequences.
While CGI was used for wide shots and complex movements, the scenes featuring the animatronics have a tactile, gritty reality that CGI still struggles to replicate. When Chip Hazard’s face moves or the Gorgonites' eyes dart around, you believe they are physical objects occupying real space. This commitment to practical effects is a major reason why the film holds up visually 25 years later.
