Small Soldiers (1998)
| Theatrical Performance | ||
| Domestic Box Office | $55,143,823 | Details |
| International Box Office | $16,600,000 | |
| Worldwide Box Office | $71,743,823 | |
| OpusData ID: 9720100 More info... | ||
| Further financial details... | ||
Synopsis
When teenager Alan buys a set of Commando Elite action figures, he’s unaware that they have been programmed with military technology. The toys, including leader Chip, spring to life and start taking their directives seriously, beginning by “killing” their enemies, the toy Gorgonites. But Archer and the Gorgonites won’t go down without a fight. Alan gets caught in the middle of the war, as does his neighbor and crush, Christy.
Metrics
| Opening Weekend: | $14,047,592 (25.5% of total gross) |
| Legs: | 3.93 (domestic box office/biggest weekend) |
| Domestic Share: | 76.9% (domestic box office/worldwide) |
| Production Budget: | $40,000,000 (worldwide box office is 1.8 times production budget) |
| Theater counts: | 2,539 opening theaters/2,613 max. theaters, 5.5 weeks average run per theater |
| Infl. Adj. Dom. BO | $132,980,085 |
Movie Details
| Domestic Releases: | July 10th, 1998 (Wide) by Dreamworks SKG |
| Video Release: | December 3rd, 2003 by Dreamworks Video |
| MPA Rating: | PG-13 for some menacing action/violence and brief drug references |
| Running Time: | 110 minutes |
| Cast, crew, or production detail: | Posthumous Release |
| Plot point: | Artificial Intelligence, Corporate Malfeasance, First Love, Kidnap, Living Toys, Rescue, Romance |
| Subgenre: | Family Adventure |
| Source: | Original Screenplay |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Production Method: | Animation/Live Action |
| Creative Type: | Kids Fiction |
| Production/Financing Companies: | DreamWorks Pictures, Universal Pictures, Mike Finnell |
| Production Countries: | United States |
| Languages: | English |
Weekend Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 10, 1998 | 3 | $14,047,592 | 2,539 | $5,533 | $14,047,592 | 1 | |
| Jul 17, 1998 | 6 | $8,647,813 | -38% | 2,613 | $3,310 | $30,316,347 | 2 |
| Jul 24, 1998 | 9 | $5,317,546 | -39% | 2,512 | $2,117 | $40,491,053 | 3 |
| Jul 31, 1998 | 13 | $2,838,688 | -47% | 1,701 | $1,669 | $46,204,269 | 4 |
| Aug 7, 1998 | 12 | $1,551,000 | -45% | 1,249 | $1,242 | $49,380,902 | 5 |
| Aug 14, 1998 | 16 | $921,369 | -41% | 925 | $996 | $51,203,539 | 6 |
| Aug 21, 1998 | 23 | $431,729 | -53% | 607 | $711 | $52,089,097 | 7 |
| Aug 28, 1998 | 33 | $335,408 | -22% | 535 | $627 | $52,638,340 | 8 |
| Sep 4, 1998 | 29 | $624,560 | +86% | 1,004 | $622 | $52,753,599 | 9 |
| Sep 11, 1998 | 35 | $209,512 | -66% | 534 | $392 | $53,653,461 | 10 |
| Sep 18, 1998 | 38 | $123,631 | -41% | 0 | $53,810,759 | 11 | |
| Sep 25, 1998 | 44 | $111,268 | -10% | 0 | $53,955,614 | 12 | |
| Oct 9, 1998 | 50 | $45,736 | 0 | $54,103,327 | 14 | ||
| Oct 16, 1998 | 36 | $104,019 | +127% | 0 | $54,349,697 | 15 | |
| Oct 23, 1998 | 43 | $75,934 | -27% | 205 | $370 | $54,452,676 | 16 |
Daily Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | %YD | %LW | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 10, 1998 | 3 | $4,785,000 | 2,539 | $1,885 | $4,785,000 | 1 | ||
| Jul 11, 1998 | 3 | $5,060,000 | +6% | 2,539 | $1,993 | $9,845,000 | 2 | |
| Jul 12, 1998 | 3 | $3,964,000 | -22% | 2,539 | $1,561 | $14,048,000 | 3 | |
| Jul 13, 1998 | 3 | $1,960,243 | -51% | 2,539 | $772 | $16,007,835 | 4 | |
| Jul 14, 1998 | 3 | $2,036,124 | +4% | 2,539 | $802 | $18,043,959 | 5 | |
| Jul 15, 1998 | 4 | $1,845,165 | -9% | 2,539 | $727 | $19,889,124 | 6 | |
| Jul 16, 1998 | 4 | $1,779,410 | -4% | 2,539 | $701 | $21,668,534 | 7 | |
| Jul 17, 1998 | 6 | $2,550,000 | +43% | -47% | 2,613 | $976 | $24,219,000 | 8 |
| Jul 18, 1998 | 6 | $3,380,000 | +33% | -33% | 2,613 | $1,294 | $27,599,000 | 9 |
| Jul 19, 1998 | 6 | $2,678,000 | -21% | -32% | 2,613 | $1,025 | $30,316,347 | 10 |
| Jul 20, 1998 | 6 | $1,243,705 | -54% | -37% | 2,613 | $476 | $31,560,052 | 11 |
| Jul 21, 1998 | 6 | $1,268,549 | +2% | -38% | 2,613 | $485 | $32,828,601 | 12 |
| Jul 22, 1998 | 6 | $1,171,380 | -8% | -37% | 2,613 | $448 | $33,999,981 | 13 |
| Jul 23, 1998 | 6 | $1,173,526 | n/c | -34% | 2,613 | $449 | $35,173,507 | 14 |
| Jul 24, 1998 | 9 | $1,475,000 | +26% | -42% | 2,512 | $587 | $36,649,000 | 15 |
| Jul 25, 1998 | 9 | $2,100,000 | +42% | -38% | 2,512 | $836 | $38,749,000 | 16 |
| Jul 26, 1998 | 9 | $1,625,000 | -23% | -39% | 2,512 | $647 | $40,491,053 | 17 |
| Jul 27, 1998 | 9 | $730,125 | -55% | -41% | 2,512 | $291 | $41,221,178 | 18 |
| Jul 28, 1998 | 9 | $773,165 | +6% | -39% | 2,512 | $308 | $41,994,343 | 19 |
| Jul 30, 1998 | 10 | $682,114 | -42% | 2,512 | $272 | $43,365,581 | 21 |
Weekly Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 10, 1998 | 3 | $21,668,534 | 2,539 | $8,534 | $21,668,534 | 1 | |
| Jul 17, 1998 | 6 | $13,504,973 | -38% | 2,613 | $5,168 | $35,173,507 | 2 |
| Jul 24, 1998 | 9 | $8,192,074 | -39% | 2,512 | $3,261 | $43,365,581 | 3 |
| Jul 31, 1998 | 13 | $4,464,321 | -46% | 1,701 | $2,625 | $47,829,902 | 4 |
| Aug 7, 1998 | 12 | $2,452,268 | -45% | 1,249 | $1,963 | $50,282,170 | 5 |
| Aug 14, 1998 | 17 | $1,375,198 | -44% | 925 | $1,487 | $51,657,368 | 6 |
| Aug 21, 1998 | 24 | $645,564 | -53% | 607 | $1,064 | $52,302,932 | 7 |
| Sep 4, 1998 | 20 | $1,314,910 | 1,004 | $1,310 | $53,443,949 | 9 | |
| Sep 11, 1998 | 36 | $243,179 | -82% | 534 | $455 | $53,687,128 | 10 |
| Sep 18, 1998 | 40 | $157,218 | -35% | 0 | $53,844,346 | 11 | |
| Oct 9, 1998 | 31 | $188,087 | 0 | $54,245,678 | 14 | ||
| Oct 16, 1998 | 35 | $131,064 | -30% | 0 | $54,376,742 | 15 |
Lead Ensemble Member
| Kirsten Dunst | Christy Fimple | |
| Gregory Smith | Alan Abernathy | |
| Jay Mohr | Larry Benson | |
| Phil Hartman | Phil Fimple | |
| Kevin Dunn | Stuart Abernathy | |
| Denis Leary | Gil Mars |
Supporting
| David Cross | Irwin Wayfair | |
| Ann Magnuson | Irene Abernathy | |
| Wendy Schaal | Marion Fimple | |
| Alexandra Wilson | Ms. Kegel | |
| Robert Picardo | Ralph | |
| Tommy Lee Jones | Major Chip Hazard (voice) | |
| Frank Langella | Archer (voice) | |
| Ernest Borgnine | Kip Killagin (voice) | |
| Jim Brown | Butch Meathook (voice) | |
| Bruce Dern | Link Statis (voice) | |
| George Kennedy | Brick Bazooka (voice) | |
| Clint Walker | Nick Nitro | |
| Christopher Guest | Slamfist / Scratch-It | |
| Michael McKean | Insaniac / Freakenstein | |
| Harry Shearer | Punch-It | |
| Sarah Michelle Gellar | Gwendy Doll | |
| Christina Ricci | Gwendy Doll | |
| Dick Miller | Joe |
| Archie Hahn | ||
| Jonathan Bouck | ||
| Jim Cummings | Ocula | |
| Rance Howard | Husband | |
| Cheri Oteri | Globotech Telephone Operator |
Production and Technical Credits
| Joe Dante | Director | |
| Gavin Scott | Screenwriter | |
| Adam Rifkin | Screenwriter | |
| Ted Elliott | Screenwriter | |
| Terry Rossio | Screenwriter | |
| Mike Finnell | Producer | |
| Colin Wilson | Producer | |
| Walter F. Parkes | Executive Producer | |
| Paul Deason | Co-Producer | |
| Jamie Anderson | Cinematographer | |
| Marshall Harvey | Editor | |
| Jerry Goldsmith | Composer | |
| William Sandell | Production Designer | |
| Mark Mansbridge | Art Director | |
| Rosemary Brandenberg | Set Decorator | |
| Carole Brown-James | Costume Designer | |
| Ken King | Sound Mixer | |
| David Andrews | Animation Supervisor | |
| Stefen Fangmeier | Visual Effects Supervisor | |
| Benita Allen | Benita Allen-Honess | |
| Denise Chamian | Casting Director |
Cast and crew with above-the-line roles are marked in bold. The line marks the division between above-the-line and below-the-line roles.
Synopsis
When teenager Alan buys a set of Commando Elite action figures, he’s unaware that they have been programmed with military technology. The toys, including leader Chip, spring to life and start taking their directives seriously, beginning by “killing” their enemies, the toy Gorgonites. But Archer and the Gorgonites won’t go down without a fight. Alan gets caught in the middle of the war, as does his neighbor and crush, Christy.
Metrics
| Opening Weekend: | $14,047,592 (25.5% of total gross) |
| Legs: | 3.93 (domestic box office/biggest weekend) |
| Domestic Share: | 76.9% (domestic box office/worldwide) |
| Production Budget: | $40,000,000 (worldwide box office is 1.8 times production budget) |
| Theater counts: | 2,539 opening theaters/2,613 max. theaters, 5.5 weeks average run per theater |
| Infl. Adj. Dom. BO | $132,980,085 |
Movie Details
| Domestic Releases: | July 10th, 1998 (Wide) by Dreamworks SKG |
| Video Release: | December 3rd, 2003 by Dreamworks Video |
| MPA Rating: | PG-13 for some menacing action/violence and brief drug references |
| Running Time: | 110 minutes |
| Cast, crew, or production detail: | Posthumous Release |
| Plot point: | Artificial Intelligence, Corporate Malfeasance, First Love, Kidnap, Living Toys, Rescue, Romance |
| Subgenre: | Family Adventure |
| Source: | Original Screenplay |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Production Method: | Animation/Live Action |
| Creative Type: | Kids Fiction |
| Production/Financing Companies: | DreamWorks Pictures, Universal Pictures, Mike Finnell |
| Production Countries: | United States |
| Languages: | English |
Weekend Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 10, 1998 | 3 | $14,047,592 | 2,539 | $5,533 | $14,047,592 | 1 | |
| Jul 17, 1998 | 6 | $8,647,813 | -38% | 2,613 | $3,310 | $30,316,347 | 2 |
| Jul 24, 1998 | 9 | $5,317,546 | -39% | 2,512 | $2,117 | $40,491,053 | 3 |
| Jul 31, 1998 | 13 | $2,838,688 | -47% | 1,701 | $1,669 | $46,204,269 | 4 |
| Aug 7, 1998 | 12 | $1,551,000 | -45% | 1,249 | $1,242 | $49,380,902 | 5 |
| Aug 14, 1998 | 16 | $921,369 | -41% | 925 | $996 | $51,203,539 | 6 |
| Aug 21, 1998 | 23 | $431,729 | -53% | 607 | $711 | $52,089,097 | 7 |
| Aug 28, 1998 | 33 | $335,408 | -22% | 535 | $627 | $52,638,340 | 8 |
| Sep 4, 1998 | 29 | $624,560 | +86% | 1,004 | $622 | $52,753,599 | 9 |
| Sep 11, 1998 | 35 | $209,512 | -66% | 534 | $392 | $53,653,461 | 10 |
| Sep 18, 1998 | 38 | $123,631 | -41% | 0 | $53,810,759 | 11 | |
| Sep 25, 1998 | 44 | $111,268 | -10% | 0 | $53,955,614 | 12 | |
| Oct 9, 1998 | 50 | $45,736 | 0 | $54,103,327 | 14 | ||
| Oct 16, 1998 | 36 | $104,019 | +127% | 0 | $54,349,697 | 15 | |
| Oct 23, 1998 | 43 | $75,934 | -27% | 205 | $370 | $54,452,676 | 16 |
Daily Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | %YD | %LW | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 10, 1998 | 3 | $4,785,000 | 2,539 | $1,885 | $4,785,000 | 1 | ||
| Jul 11, 1998 | 3 | $5,060,000 | +6% | 2,539 | $1,993 | $9,845,000 | 2 | |
| Jul 12, 1998 | 3 | $3,964,000 | -22% | 2,539 | $1,561 | $14,048,000 | 3 | |
| Jul 13, 1998 | 3 | $1,960,243 | -51% | 2,539 | $772 | $16,007,835 | 4 | |
| Jul 14, 1998 | 3 | $2,036,124 | +4% | 2,539 | $802 | $18,043,959 | 5 | |
| Jul 15, 1998 | 4 | $1,845,165 | -9% | 2,539 | $727 | $19,889,124 | 6 | |
| Jul 16, 1998 | 4 | $1,779,410 | -4% | 2,539 | $701 | $21,668,534 | 7 | |
| Jul 17, 1998 | 6 | $2,550,000 | +43% | -47% | 2,613 | $976 | $24,219,000 | 8 |
| Jul 18, 1998 | 6 | $3,380,000 | +33% | -33% | 2,613 | $1,294 | $27,599,000 | 9 |
| Jul 19, 1998 | 6 | $2,678,000 | -21% | -32% | 2,613 | $1,025 | $30,316,347 | 10 |
| Jul 20, 1998 | 6 | $1,243,705 | -54% | -37% | 2,613 | $476 | $31,560,052 | 11 |
| Jul 21, 1998 | 6 | $1,268,549 | +2% | -38% | 2,613 | $485 | $32,828,601 | 12 |
| Jul 22, 1998 | 6 | $1,171,380 | -8% | -37% | 2,613 | $448 | $33,999,981 | 13 |
| Jul 23, 1998 | 6 | $1,173,526 | n/c | -34% | 2,613 | $449 | $35,173,507 | 14 |
| Jul 24, 1998 | 9 | $1,475,000 | +26% | -42% | 2,512 | $587 | $36,649,000 | 15 |
| Jul 25, 1998 | 9 | $2,100,000 | +42% | -38% | 2,512 | $836 | $38,749,000 | 16 |
| Jul 26, 1998 | 9 | $1,625,000 | -23% | -39% | 2,512 | $647 | $40,491,053 | 17 |
| Jul 27, 1998 | 9 | $730,125 | -55% | -41% | 2,512 | $291 | $41,221,178 | 18 |
| Jul 28, 1998 | 9 | $773,165 | +6% | -39% | 2,512 | $308 | $41,994,343 | 19 |
| Jul 30, 1998 | 10 | $682,114 | -42% | 2,512 | $272 | $43,365,581 | 21 |
Weekly Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 10, 1998 | 3 | $21,668,534 | 2,539 | $8,534 | $21,668,534 | 1 | |
| Jul 17, 1998 | 6 | $13,504,973 | -38% | 2,613 | $5,168 | $35,173,507 | 2 |
| Jul 24, 1998 | 9 | $8,192,074 | -39% | 2,512 | $3,261 | $43,365,581 | 3 |
| Jul 31, 1998 | 13 | $4,464,321 | -46% | 1,701 | $2,625 | $47,829,902 | 4 |
| Aug 7, 1998 | 12 | $2,452,268 | -45% | 1,249 | $1,963 | $50,282,170 | 5 |
| Aug 14, 1998 | 17 | $1,375,198 | -44% | 925 | $1,487 | $51,657,368 | 6 |
| Aug 21, 1998 | 24 | $645,564 | -53% | 607 | $1,064 | $52,302,932 | 7 |
| Sep 4, 1998 | 20 | $1,314,910 | 1,004 | $1,310 | $53,443,949 | 9 | |
| Sep 11, 1998 | 36 | $243,179 | -82% | 534 | $455 | $53,687,128 | 10 |
| Sep 18, 1998 | 40 | $157,218 | -35% | 0 | $53,844,346 | 11 | |
| Oct 9, 1998 | 31 | $188,087 | 0 | $54,245,678 | 14 | ||
| Oct 16, 1998 | 35 | $131,064 | -30% | 0 | $54,376,742 | 15 |
Lead Ensemble Member
| Kirsten Dunst | Christy Fimple | |
| Gregory Smith | Alan Abernathy | |
| Jay Mohr | Larry Benson | |
| Phil Hartman | Phil Fimple | |
| Kevin Dunn | Stuart Abernathy | |
| Denis Leary | Gil Mars |
Supporting
| David Cross | Irwin Wayfair | |
| Ann Magnuson | Irene Abernathy | |
| Wendy Schaal | Marion Fimple | |
| Alexandra Wilson | Ms. Kegel | |
| Robert Picardo | Ralph | |
| Tommy Lee Jones | Major Chip Hazard (voice) | |
| Frank Langella | Archer (voice) | |
| Ernest Borgnine | Kip Killagin (voice) | |
| Jim Brown | Butch Meathook (voice) | |
| Bruce Dern | Link Statis (voice) | |
| George Kennedy | Brick Bazooka (voice) | |
| Clint Walker | Nick Nitro | |
| Christopher Guest | Slamfist / Scratch-It | |
| Michael McKean | Insaniac / Freakenstein | |
| Harry Shearer | Punch-It | |
| Sarah Michelle Gellar | Gwendy Doll | |
| Christina Ricci | Gwendy Doll | |
| Dick Miller | Joe |
| Archie Hahn | ||
| Jonathan Bouck | ||
| Jim Cummings | Ocula | |
| Rance Howard | Husband | |
| Cheri Oteri | Globotech Telephone Operator |
Production and Technical Credits
| Joe Dante | Director | |
| Gavin Scott | Screenwriter | |
| Adam Rifkin | Screenwriter | |
| Ted Elliott | Screenwriter | |
| Terry Rossio | Screenwriter | |
| Mike Finnell | Producer | |
| Colin Wilson | Producer | |
| Walter F. Parkes | Executive Producer | |
| Paul Deason | Co-Producer | |
| Jamie Anderson | Cinematographer | |
| Marshall Harvey | Editor | |
| Jerry Goldsmith | Composer | |
| William Sandell | Production Designer | |
| Mark Mansbridge | Art Director | |
| Rosemary Brandenberg | Set Decorator | |
| Carole Brown-James | Costume Designer | |
| Ken King | Sound Mixer | |
| David Andrews | Animation Supervisor | |
| Stefen Fangmeier | Visual Effects Supervisor | |
| Benita Allen | Benita Allen-Honess | |
| Denise Chamian | Casting Director |
Cast and crew with above-the-line roles are marked in bold. The line marks the division between above-the-line and below-the-line roles.