Netflix Is About to Remove This Sci-Fi Classic — Watch It Before It’s Gone

Netflix viewers are about to lose one of the most iconic sci-fi movies from the 1990s. Starship Troopers, the 1997 action-packed space epic directed by Paul Verhoeven, is leaving the streaming platform on November 1st.

The movie has long been a fan favorite and a major part of science fiction history, so its removal will surely upset longtime fans who’ve enjoyed rewatching it on Netflix. The update comes from Netflix’s latest list of departing titles.

The movie is based on Robert A. Heinlein’s 1959 novel of the same name and was written by Edward Neumeier, who also worked on RoboCop. Set in a futuristic world where Earth is ruled by a single government known as the United Citizen Federation, the story follows Johnny Rico and his friends as they enlist in the military to fight giant alien bugs called the Arachnids.

The cast includes Casper Van Dien, Denise Richards, Dina Meyer, Neil Patrick Harris, Jake Busey, Patrick Muldoon, and Michael Ironside. The film was a huge production for its time, with a budget of around $100 million. Nearly half of that was spent on the groundbreaking special effects that brought the alien battles to life.

Although Starship Troopers was released with high expectations in November 1997, the response from critics wasn’t great. Many reviewers misunderstood its satire and saw it as overly violent or supportive of militarism.

While it opened well in theaters, interest dropped soon after. It ended up making just over $120 million worldwide, enough to cover its costs but not the major hit studios had hoped for.

However, over the years, the movie’s reputation has completely changed. What was once seen as a cheesy action flick is now viewed as a sharp and bold satire of fascism, war propaganda, and blind patriotism. Fans and critics have re-evaluated it as one of the smartest sci-fi films of its era, packed with dark humor and social commentary hidden beneath the explosions.

The movie also launched an entire franchise. It spawned several sequels, including Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation (2004), Starship Troopers 3: Marauder (2008), Starship Troopers: Invasion (2012), and Starship Troopers: Traitor of Mars (2017). It also inspired an animated series, video games, comics, and even toy lines, keeping the world of Starship Troopers alive for nearly three decades.

For fans who haven’t seen it, or those who want to experience it again, now is the perfect time before it disappears from Netflix. Once it’s gone, it might be harder to find on streaming platforms for a while.

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