“The only good bug, is a dead bug.”

Inexplicably, Paul Verhoeven‘s 1997 work of futuretastic sci-fi fantasy, STARSHIP TROOPERS – a movie about humans in a fascistic, militaristic future doing battle with giant alien bugs in a fight for survival – has become a cult-favourite.

Casper Van Dien, Denise Richards, Neil Patrick Harris, Dina Meyer, Jake Busey, Michael Ironside and Rue McLanahan (!) star in and  the distant future, the Earth is at war with a race of giant alien insects. Little is known about the Bugs except that they are intent on the eradication of all human life. But there was a time before the war… A Mobile Infantry travels to distant alien planets to take the war to the Bugs. They are a ruthless enemy with only one mission: Survival of their species no matter what the cost…

“In its early scenes, ‘Troopers ‘is basically a goofy high school movie, complete with love triangles, a big game, and a school dance (and sex) after. Once they’ve begun infantry training, the flexing of machismo so over the top, it can only be satire.” (VICE)

“A jaw-dropping experience, so rigorously one-dimensional and free from even the pretense of intelligence it’s hard not to be astonished and even mesmerized by what is on the screen.” (LA Times)

“Often grotesque and sometimes pretty cheesy too, it’s now embraced by many film fans as sly satire skewering America’s weakness for right-wing militarism.” (NME)

#MonsterMonday, August 29
Doors 9:00 pm | Movie 9:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.
Advance tickets HERE

*Minors permitted. Must be 19+ w/ID for bar service. Rio Theatre Groupons and passes OK for any single film screening only. Please redeem at the box office.
*If you are looking to redeem your tickets to either a canceled Rio Theatre screening or a Rio Theatre gift certificate, please email <[email protected]> with info including your name, canceled receipt number, gift certificate info, what you are wanting to see and when, and we can make the switch for you in advance. Alternately, you can bring this information with you to the venue, and we will do our best to help you at the box office.

STARSHIP TROOPERS (Paul Verhoeven, 1997 / 129 mins / 18A) Set in the future, the story follows a young soldier named Johnny Rico and his exploits in the Mobile Infantry. Rico’s military career progresses from recruit to non-commissioned officer and finally to officer against the backdrop of an interstellar war between mankind and an arachnoid species known as “the Bugs”.