SEATTLE, WA – Helldivers 2 has had an impressive week, surpassing concurrent player records of the popular game GTA V on Steam. The success of the extraction shooter seems to have sparked a resurgence of interest in the 1997 sci-fi film Starship Troopers. The game’s developer, Arrowhead Studios’ CEO Johan Pilestedt, noted that the movie has climbed to become the 45th most popular movie online, according to Television Stats.
Starship Troopers, which heavily influenced Helldivers 2, tells the story of a future where citizenship and suffrage are earned through federal service and humans launch brutal attacks on insectoid creatures known as Bugs. This satirical commentary on the military and democracy resonates with the themes of Helldivers 2, which also portrays a future where democracy is spread through warfare.
Despite being based on a novel by Robert A. Heinlein, which had ambiguous political leanings, the film adaptation took on a distinctly anti-fascist tone. Director Paul Verhoeven was quoted as saying that he found the book “boring and very right-wing,” and decided to explore the innate fascism in the source material in the film adaptation. The result was a loudly satirical and bombastic portrayal of the military and the United States’ approach to spreading democracy.
Upon its release, Starship Troopers garnered a mixed response from audiences and critics. Many failed to grasp the film’s satirical commentary, leading to misconceptions about its political message. Verhoeven, who grew up in Nazi-occupied Holland and aimed to criticize fascist ideology through the film, was dismayed by the misguided interpretations and was even accused of promoting neo-Nazi ideologies.
Despite the initial confusion and controversy, Starship Troopers has stood the test of time and remains relevant today. Its portrayal of the military complex and the media response continues to resonate, and the film’s special effects have aged well. As interest in the movie continues to grow, it remains a classic action movie combined with an anti-fascist satire.
Whether on Disney+ or available for purchase on Prime, Starship Troopers offers a thought-provoking and satirical take on military and democracy that remains as relevant today as it was upon its release.