Small Soldiers (1998)

Small Soldiers (1998) blends high-octane action with clever satire as it tells the story of advanced military microchips accidentally embedded into toy soldiers. When the elite Commando Elite action figures are brought to life, they wage war on the peaceful Gorgonites, leading to chaos in a quiet suburban neighborhood. Teenager Alan Abernathy (Gregory Smith) teams up with neighbor Christy (Kirsten Dunst) to protect their families and outsmart the increasingly aggressive toys. With voice talent from Tommy Lee Jones and Frank Langella, the film mixes humor, adventure, and a critique of militarization in consumer culture.

Directed by Joe Dante, Small Soldiers showcases a powerhouse cast including Jay Mohr, Phil Hartman, Denis Leary, and David Cross. It fuses practical effects with early CGI to create memorable toy battles that captivated late-'90s audiences. The film's blend of teen comedy, sci-fi action, and satire has earned it cult status among fans of family-friendly thrillers. Packed with nods to action cinema and pop culture, Small Soldiers is both a nostalgic ride and a cautionary tale about technology gone rogue.