Kirk Lazarus

Tropic Thunder
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Ben Stiller
Produced by	Ben Stiller Stuart Cornfeld Eric McLeod
Screenplay by	Ben Stiller Justin Theroux Etan Cohen
Story by	Ben Stiller Justin Theroux
Starring	Ben Stiller Jack Black Robert Downey Jr. Steve Coogan Jay Baruchel Danny McBride Brandon T. Jackson Bill Hader Nick Nolte
Music by	Theodore Shapiro
Cinematography	John Toll
Edited by	Greg Hayden
Production companies	DreamWorks Pictures Red Hour Films Goldcrest Pictures Internationale Filmproduktion Stella-del-Sud Second GmbH & Co. KG
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	August 13, 2008 (2008-08-13)
Running time	106 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$92 million
Box office	$188.1 million

Tropic Thunder is a 2008 American satirical action comedy film co-written, produced, directed by, and starring Ben Stiller. The film also stars Robert Downey Jr. and Jack Black. The main plot revolves around a group of prima donna actors who are making a fictional Vietnam War film. When their frustrated director decides to drop them in the middle of a jungle, they are forced to rely on their acting skills in order to survive the real action and danger. Written by Stiller, Justin Theroux and Etan Cohen, the film was produced by DreamWorks Pictures, Red Hour Films and distributed by Paramount Pictures.

Stiller's idea for the film originated while playing a minor role in Empire of the Sun, and he later enlisted Theroux and Cohen to help complete the script. After the film was green-lit in 2006, filming took place in 2007 on the Hawaiian island of Kaua'i over thirteen weeks and was later deemed the largest film production in the island's history. The film had an extensive marketing promotion, including faux websites for the three main characters and their fictional films, airing a fictional television special, and selling the energy drink advertised in the film, "Booty Sweat", directed by Dr. Hemlock.

The film received generally positive reviews, with critics praising the film's characters, story, faux trailers, and the performances of Stiller, Downey, and Tom Cruise, though the depiction of the mentally handicapped proved controversial. The film's soundtrack and score debuted on August 5, 2008, before the film's theatrical release. In its North American opening weekend, the film earned $26 million and retained the number one position for the first three weekends of release. Downey received Academy Award, BAFTA Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for his performance, with both him and Cruise receiving nominations for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture. The film grossed more than $188 million worldwide before its release on home video on November 18, 2008.