Stripes
“The story of a man who wanted to keep the world safe for democracy...and meet girls.”
Synopsis
Hard-luck cabbie John Winger, directionless after being fired from his job and dumped by his girlfriend, enlists in the U.S. Army with his close pal, Russell Ziskey. After his barely satisfactory performance in basic training, the irreverent Winger emerges as the figurehead for a ragtag band of misfits. However, his hijinks threaten to cause an international scandal when he inadvertently commandeers a military assault vehicle behind enemy lines.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Official TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2021-08-26
Top Cast
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Bill Murray
John Winger
Harold Ramis
Russell Ziskey
Warren Oates
Sgt. Hulka
P. J. Soles
Stella Hansen
Sean Young
Louise Cooper
John Candy
Dewey "Ox" Oxberger
John Larroquette
Capt. Stillman
John Voldstad
Stillman's Aid
John Diehl
Cruiser
Lance LeGault
Col. Glass
Roberta Leighton
Anita
Conrad Dunn
Francis "Psycho" Soyer
Judge Reinhold
Elmo
Antone Pagán
Hector
Glenn-Michael Jones
Leon
William Lucking
Recruiter
Fran Ryan
Dowager in Cab
Joe Flaherty
Border Guard
Release History & Theatrical Window
June 26, 1981
Wide Cinema Exhibition
November 1, 1992
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$10M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$85.3M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
8.53x
+$75.3M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Ivan Reitman
- Screenplay & Story
- Len Blum, Harold Ramis, Daniel Goldberg
- Original Score
- Elmer Bernstein
- Original Title
- Stripes
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English, Russian, Polish
- Runtime
- 1h 46m
- Production Budget
- $10M
- Worldwide Gross
- $85.3M
- Production Studios
- Columbia Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Ivan Reitman
Len Blum, Harold Ramis, Daniel Goldberg
Elmer Bernstein
Wilmer Butler
Harry Keller, Michael Luciano, Eva Ruggiero
Ivan Reitman, Daniel Goldberg
Department Leadership Roster
Ivan Reitman
Director
Ivan Reitman
Producer
Len Blum
Screenplay
Harold Ramis
Screenplay
Daniel Goldberg
Screenplay
Daniel Goldberg
Producer
Elmer Bernstein
Original Music Composer
Wilmer Butler
Director of Photography
Harry Keller
Editor
Michael Luciano
Editor
Eva Ruggiero
Editor
Richard Bruno
Costume Design
James H. Spencer
Production Design
Terry James
Stunt Coordinator
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Tous publics — Universal audience.
Suitable only for 15 years and over.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Stripes.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Stripes.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Stripes
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Stripes about?
Hard-luck cabbie John Winger, directionless after being fired from his job and dumped by his girlfriend, enlists in the U.S. Army with his close pal, Russell Ziskey. After his barely satisfactory performance in basic training, the irreverent Winger emerges as the figurehead for a ragtag band of misfits. However, his hijinks threaten to cause an international scandal when he inadvertently commandeers a military assault vehicle behind enemy lines.
Who directed Stripes?
Stripes was directed by Ivan Reitman.
Who stars in Stripes?
The principal cast of Stripes includes Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, Warren Oates, P. J. Soles, Sean Young.
When was Stripes released and how long is it?
Stripes was released in 1981 with a total runtime of 1h 46m.
What was the box office and production budget of Stripes?
Stripes had a reported production budget of $10M and grossed $85.3M at the worldwide box office (8.53 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for Stripes?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Stripes was composed by Elmer Bernstein.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Stripes?
Stripes holds official age classifications: AU: M (Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.); DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); FR: U (Tous publics — Universal audience.); GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).