Tropic Thunder is a 2008 satirical action comedy film directed by Ben Stiller. It stars Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Jay Baruchel, and Brandon T. Jackson as a group of prima donna actors making a Vietnam War film. When their frustrated director drops them in the middle of a jungle, they are forced to rely on their acting skills to survive the real action and danger. It is a parody of many famous war films, specifically those based on the Vietnam War. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Tom Cruise, Nick Nolte, Matthew McConaughey and Bill Hader. The screenplay was written by Justin Theroux, Stiller, and Etan Cohen from a story by Stiller and Theroux. The film was produced by Stuart Cornfeld, Stiller, and Eric McLeod for Red Hour Productions and DreamWorks Pictures as an international co-production between the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom.
