Tropic Thunder

A 2008 satirical action comedy film directed by Ben Stiller, who also co-wrote the screenplay and stars in the film. The story follows a group of self-absorbed actors shooting a big-budget Vietnam War movie. When their frustrated director (Steve Coogan) drops them in the middle of the Southeast Asian jungle to add realism, the actors are forced to rely on their acting skills to survive real dangers. The main cast includes Ben Stiller (Tugg Speedman), Robert Downey Jr. (Kirk Lazarus), Jack Black (Jeff Portnoy), Jay Baruchel (Kevin Sandusky), and Brandon T. Jackson (Alpa Chino). The film also features Nick Nolte, Danny McBride, Matthew McConaughey, Bill Hader, and Tom Cruise in a surprising role as producer Les Grossman. The film parodies Hollywood's film industry, method acting, and war movie clichés. Robert Downey Jr. received Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for his role as an actor who undergoes a pigmentation alteration procedure to play a Black character. Despite controversies, the film was a commercial success, grossing over $195 million worldwide.