Danny McBride Argues 'Tropic Thunder' Could Still Be Made Today

Danny McBride believes the 2008 satire 'Tropic Thunder' could still be produced today, according to TheWrap. The actor, who played Cody in the film, shared this view during an appearance on 'Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso'.

What did Danny McBride say?

McBride argued that the film's success was never a given, even when it was made. "It’s not like they were opening up the gates for a movie like ‘Tropic Thunder’ to be made back then," he told the host. He credits director Ben Stiller's clear, intelligent vision as the key ingredient that allowed the controversial project to happen. "At the end of the day, you have to have somebody who’s really intelligent like Ben Stiller who has like a really smart idea," McBride said.

He specifically recalled the audacity of Robert Downey Jr.'s role, a method actor who undergoes surgery to darken his skin. "I remember the reading about what Robert Downey Jr.’s character was and being like this is insane. Are they going to really do this?" McBride noted that without a strong directorial hand, the concept could have felt superfluous.

How does this contrast with Ben Stiller's view?

McBride's position directly contrasts with that of the film's director. In a 2024 interview, Stiller expressed doubt that 'Tropic Thunder' could be made in the current climate. "The idea of Robert playing that character who’s playing an African American character, I mean, incredibly dicey," Stiller told Collider. He added that while he makes no apologies for the film, the environment for edgier comedy has changed, making him uncertain if he would attempt it now.

Where can you watch 'Tropic Thunder'?

As of July 2026, the film is available to stream on several platforms in the US, including Amazon Prime Video, Paramount+, and MGM+. The R-rated comedy, which has an 82% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, follows a group of actors whose war movie shoot descends into real danger in the jungles of Southeast Asia.

Sources