Universal Soldier (1992 film)

Universal Soldier
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Roland Emmerich
Written by	Richard Rothstein Christopher Leitch Dean Devlin
Produced by	Allen Shapiro Craig Baumgarten Joel B. Michaels
Starring	Jean-Claude Van Damme Dolph Lundgren Ally Walker Ed O'Ross Jerry Orbach
Cinematography	Karl Walter Lindenlaub
Edited by	Michael J. Duthie
Music by	Christopher Franke
Production companies	Carolco Pictures Centropolis Entertainment IndieProd Company Productions
Distributed by	TriStar Pictures
Release date	July 10, 1992 (1992-07-10)
Running time	102 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$23 million[1][2]
Box office	$95 million[citation needed]

Universal Soldier is a 1992 American military science-fiction action film directed by Roland Emmerich, produced by Allen Shapiro, Craig Baumgarten, and Joel B. Michaels, and written by Richard Rothstein, Christopher Leitch, and Dean Devlin. The film tells the story of Luc Deveraux, portrayed by Jean-Claude Van Damme, a former U.S. Army soldier who was killed in the Vietnam War in 1969, and returned to life following a secret military project called the "Universal Soldier" program. However, he finds out about his past, though his memory was erased, and escapes alongside a young TV journalist (Ally Walker). Along the way, they have to deal with the return of his archenemy, Sgt. Andrew Scott (Dolph Lundgren), who had lost his sanity in the Vietnam War, and became a psychotic megalomaniac, intent on killing him and leading the Universal Soldiers.

Universal Soldier was released by TriStar Pictures on July 10, 1992. The film has a 35% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and grossed $95 million worldwide against its budget of $23 million and spawned a series of films: theatrical sequel Universal Soldier: The Return, alternative direct-to-video sequel Universal Soldier: Regeneration, standalone direct-to-video film Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning, and two direct-to-TV films, Universal Soldier II: Brothers in Arms and Universal Soldier III: Unfinished Business.

It was the first film on-screen collaboration between Van Damme and Lundgren in the film series, who both later worked together in The Expendables 2 and Black Water, and their voice-roles in Minions: The Rise of Gru.