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“I hate science fiction!”: why Paul Verhoeven can’t stand the genre that defined his career
Paul Verhoeven has said he dislikes science fiction despite directing several of the genre’s most influential modern films. The apparent contradiction matters because RoboCop, Total Recall and Starship Troopers helped define his Hollywood reputation, even though he viewed the genre largely as a professional trap rather than a personal passion.
In a 2002 interview, Verhoeven said studios repeatedly sent him science-fiction and action projects after RoboCop, making it difficult to escape that association. He nevertheless singled out RoboCop, Basic Instinct and Starship Troopers as the three American films he most stood by, while suggesting Total Recall was better than many of the scripts offered to him.
In short
- Verhoeven disliked science fiction despite his genre-defining films.
- RoboCop led Hollywood to typecast him in sci-fi action.
- He still values RoboCop and Starship Troopers highly.
Explained simply
Paul Verhoeven is a Dutch-American film director whose career has been largely defined by science-fiction blockbusters. Films like RoboCop, Total Recall and Starship Troopers are now considered classics of the genre and cemented his reputation in Hollywood.
Yet Verhoeven has stated in interviews that he actually dislikes science fiction as a genre. This apparent contradiction has puzzled observers given how deeply his name is associated with some of the most influential science-fiction films of the past few decades.
The mismatch between his career success and personal preference reflects a common Hollywood tension. After RoboCop's success, studios repeatedly offered him science-fiction and action projects, and he came to view the genre as a professional obligation rather than a genuine creative interest.