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Sgt. Bilko 1996

Sergeant Bilko orchestrates elaborate schemes and runs a profitable gambling operation within his army base, constantly evading the watchful eyes of his superiors. His carefully constructed world is threatened by the arrival of Major Thorn, who is intent on exposing Bilko's activities and winning the affections of a woman they both desire. Bilko must then use all of his ingenuity to stay ahead and devise a plan to thwart Thorn's ambitions.

Sergeant Bilko orchestrates elaborate schemes and runs a profitable gambling operation within his army base, constantly evading the watchful eyes of his superiors. His carefully constructed world is threatened by the arrival of Major Thorn, who is intent on exposing Bilko's activities and winning the affections of a woman they both desire. Bilko must then use all of his ingenuity to stay ahead and devise a plan to thwart Thorn's ambitions.

Does Sgt. Bilko have end credit scenes?

No!

Sgt. Bilko does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.

Meet the Full Cast and Actors of Sgt. Bilko

Explore the complete cast of Sgt. Bilko, including both lead and supporting actors. Learn who plays each character, discover their past roles and achievements, and find out what makes this ensemble cast stand out in the world of film and television.


Ratings and Reviews for Sgt. Bilko

See how Sgt. Bilko is rated across major platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Compare audience scores and critic reviews to understand where Sgt. Bilko stands among top-rated movies in its genre.


Metacritic

Metascore

tbd

User Score

Rotten Tomatoes
review

%

TOMATOMETER

review

0%

User Score

IMDb

5.8 /10

IMDb Rating

TMDB

58

%

User Score

Take the Ultimate Sgt. Bilko Movie Quiz

Challenge your knowledge of Sgt. Bilko with this fun and interactive movie quiz. Test yourself on key plot points, iconic characters, hidden details, and memorable moments to see how well you really know the film.


Sgt. Bilko Quiz: Test your knowledge on the comedic misadventures of Master Sergeant Ernest G. Bilko and his escapades at Fort Baxter.

Who is the main character of the movie?

Full Plot Summary and Ending Explained for Sgt. Bilko

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Read the complete plot summary of Sgt. Bilko, including all major events, twists, and the full ending explained in detail. Explore key characters, themes, hidden meanings, and everything you need to understand the story from beginning to end.


Master Sergeant Ernest G. Bilko (Steve Martin) oversees the motor pool at Fort Baxter, a modest U.S. Army base engaged in crafting cutting-edge military technology. Leveraging his position, he orchestrates a variety of clever scams, including a betting scheme where he tests a soldier’s claims of strength against a horse in a tug-of-war match. This results in a surprising payday for Bilko after a strategically orchestrated first loss. Among his various ventures, he also plans to establish a daycare center on base to gain access to children’s allowances.

Bilko receives help from Sgt. Henshaw (John Marshall Jones) and Sgt. Raquel Barbella (Pamela Adlon), while Spc. Dino Paparelli (Max Casella) runs the casino, Spc. Luis Clemente is the tech genius, and Spc. Tony Morales (Dan Ferro) manages the bar. The roster also includes Pfc. Mickey Zimmerman (Mitchell Whitfield), who is characterized by his blandness.

Enter Private First Class Wally Holbrook (Daryl Mitchell), a new recruit who is appalled by Bilko’s brazen disregard for army regulations. Bilko even enlists Holbrook in a scheme to roll back the odometer of a General’s car, which he has been renting out for profit. Adding to the chaos, Bilko’s superior, Colonel John Hall (Dan Aykroyd), chooses to ignore his antics, focusing instead on the looming problems surrounding the development of the Hover Tank.

The military is under pressure, facing facility closures, and if the Hover Tank fails, Fort Baxter may be next on the chopping block. Maj. Ebersole (Austin Pendleton), overseeing the project, seems doubtful about its readiness for actual combat scenarios. Matters intensify with the arrival of Major Colin Thorn (Phil Hartman) from the U.S. Army Inspector General’s office, who aims to scrutinize Bilko’s operations while avenging an old grudge related to a past boxing match fix that resulted in a humiliating incident for him at Fort Dix.

With determination, Thorn conducts surprise inspections, exposing the disarray in Bilko’s barracks and his men’s peculiar belongings, such as women’s undergarments mysteriously present in the men’s quarters. He also harasses a soldier who is overweight, setting harsh weight-loss expectations. Thorn’s vendetta grows perilous as he sets his sights on Rita (Glenne Headly), Bilko’s long-suffering fiancée, who is fed up with his perpetual procrastination in commitment. Despite Bilko’s wariness, Thorn begins to court Rita, even proposing marriage.

In a bid to protect Bilko’s financial empire, his friends from the Inspector General’s office come in for a heady audit of the motor pool’s books amid rising tensions with Thorn. Adopting a heartwarming angle, Bilko helps Holbrook secure a date, demonstrating his innate kindness beneath his scheming exterior.

While chaos brews, Bilko concocts a plan to counter Thorn’s scheme to transfer him to Greenland—he stages a spectacle involving the dysfunctional Hover Tank in front of top brass, betting his career on its success. During a climactic confrontation where Thorn accuses Bilko among dignitaries, he inadvertently reveals his own sabotage, securing Bilko’s reputation and sending Thorn back to Greenland.

As the countdown begins for Rita’s ultimatum, she feels the weight of helplessness until she is unexpectedly serenaded by Bilko and his men. In a moment of heartfelt vulnerability, Bilko proposes, and after a brief card game, they exchange vows—though unbeknownst to Bilko, Rita holds four aces in her hand, hinting at both the playful and deceptive nature of their relationship.

Uncover the Details: Timeline, Characters, Themes, and Beyond!

Watch Trailers, Clips & Behind-the-Scenes for Sgt. Bilko

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Watch official trailers, exclusive clips, cast interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage from Sgt. Bilko. Dive deeper into the making of the film, its standout moments, and key production insights.


Trailer

Cars Featured in Sgt. Bilko

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Explore all cars featured in Sgt. Bilko, including their makes, models, scenes they appear in, and their significance to the plot. A must-read for car enthusiasts and movie buffs alike.


AM

General HMMWV M1043

AM

General M-109

AM

General M-35

AM

General M-818

Audi

1986

5000 Wagon C3

Chevrolet

1995

Astro

Chevrolet

1991

Corvette C4

Chevrolet

1984

CUCV M-1008

Chevrolet

1984

CUCV M-1009

Chevrolet

1955

Pickup

Movie Themes and Keywords

Discover the central themes, ideas, and keywords that define the movie’s story, tone, and message. Analyze the film’s deeper meanings, genre influences, and recurring concepts.


con manarmy baseanti heroafrican americanfeudgamblinggrudgetankvendettascamirreverenceu.s. armymaster sergeantbettingbased on tv seriescharacter name in titlearmy sergeantboxing matchpoker gamesurname in titleobstacle coursemechanicsabotagemotor poolrevengegreenlandu.s. soldierweddinghovercrafthorsesurprise ending1990ssergeantman wears a uniformwoman wears a uniformfalling into mudman disguised as a womanreflection in a mirrorhelicoptermartial artsflirtingcigarette smokingmarriage proposalmoneyreckless drivingromantic rivalryflashbackcomputerbridecasino

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