Gremlins

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Gremlins

PG

Released Jun 8, 1984

1h 46m

Holiday

Fantasy

Mystery & Thriller

Comedy

Horror

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Popcornmeter

87%

Tomatometer

83 Reviews

78%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

A gadget salesman is looking for a special gift for his son and finds one at a store in Chinatown. The shopkeeper is reluctant to sell him the "mogwai" but sells it to him with the warning to never expose him to bright light, water, or to feed him after midnight. All of this happens and the result is a gang of gremlins that decide to tear up the town on Christmas Eve.

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Critics Consensus

Whether you choose to see it as a statement on consumer culture or simply a special effects-heavy popcorn flick, Gremlins is a minor classic.

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

It is a wacky, satirical spectacle of chaos.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 6, 2019

Full Review

Richard Corliss

TIME Magazine

A wildly original roller-coaster ride of hilarious mischief.

Dec 6, 2013

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Peter Travers

People Magazine

Here's the season's most delicious and unexpected surprise. Despite the horror-flick title, Gremlins is a movie of wicked wit and startling invention, and it has a heart that's at least a match for the special effects.

Dec 6, 2013

Full Review

David Day

Horror Movie Talk

It’s single-handedly responsible for a HUGE section of horror, now basically known as Gremlins knock-offs... Gremlins is an iconic movie in many ways. It’s got Steven Spielberg’s stink all over it despite being directed by Joe Dante.

Rated: 8/10

Aug 6, 2025

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David Reddish

CBR

More than 40 years on, Gremlins still has all the sweetness, adventure and irreverent humor that made it such a hit in the first place.

Rated: 4/4

May 5, 2025

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Casey Chong

Casey's Movie Mania

Gremlins benefits from [Joe] Dante’s genre know-how direction on effectively blending creature horror with elements of dark and quirky comedies.

Rated: 5/5

May 31, 2024

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Mike d

Cult classic and awesome on the big screen!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/09/25

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Joanne

I Absolutely love this movie! What a perfectly lovely showing with a looney toons short at the end. Gremlins never gets old or boring.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/03/25

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chad

Awesome movie even better reminds you how good life was how good it is now! They don’t make them like this anymore!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/01/25

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Sarah F

It’s Gremlins! Of course it is 5 stars.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/18/24

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Felicia A

Always so much fun! I love how the Mom is played. That woman doesn't hesitate she just grabs a knife.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/10/24

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Tim B

Such an amazing movie to go see on the big screen 40 years later. Unfortunately, they don’t make them like that anymore.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/21/24

Full Review

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Joe Dante

Director

Zach Galligan

Billy Peltzer

Phoebe Cates

Kate

Hoyt Axton

Rand Peltzer

Frances Lee McCain

Lynn Peltzer

Polly Holliday

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Synopsis

A gadget salesman is looking for a special gift for his son and finds one at a store in Chinatown. The shopkeeper is reluctant to sell him the "mogwai" but sells it to him with the warning to never expose him to bright light, water, or to feed him after midnight. All of this happens and the result is a gang of gremlins that decide to tear up the town on Christmas Eve.

Director: Joe Dante
Producer: Michael Finnell
Screenwriter: Chris Columbus
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Warner Brothers, Amblin Entertainment
Rating: PG
Genre: Holiday, Fantasy, Mystery & Thriller, Comedy, Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 8, 1984, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Dec 5, 2019
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 2, 2014
Runtime: 1h 46m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Stereo, Dolby A, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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