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Gremlins
1984
Comedy
Fantasy
1h 46m
A boy inadvertantly breaks 3 important rules concerning his new pet and unleashes a horde of malevolently mischievous monsters on a small town (imdb)
Directed by:
Written by:
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Gremlins
1984
Comedy
Fantasy
1h 46m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 49.78% from 8863 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews
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Rated 21 Sep 2023
92
84th
Gizmo was just a single parent doing his best.
Rated 21 Sep 2023
Rated 06 Aug 2015
94
94th
This movie has aged hella well. I'd say twice as well as the word, "hella." How about Spielberg seizing the opportunity to work with horror standouts like Tobe Hooper on Poltergeist and Jaws knockoff artist (Piranha) Joe Dante on this? It was Spielberg's passion project to make movies that kids could laugh at until the rug gets pulled out and they never sleep again. Weird part is I think that's kind of admirable. Too bad George Lucas found a better way to ruin childhoods.
Rated 06 Aug 2015
Rated 15 Nov 2009
90
93rd
One of those holiday greats. This fantasy spin on Cujo is cute, scary and deliciously funny: Gremlins may be homocidal, but you've got to ask yourself how much you can ever truly hate a race of monsters, that thinks Snowwhite is the shit. Gremlins reminds you of a time, when movies for the whole family didn't entail talking down to the audience. Great theme-song too!
Rated 15 Nov 2009
Rated 25 Sep 2010
68
65th
Merry Christmas! Santa brought you a tiny monkey that shits babies out of its back when moistened and turns into a demon if you feed it chicken at night.
Rated 25 Sep 2010
Rated 16 Dec 2018
77
77th
I suspect there is a hint of nostalgia that keeps me liking this, but there is plenty to enjoy here. The tone is certainly uneven, but the undercurrent of humour keeps it fun throughout. The cast, setting and creature design help as well. Needed more Phoebe Cates, though. Darkly humorous, mischievous Christmas nonsense.
Rated 16 Dec 2018
Rated 25 Dec 2017
94
97th
This iconic 80's classic is THE definitive Christmas horror/comedy film, and I will fight you about it. Is it perfect? No. Do the 3 "rules" make sense? No. Can I separate my nostalgia from this review? No, but the movie still to this day remains one of the most charming and entertaining creature features ever made! The "weird" kids' version of "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial"(1982) with a darkly comedic holiday flavor.
Rated 25 Dec 2017
Rated 20 Dec 2009
74
40th
Cheesy but fun. It's filled with movie reference winks to the audience and a lot of the action feels tongue in cheek, which works well.
Rated 20 Dec 2009
Rated 14 Aug 2007
74
59th
Totally silly horror fun. Doesn't even come remotely close to taking itself seriously and that's why it's so good.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 14 Aug 2007
85
76th
It's a horror movie with a family friendly twist. It's like watching a cartoon come to life. It's hard to resist this fun flick, and Gizmo is practically a pop icon! Really good!
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 24 Jul 2017
5
73rd
what was intended as a cautionary tale about capitalism destroying executive producer spielberg's homely small-town america, corrupting and cynically mass-producing the magic of hollywood in the process, ends up as joe dante's joyous celebration of that same america and that same hollywood getting torn to fucking shreds looney tunes-style by monsters of its own creation. the sequel is an entirely different beast, but this is a sumptuous, gleefully nightmarish satire in its own right.
Rated 24 Jul 2017
Rated 22 Apr 2010
63
38th
Rewatch: Great idea, shame the execution is uneven. I was ready to embrace this flashback but found the shifts in tone too jarring. Jumps around from It's a Wonderful Life homage with wacky fun to bursts of horror and twisted violence, then back to wacky. Undercutting that with jaunty music doesn't work either. The serious (yet hilarious) Santa story left me as confused as the actors seemed. This all stinks of studio interference and leaves me with a feeling of what might have been.
Rated 22 Apr 2010
Rated 19 Jun 2014
80
72nd
Maybe the Gremlins were just misunderstood - at least some of them. Take the breakdancer in the bar...Or the one with the puppets...Or the one he was entertaining who just wanted to drink his problems away. Just because some of the Gremlins were dicks doesn't mean they all had to die.
Rated 19 Jun 2014
Rated 02 Sep 2008
80
50th
Gremlins is a clever satire on the 80's, coping with topics like the decline of American culture in favour of asian values, commercialism & the yuppie culture in an increasing cold social "Reaganomics" climate. Its message is presented in a very dark but also humorous way, with lots of memorable moments & characters. People with weak nerves however should reconsider watching it, because it can sometimes be quite graphic. Also noticeable is the excellent music score by Jerry Goldsmith.
Rated 02 Sep 2008
Rated 06 Dec 2011
88
93rd
possibly my favorite movie growing up and the greatest christmas movie of all time
Rated 06 Dec 2011
Rated 12 Aug 2010
100
92nd
Amazing movie with many great elements of good storytelling--laughs, comedy, horror. This is a perfect blend and wonderful to watch with the family. One of my kids favorite.
Rated 12 Aug 2010
Rated 14 Aug 2007
58
34th
Kudos for originality.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 14 Aug 2007
75
63rd
Great christmas horror comedy. Familly fun.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 22 Oct 2017
68
66th
Gremlins is a product of a bygone era where darker films were marketed to kids and blockbusters tried to be original. Whether it's a successful satire on consumer culture is open to debate, but it's easy to admire Dante's/Columbus' gall to create a hybrid horror/comedy with a sly sadistic streak. Some of the effects have obviously dated, and Spielberg's influence is mostly regrettable, but the mayhem unleashed by the Gremlins in a small Capra-esque town still provides solid entertainment.
Rated 22 Oct 2017
Rated 18 Nov 2012
80
86th
Remember how Donnie Darko almost broke down under hypnosis, confessing that he never got the Hungry Hungry Hippoes as a child? Well, a Gizmo doll was high on my crave-list way back when. That guy is criminally cute. (The doll much more so than Gizmo is in the film!) But try not to piss off his "friends", will ya? In fact, why not just adhere to the pretty damn simple rules, eh?
Rated 18 Nov 2012
Rated 26 Oct 2007
80
94th
Very original and fresh, a lot of fun, fun effects and good laughs with appealing casting.
Rated 26 Oct 2007
Rated 02 May 2012
95
82nd
Classic movie and sci fi kids movie! Great to go back and watch the cheesiness!
Rated 02 May 2012
Rated 24 May 2017
90
94th
Gizmo is perhaps the greatest character ever created.
Rated 24 May 2017
Rated 28 Nov 2014
57
25th
Does to Christmas what Psycho did for Mothers Day.
Rated 28 Nov 2014
Rated 29 Dec 2009
95
82nd
Who doesn't love Gremlins?
Rated 29 Dec 2009
Rated 18 Dec 2016
75
64th
Iconic and completely worth your time. Very much a staple, for the same reason E.T. or Evil Dead is, but on a lesser note. Gremlins is interesting and well-made even if the acting isn't something to write home about. Just watch it cause its a good time, that's all you need.
Rated 18 Dec 2016
Rated 27 Feb 2009
100
97th
Awesomest movie ever!
Rated 27 Feb 2009
Rated 05 Apr 2009
70
71st
Family friendly horror that holds up, the Gremlins are the best main characters Wes Craven/Tobe Hooper could ask for cute and vicious. A true delight.
Rated 05 Apr 2009
Rated 09 Mar 2012
70
48th
Judge Reinhold isn't actually a judge?
Rated 09 Mar 2012
Rated 30 Mar 2007
80
68th
"The Muppet Chainsaw Massacre". Harlan Ellison meant that as a criticism, but I rather like it for the same reason
Rated 30 Mar 2007
Rated 26 May 2007
90
85th
No light, no food after midnight and no water!
Rated 26 May 2007
Rated 02 Nov 2017
64
52nd
Yes, I'm starting early with the Christmas movies this year. I remember this fondly from my childhood, but I gotta say that I remembered Gizmo as being rather more realistic than the hand puppet Furby that he actually is. Another thing I didn't remember was all that adult stuff with mortgages and people losing their jobs. Still, the scene with the swimming pool is chilling and I appreciate a woman who isn't afraid to turn on a blender at the right moment.
Rated 02 Nov 2017
Rated 07 Jan 2014
68
42nd
A wonderful creature feature, though some parts of it are a little dated - the somewhat offputting racism in introducing the Asian characters, the cinematography is often a little too dark, and the film kinda skips from setpiece to setpiece but at the same time spends far too long on the first act. So the pacing is a little off but besides that it's a lot of fun - and full of grisly comic violence which doesn't really happen in the same way anymore in films.
Rated 07 Jan 2014
Rated 20 Sep 2010
75
93rd
The concept: a corny, Frank Capraesque, home-for-the-holidays movie set in small town America gets hijacked by little green monsters. Some of the wildest, funniest and cruelest on screen mayhem this side of Tex Avery country ensues. Pure anarchy.
Rated 20 Sep 2010
Rated 14 Aug 2007
70
63rd
Cute little fuzzy creatures that turn into scaly slobbering monsters if they eat after midnight. A fun and simple creature feature with some quality puppet work.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 14 Aug 2007
93
88th
Superb critter comedy. Joe Dante is an underappreciated genius.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 27 Oct 2017
57
37th
I thought I would love it.
Rated 27 Oct 2017
Rated 14 Aug 2007
78
54th
Little hamster like creatures with bows and arrows rule!
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 14 Aug 2007
77
52nd
Good movie that has not held up over time. Still really like it, but it's charm has been dimished by a poor sequal and other knock off films (i.e. Critters). Still worth seeing.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 17 Dec 2012
56
56th
Silly and enjoyable, despite having a few surprisingly dark (if comedic) moments. It's a bit cheesy and predictable, but I enjoyed the references to other movies, as well as the unusual blend of horror with a family Christmas movie.
Rated 17 Dec 2012
Rated 14 Aug 2007
63
49th
Terribly overrated, but the cartoony mayhem near the end can be mildly entertaining...
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 25 Jun 2012
4
35th
Mediocrity at its finest. Remove nostalgia and almost no one likes this movie guaranteed. Phoebe Cates tells a pretty amusing and ridiculous story somewhere in the middle which was pretty hilarious and Gizmo is a cute nigga but all in all not worth seeing unless you like 80's cheese. They should've just listened to the Mr. Myagi clone, classic mistake
Rated 25 Jun 2012
Rated 20 Nov 2007
99
98th
Classic must see for all holiday fun. Also, if someones never seen it you can convince them that the main actor is actually a younger John Mayer.
Rated 20 Nov 2007
Rated 28 May 2017
4
34th
Worth watching if you're interested in the origins of Furby.
Rated 28 May 2017
Rated 17 Sep 2011
84
95th
Always makes me laugh and no matter how many times I watch it, it never gets old. Most people have a film they watch annually at Christmas, this is mine. The ending gets me every time. Oh, Phoebe Cates is ridiculously beautiful.
Rated 17 Sep 2011
Rated 13 Mar 2012
74
83rd
Filled with brilliance -- the cheap set-like construction of the Chinatown backstory, Phoebe Cates' Santa story, the various cartoonish personality quirks of the gremlins, the bar & movie theatre scenes, etc. If I'd realised how enjoyable this would be, I wouldn't have waited 25 years to rewatch it.
Rated 13 Mar 2012
Rated 07 Jan 2018
70
41st
Gremlins is Joe Dante's most recognizable film. It could come off as nothing more than a B monster film. Except for the terrific puppetry effects and overall sense of humor. It works as both a satire and a fun creature feature.
Rated 07 Jan 2018
Rated 10 May 2014
80
65th
Outrageous, contagiously anarchic, pure fun. One of the all time best Popcorn Flicks of the 80's.
Rated 10 May 2014
Rated 10 Jul 2012
75
61st
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.
Rated 10 Jul 2012
Rated 11 Apr 2010
3
22nd
The character of Randall Peltzer pretty much sums this film up, plenty of good ideas, but in the end they're poorly executed and don't work very well! It certainly has Spielberg's flashy, geeky, over-sentimental touch all over it too.
Rated 11 Apr 2010
Rated 26 Dec 2016
81
78th
Gremlins is a creature feature with throwbacks to sci-fi of yore spread throughout. Incidentally, it's also a Christmas movie, only qualifying by setting and copious quantities of fake snow strewn around Los Angeles for the duration of filming. That makes this the perfect storm, it's a Christmas movie when you want it to be, it's a monster movie if you want that, and it's pure fun regardless of the time of year.
Rated 26 Dec 2016
Rated 14 Dec 2008
90
92nd
one of the most entertaining films ever. I do however slightly like the sequel a bit more.
Rated 14 Dec 2008
Rated 10 Dec 2016
80
75th
A fun lil film. Although I wish someone stronger than Galligan was in the starring role (my apologies to Galligan, if he's reading), it blends a few genres together for something fun.
Rated 10 Dec 2016
Rated 31 Dec 2006
90
63rd
this movie is an 80's classic, you got humor with horror i guess...and how can u hate gizmo?
Rated 31 Dec 2006
Rated 31 Mar 2007
62
64th
The Gremlins are probably the greatest comedy horror creation, but although the film has some great moments, great humour and a good atmosphere quite a few things let the film down.
Rated 31 Mar 2007
Rated 14 Aug 2007
79
58th
Furbies gone wild. Fun 80's movie.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 17 Jan 2014
70
30th
Fun but a little silly. Did like to watch it in my childhood years.
Rated 17 Jan 2014
Rated 18 Oct 2010
80
96th
This is the perfect film to show the disparity between a rational thinking adult and a dumb fucking kid. When you're a kid, the 3 rules make sense. When you're an adult though: Don't get them wet? Really. How the fuck can they live without water? Every living animal on Earth needs water to survive. Don't feed them after midnight? In what time zone? What if I bring Gizmo on a plane? Bright lights and sunlight kill them? How are they not blind with brittle bones made of dust? Vitamin D people!
Rated 18 Oct 2010
Rated 13 May 2015
92
89th
One of my all-time favorites
Rated 13 May 2015
Rated 14 Aug 2007
70
45th
Charming fable that brough us Gizmo, so it's gotta be worth something.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 14 Aug 2007
73
45th
Nasty muppet fun.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 14 Aug 2007
75
39th
An 80's film style. Goonies like adventure.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 30 Aug 2007
90
73rd
A classic film. I love everything about it. It's hilarious.
Rated 30 Aug 2007
Rated 22 Nov 2011
59
29th
You can't feed them AFTER midnight? But that's when the day starts... Does that mean the only time they can eat is at midnight exactly? I think they bring this up in the second movie. It's the kind of rule you can't really think about too hard, in a movie that doesn't really ask you to.
Rated 22 Nov 2011
Rated 07 Dec 2007
75
56th
really neat creatures come to earth.. but beware of water!
Rated 07 Dec 2007
Rated 11 May 2020
30
11th
In all honesty, it's pretty bad, but it's very funny.
Rated 11 May 2020
Rated 28 May 2024
60
44th
The setup is a little tough to swallow, and in general the film takes a while to get going - and even then, I believe that it would have benefitted from some horror and gore as it feels restrained and held back. The design of the gremlins is great, however, and the sequences where they take centre stage are a joy to watch because every single one of them is so meticulously crafted and has its own thing going. Also, the Santa speech is really something. Good fun overall with some strong moments.
Rated 28 May 2024
Rated 12 Nov 2018
69
66th
It starts seemingly trite and clichéd. Then it becomes self-aware. Then it slows to a crawl. Then it turns out it was a commentary on consumerism all along.
Rated 12 Nov 2018
Rated 05 Apr 2008
80
70th
I loved this movie when I was a kid. It is pretty well done and Phoebe Cates is awesome.
Rated 05 Apr 2008
Rated 19 Oct 2021
86
75th
Gremlins would be far too cheesy if it weren't so self-aware and satirical. Every ludicrous scene in this fun horror-comedy is a wink at the audience.
Rated 19 Oct 2021
Rated 09 Jul 2010
78
73rd
Fuck yeah. Not as good as Gremlins II, but this is where it all started.
Rated 09 Jul 2010
Rated 02 Jul 2009
84
79th
Yea! It is scary when you are a kid but it is funny at any age.
Rated 02 Jul 2009
Rated 15 Jun 2008
85
14th
Crazy fun.
Rated 15 Jun 2008
Rated 24 Jun 2008
80
19th
Who doesn't love that cute gizmo.
Rated 24 Jun 2008
Rated 27 Jul 2012
71
39th
Some parts are so cheesy it's almost unbearable but mostly hilarious and worth watching.
Rated 27 Jul 2012
Rated 09 Apr 2017
91
51st
This is a clever movie. Yes, it's an effects extravaganza and a popcorn movie, but it also works, should you be looking for a deeper meaning, as a satire on 80s American consumerism. Either way you look at it, it's one of the most enjoyable movies of the entire decade. If you haven't seen it, firstly, have you been living under a rock for the past 30-odd years? And secondly, see it. You can't go wrong.
Rated 09 Apr 2017
Rated 18 Jun 2023
85
61st
A campy and fun horror comedy that has its flaws but also enough charms to elevate it above mediocrity.
Rated 18 Jun 2023
Rated 08 Nov 2016
70
31st
It's a movie that you want to like. Charming 80's fare with lots of pre CGI effects. The problem is what kind of movie is this? Starts off as a family movie, tries to be a comedy, ends up being a horror film...and it fails at all of those things. The character development is lacking, and tonally it's unfocused.Yet, like with a lot of 80's movies it has this endearing campiness that comes out of nowhere, and stops you from completely hating it.
Rated 08 Nov 2016
Rated 10 Jun 2009
74
75th
Gizmo must be one of the cutest furry elements in a movie ever. Not much plot here, but kids don't care.
Rated 10 Jun 2009
Rated 15 Oct 2008
80
58th
This is a fun movie that is an interesting mix of dark comedy and horror. I loved it as a kid, but it's a bit scary for the very young.
Rated 15 Oct 2008
Rated 28 Apr 2011
71
51st
A good black comedy with a really nasty and sadistic edge to it.
Rated 28 Apr 2011
Rated 17 Jan 2009
82
80th
Gizmo! I love these films. Oh, and another plus is that the main character is the kid from the Waxwork movies! ^_^
Rated 17 Jan 2009
Rated 22 Aug 2009
70
76th
The first half shines, the second is rowdy and less interesting. Lots of subtle parts of the script are great.
Rated 22 Aug 2009
Rated 17 Feb 2010
79
78th
Classic 80's horror/black comedy.
Rated 17 Feb 2010
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Written by:
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