Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)

The Gremlins are back, and this time, they've taken total control over the building of a media mogul.

Director:

Joe Dante

Writers:

Chris Columbus (characters), Charles S. Haas

Stars:

Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, John Glover

6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Zach Galligan	...	Billy Peltzer
Phoebe Cates	...	Kate Beringer
John Glover	...	Daniel Clamp
Robert Prosky	...	Grandpa Fred
Robert Picardo	...	Forster
Christopher Lee	...	Doctor Catheter
Haviland Morris	...	Marla Bloodstone
Dick Miller	...	Murray Futterman
Jackie Joseph	...	Sheila Futterman
Gedde Watanabe	...	Mr. Katsuji
Keye Luke	...	Mr. Wing
Kathleen Freeman	...	Microwave Marge
Don Stanton	...	Martin
Dan Stanton	...	Lewis
Shawn Nelson	...	Wally

Storyline

An army of malevolent little monsters take over a high-tech corporate skyscraper when a cute and intelligent exotic pet is exposed to water. The "Mogwai's" owner joins forces with the Trump-like head of the corporation to regain control.

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Plot Keywords:

gremlin | monster | skyscraper | spider creature | reference to bugs bunny | 

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Taglines:

We warned you. Remember the rules. You didn't listen.

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Genres:

Comedy | Fantasy | Horror

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 June 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Gremlins 2: La nueva generación

Filming Locations:

New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$50,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$41,482,207 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros, Amblin Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) Dolby SR (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the original script, Randall Peltzer was to return after the gremlins were killed at the end, and give to Gizmo his newest "invention": a wet-suit like thing that would prevent Gizmo from ever getting wet again, therefore preventing any sort of gremlin problems in the future (provided it never ate after midnight). The scene was all set to shoot, and the actor who played Mr. Peltzer, Hoyt Axton, was available to shoot the scene. But, the filmmakers figured that the movie was already running too long, and they'd never use the scene anyway, so it was never shot.

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Goofs

When Gizmo falls down the air duct and lands to find all the hatched Gremlin cocoons, just before he lands some green goo from the cocoons had apparently dripped onto his stomach. When he does hit the bottom, though, his stomach is clean again.

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Quotes

Daffy Duck: Still lurking about? Don't you people have homes?

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Crazy Credits

At the beginning of the film, Bugs Bunny appears on top of the Warner Bros. logo as if he was in a Looney Tunes cartoon. Also, at the very end of the film, after the credits, Porky Pig says "That's all Folks!" as in a cartoon. In both cases, Daffy Duck attempts to steal their thunder, only for the animating staff to torment him into not sticking his beak in anymore.

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Connections

References Dracula (1931)

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Soundtracks

"If You Could Read My Mind"
Written by Gordon Lightfoot
Performed by Gordon Lightfoot
Courtesy of Reprise Records
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

One of my favorite films. ***** out of 5

This here is Joe Dante's best film. It's a delightful and absolutely charming dark comedy. I begged my mom to take me to see this back in 1990 and thankfully I can say I saw this on the big screen.

Years later when I watch it, I can catch all of the little references and nods to other great films of the past. The Warner Brothers Looney Tune cartoons have obviously made an impact on the directorial style of Joe Dante. What's great is the combination of this type of humor blended with these devious little monsters wrecking havoc in the Clamp Building. Speaking of Clamp, John Glover was excellent as Daniel Clamp (a parody of Donald Trump). He's absolutely hilarious!

There are many terrific special effects and sequences in the film. It's hard to tell you which scene is my favorite because I adore every moment of the film. I will say one of the scenes that sticks out for me is when the Bat Gremlin flies out into New York City by day. I just love those excellent shots of him flying through the sky. Of course, the Brain Gremlin and the 'New York, New York' number is fantastic as well. "Is eeeverybody heere?" And who could forget when the Gremlins got their revenge for Leonard Maltin's lambasting of the first Gremlins movie?

All this is accompanied by a fantastic Jerry Goldsmith score (which happens to be one of my favorites of his as well). The collaboration between Goldsmith and Dante isn't unlike that of Hitchcock and Herrmann or Spielberg and Williams.

The film abounds with dark jollity and watching it you can tell that the filmmakers had a fun time making the picture. To include the audience as part of the goings on, is a real treat.

Out of all the thousands of films I have seen, none have been or ever will be more entertaining than Gremlins 2.

I LOVE it.