Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Joe Dante

Writers (WGA):

Chris Columbus (characters)
Charles S. Haas (written by)

Release Date:

15 June 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy | Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Take Your Batch to See the New Batch.

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Gremlin | New York | Monster | Skyscraper | Social Commentary

Awards:

6 nominations

Cast

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
Archie Hahn	...	Forster's Technician
Leslie Neale	...	Forster's Technician
Ron Fassler	...	Forster's Technician
Time Winters	...	Forster's Technician
Heather Haase	...	Yogurt Jerk
Jason Presson	...	Alex the Yogurt Jerk
Lisa Mende	...	Yogurt Customer
Patrika Darbo	...	Yogurt Customer
Jerry Goldsmith	...	Yogurt Customer
Rick Ducommun	...	Clamp Center Security Guard
John Capodice	...	Fire Chief
Belinda Balaski	...	Movie Theatre Mom
Nicky Rose	...	Movie Theatre Kid
Paul Bartel	...	Theatre Manager
Kenneth Tobey	...	Projectionist
Heidi Kempf	...	TV Reporter
Eric Shawn	...	TV Reporter
Michael Salort	...	TV Reporter
Frank P. Ryan	...	Cop
Diane Sainte-Marie	...	TV Reporter at Wing's
Kristi Witker	...	TV Anchor in Bar
Sarah Lilly	...	Reporter in Lobby
Vladimir Bibic	...	Taxi Driver
Page Hannah	...	Tour Guide #1
Liz Pryor	...	Tour Guide #2
Raymond Cruz	...	Messenger
Julia Sweeney	...	Peggy
Jeff Swanson	...	Forster's Assistant
Charles S. Haas	...	Casper
Dale Swann	...	Clamp Center Surveillance Supervisor
Gray Daniels	...	TV Cameraman
Stephanie Menuez	...	Betty
Jacque Lynn Colton	...	Lady at Elevator
May Quigley	...	Hallway Employee
Anthony Winters	...	Hallway Employee
Isiah Whitlock Jr.	...	Fireman
Dean Norris	...	S.W.A.T. Team Leader
Saachiko	...	Newsstand Lady
John Astin	...	Janitor
Henry Gibson	...	Employee fired for Smoking
Leonard Maltin	...	Himself
Hulk Hogan	...	Himself
Dick Butkus	...	Himself
Bubba Smith	...	Himself
Howie Mandel	...	Gizmo (voice)
Tony Randall	...	Brain Gremlin (voice)
Frank Welker	...	Mohawk (voice)
Kirk R. Thatcher	...	Gremlins (voice) (as Kirk Thatcher)
Mark Dodson	...	Gremlins (voice)
Neil Ross	...	Announcer (voice)
Jeff Bergman	...	Bugs Bunny / Daffy Duck (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Joe Dante	...	Grandpa Fred Director / Beanie Gremlin / Wicked Witch Gremlin (voice) (uncredited)
Mark Monto	...	Clamp Employee (uncredited)
Brian Penikas	...	Singing Gremlin triplets (uncredited)
Michael Sheehan	...	Special Vocal Effects (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Joe Dante

Writing credits (WGA)
Chris Columbus		(characters)
Charles S. Haas		(written by) (as Charlie Haas)

Produced by
Rick Baker	....	co-producer
Michael Finnell	....	producer
Kathleen Kennedy	....	executive producer
Frank Marshall	....	executive producer
Steven Spielberg	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Jerry Goldsmith

Cinematography by
John Hora		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Kent Beyda

Casting by
Glenn Daniels
Marion Dougherty

Production Design by
James H. Spencer		(as James Spencer)

Art Direction by
Joseph P. Lucky		(as Joe Lucky)

Set Decoration by
John H. Anderson

Costume Design by
Rosanna Norton

Makeup Department
Erin Brasfield	....	special makeup effects artist
Norman Cabrera	....	special makeup effects artist: Rick Baker Cinovation
Matt Rose	....	special makeup effects artist
Brian Wade	....	special makeup effects artist: Rick Baker/Cinovation
Eddie Yang	....	special makeup effects artist
Bob Smithson	....	production assistant: Cinovation, Inc. (uncredited)

Production Management
Phil Rawlins	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Victor Hsu	....	first assistant director
B. Scott Senechal	....	second assistant director (as Scott Senechal)
James H. Spencer	....	second unit director (as James Spencer)

Art Department
John Berger	....	set designer
Marjorie Coster	....	props
Michael Muscarella	....	construction coordinator
Greg Papalia	....	set designer
Aaron Sims	....	lead painter
Dawn Snyder	....	set designer
Tom Southwell	....	conceptual artist
Chris Walas	....	original character designer: Gizmo

Sound Department
Ron Bartlett	....	sound editor
Michael J. Benavente	....	sound editor
John S. Coffey	....	sound mixer: second unit
Teresa Eckton	....	sound editor
Christopher Flick	....	foley editor
Warren Hamilton Jr.	....	sound editor
Ken King	....	production sound mixer
Rick Kline	....	sound re-recording mixer
Robert J. Litt	....	sound re-recording mixer
Mark A. Mangini	....	sound effects
Oscar Mitt	....	assistant sound editor
Steve Purvis	....	adr editor
David Schneider	....	cable person
Solange S. Schwalbe	....	foley editor
George Simpson	....	sound editor
David E. Stone	....	sound effects
Elliot Tyson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Douglas Vaughan	....	boom operator
David Williams	....	sound editor
Vanessa Theme Ament	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Steve Lee	....	sound effects librarian (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Mike Arbios	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Grant Arndt	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Grant Arndt	....	sculptor: crew effects crew, Cinovation (as Grant Ardnt)
Brent Baker	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Rick Baker	....	special effects supervisor
Gabriel Bartalos	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Michael Bastings	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Erin Brasfield	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Jack Bricker	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Matt J. Britton	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Sheri Brooks	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Norman Cabrera	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Bill Corso	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Barry Crane	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Chuck Crisafulli	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Daniel Crosby	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Jon Dawe	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Kelle DeForrest	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Roberto dePalma	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Glen Eisner	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Mike Elizalde	....	puppeteer
Nicholas J. Esposto	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Gwen Everman	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Yuri Everson	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Jose Fernandez	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Steve Frakes	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Erick Geisler	....	creature painter
Celeste Contois Gitthens	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Kim Graham	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Claudia Hardy	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Sarkis Hardy	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Jurgen Heimann	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Tom Hester	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Guy Himber	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Thomas R. Homsher	....	special effects technician
Steven James	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Mike Jolly	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Andrew Kenworthy	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
David Kindlon	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Eryn Krueger Mekash	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio (as Eryn Krueger)
Tim Lawrence	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Jim Leonard	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
John Lundberg	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Cathy MacDonald	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Leonard MacDonald	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Karen Mason	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Mary Mason	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
J.C. Matalon	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Dave Matherly	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
James McLoughlin	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Jim McPherson	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Jim McPherson	....	sculptor: George character
Mike Measimer	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Hal Miles	....	stop motion animation technician
Bart Mixon	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Bart Mixon	....	creature shop supervisor
Phil Notaro	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Marian Olsen	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Joey Orosco	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Brian Penikas	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
David Penikas	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Nancy A. Perkins	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Dan Platt	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Zandra Platzek	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Sally Ray	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Tanya Ridenour	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Dwight Roberts	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Matt Rose	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Wayne Rose	....	special effects crew
Johnnie Saiko	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Andy Schoneberg	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Russell Seifert	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Mark Setrakian	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Aaron Sims	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Steve Sleap	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Juliann M. Smith	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Heidi Snyder	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Greg Solomon	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Michiko Tagawa	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Patrick Tantalo	....	special effects
Marc Tyler	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Brian Wade	....	creature effects crew
Steve Wang	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Steve Wang	....	special effects supervisor
Karen Westerfield	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Mark Bryan Wilson	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Eddie Yang	....	creature crew: Rick Baker's Cinovation Studio
Richard Miranda	....	puppeteer (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Craig Barron	....	visual effects supervisor: Matte World
Mike Chambers	....	visual effects coordinator: Apogee
Thierry Coup	....	model maker
Krystyna Demkowicz	....	executive in charge of production: Matte World
Christopher Duddy	....	visual effects
Jammie Friday	....	animator: VCE, Inc.
Paul Gentry	....	director of photography: miniatures
Brian Griffin	....	optical line-up
Peter Kuran	....	visual effects animation
Dennis Michelson	....	visual effects supervisor
Michael Pangrazio	....	matte artist supervisor
Brett B. White	....	visual effects assistant cameraman
Jim Aupperle	....	visual effects: blue screen photography/plate supervision (uncredited)
Yancy Calzada	....	stop-motion armatures and animation (uncredited)
Albert Whitlock	....	matte consultant (uncredited)

Stunts
Mike H. McGaughy	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
William L. Asman	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Roy Bean	....	video assist operator
Andrew Cooper	....	still photographer
Michael B. Corbett	....	lighting technician
Adam Glick	....	set lighting technician
Michael Shanman	....	lighting board operator
David Tolsky	....	second assistant camera

Animation Department
Chuck Jones	....	opening and closing animation sequences
Mark Setrakian	....	animatronic designer

Casting Department
Jimmy Jue	....	extras casting
Douglas Wright	....	casting coordinator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mary Elizabeth Still	....	on-set costumer

Editorial Department
Thomas Calderon	....	assistant editor
Wilt Henderson	....	first assistant editor
Ron Lambert	....	color timer

Music Department
Alexander Courage	....	orchestrator: source music
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor
Robert Fernandez	....	music scoring mixer
Kenneth Hall	....	music editor
Arthur Morton	....	orchestrator
Steven L. Smith	....	music preparation
Fred Steiner	....	orchestrator: cartoon music

Transportation Department
Robert Neilson	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
William Bowling	....	location manager
Jurgen Heimann	....	creature designer
Paul J. Memmi	....	translator
Dan Platt	....	crew member
Karen Shaw	....	production coordinator

Production Companies

• Warner Bros. Pictures (presents)
• Amblin Entertainment

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1990) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1990) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1990) (UK) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1990) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1990) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1990) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (1990) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Video (1991) (Germany) (video) (laserdisc)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1994) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Warner Home Video (1994) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2002) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (UK) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (199?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (199?) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Warner Home Vídeo (199?) (Brazil) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Doug Beswick Productions Inc. (stop motion animation)
• Matte World Digital (matte painting effects)
• Pacific Title (blue screen composites)
• Stetson Visual Services Inc. (miniatures)
• Visual Concept Engineering (VCE) (visual effects animation)

Other Companies

• Apogee Productions  BlueMax technology and photography
• D. Bassett & Associates  negative cutting
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• TAJ Soundworks  foley recording
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack

Also Known As:

Gremlins 2 (USA) (original script title)
Monolith (USA) (fake working title)

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

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

Certification:

Finland:K-11 | Iceland:10 | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Netherlands:6 | Netherlands:6 (DVD) | South Korea:All | UK:12 (cut) | UK:PG (2008 re-rating) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #30326) | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Canada:14A | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12/9 | France:U | Norway:10 (original rating) | Norway:11 (video rating) | Singapore:PG | Sweden:11 | UK:12 | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

101 Park Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Leonard Maltin appears as himself repeating his criticisms of Gremlins (1984) while he holds a video version of the movie. However, his rant is cut short when gremlins pounce on him as a result. In his annual Movie Guide he gives Gremlins 2 three stars (out of a possible four) and refers to this scene as a "gratuitous cameo", though he doesn't say he's actually in the movie.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: Two versions of the film exist (see "alternate versions"). While the home video version does not include the clip with Hulk Hogan, his name and the name of the theater manager are still featured in the credits on both versions.

Quotes:

Hulk Hogan: Gremlins? In this theater? Now?

Movie Connections:

References The Quatermass Xperiment (1955)

Soundtrack:

I'M READY

Even more underrated of a film than the first.

This film is often looked back on as not only the lesser of the two Gremlins flicks but not a very good movie in general. I just don't understand it -- I love this movie! It successfully continues the underlying theme of the original (unlike a lot of sequels which seem to forget their points entirely): "gremlins" are mythical creatures blamed for mechanical errors (if an appliance is broken, it must have been the work of gremlins). In this movie, the gremlins are loose in a totally automated high-rise office building, already suffering from its own malfunctions, which serves as the perfect playground for them. Charles Haas' script is absolutely hilarious, filled with more movie in-jokes than I can recall seeing in a single movie, and it even pokes fun at the more serious original. In fact, I think many people disliked this film because of its total irreverence compared to the first; it didn't try to be scary for a second and Rick Baker's creature effects turned out goofier than Chris Walas's original creature designs. Just realize...this is a comedy! Definitely worth seeing more than once to catch the barrage of jokes and references...and sit all the way through the credits!