A small-time film promoter releases a kitschy horror film during the Cuban Missile Crisis.A small-time film promoter releases a kitschy horror film during the Cuban Missile Crisis.A small-time film promoter releases a kitschy horror film during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
- Director
- Writers
- Jerico Stone(story)
- Charles S. Haas(story)
- Stars
Top credits
- Director
- Writers
- Jerico Stone(story)
- Charles S. Haas(story)
- Stars
- Awards
- 1 win
Jesse Lee Soffer
- Dennis Loomis
- (as Jesse Lee)
- Director
- Writers
- Jerico Stone(story)
- Charles S. Haas(story) (screenplay)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaFor "Mant," the movie-within-the-movie, Joe Dante cast actors who had actually appeared in 1950s-era science fiction movies. These included Kevin McCarthy, Robert Cornthwaite, and William Schallert.
- GoofsThe aircraft shown flying along the beach are A-4 Skyhawks, which flew with the US Navy and Marine Corps from 1956 until 2003. Marine Attack Squadron 242 (VMA-242)based at Cherry Point, NC deployed to NAS Key West, Fla during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, therefore the aircraft shown are the actual models flown during the time depicted in the movie.
- Quotes
Gene Loomis: Y'know, it's hard to believe you're a grown-up.
Ruth Corday: No kidding.
Lawrence Woolsey: You think grown-ups have it all figured out? That's just a hustle, kid. Grown-ups are making it up as they go along, just like you. You remember that, and you'll do fine.
- Crazy creditsAfter the credits are complete, we are treated to a quick snippet from "MANT" with the Cathy Moriarty character pining, "Oh, Bill".
- ConnectionsFeatured in At the Movies: Matinee/Alive/Body of Evidence/Sniper (1993)
- SoundtracksThe Lion Sleeps Tonight
Written by Hugo Peretti, Albert Stanton, George David Weiss & Luigi Creatore
(based on a song by Solomon Linda and Paul Campbell)
Performed by The Tokens
Courtesy of the RCA Records label of BMG Music
Review
Top review
'Matinee' is light-hearted fare, sure, but lots of fun for movie buffs who love b-grade 1950s and 1960s monster movies.
I have a lot of time for Joe Dante. Most of his movies are fairly light-hearted, nostalgic fare aimed at kids or the young at heart, but unlike his occasional collaborator Steven Spielberg he really pulls it off convincingly without getting too sentimental and treacly, and always has enough in-jokes and references in his movies to amuse diehard science fiction and horror film buffs. Dante is a BIG fan of film makers like Roger Corman (who gave him his big break), William Castle (a major inspiration for 'Matinee') and Mario Bava, while one has to wonder if Spielberg even knows who they are. 'Matinee' is a slight, but very entertaining picture, concerning b-grade 50s/60s horror movies, and fans of that era will absolutely love it. John Goodman ('The Big Lebowski') plays flamboyant writer/director Lawrence Woolsey. Woolsey's gimmicks and showmanship are inspired by William Castle ('The Tingler', '13 Ghosts', 'House On Haunted Hill',etc.etc.) though the fictional movie 'Mant' which is part of the plot is quite unlike Castle's output and closer to 50s paranoid monster movies like 'Them!' and 'Tarantula'. Goodman is perfectly cast and loads of fun. I also really liked Cathy Moriarty ('Raging Bull') as Woolsey's leading actress/assistant. The chemistry between the two was enjoyable and made for some nice comic touches. The young kid actors were all pretty good, and Dante regulars Dick Miller ('A Bucket Of Blood'), Kevin McCarthy ('Invasion Of The Body Snatchers'), Robert Picardo ('Star Trek Voyager') and William Schallert ('The Incredible Shrinking Man') seem like they are all having a wonderful time. Trivia buffs note that this movie includes an actor from 'The Thing From Another World' (Robert Cornthwaite) and also one from John Carpenter's remake 'The Thing' (David Clennon'). The movie within the movie 'Mant' is hilarious, but I enjoyed the whole thing. 'Matinee' is another fun movie from the underrated Joe Dante.
helpful•210
- Infofreak
- Feb 6, 2003
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $13,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $9,532,895
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $3,601,015
- Jan 31, 1993
- Gross worldwide
- $9,532,895
- Runtime1 hour 39 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1(original & negative ratio)
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