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{{Other uses2|Gremlin}} |
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{{Infobox film |
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| name = Gremlins |
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| image = Gremlins1.jpg |
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| image_size = 215px |
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| alt = |
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| caption = Theatrical release poster by [[John Alvin]]<ref name="lat">{{cite news |first=Jocelyn|last=Stewart|title=John Alvin, 59; created movie posters for such films as 'Blazing Saddles' and 'E.T.'|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-alvin10feb10,1,5113268.story |work= [[Los Angeles Times]] |publisher=|date=February 10, 2008 |accessdate=February 10, 2008}}</ref> |
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| director = [[Joe Dante]] |
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| producer = [[Steven Spielberg]]<br />[[Michael Finnell]] |
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| writer = [[Chris Columbus (filmmaker)|Chris Columbus]] |
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| starring = [[Zach Galligan]]<br />[[Phoebe Cates]]<br />[[Hoyt Axton]]<br />[[Frances Lee McCain]]<br />[[Corey Feldman]] |
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| music = [[Jerry Goldsmith]] |
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| cinematography = [[John Hora]] |
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| editing = [[Tina Hirsch]] |
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| studio = [[Amblin Entertainment]] |
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| distributor = [[Warner Bros.]] |
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| released = {{Film date|1984|6|8}} |
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| runtime = 106 minutes |
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| country = {{Film US}} |
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| language = English |
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| budget = $11 million |
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| gross = $153,083,102 |
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}} |
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'''''Gremlins''''' is a 1984 American [[horror comedy]] film directed by [[Joe Dante]], released by [[Warner Bros.]] The film is about a young man who receives a strange creature—called a Mogwai—as a pet, which then spawns other creatures who transform into small, destructive, evil monsters. |
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[[Steven Spielberg]] was the film's [[executive producer]] and the screenplay was written by [[Chris Columbus (filmmaker)|Chris Columbus]]. The film stars [[Zach Galligan]] and [[Phoebe Cates]], with [[Howie Mandel]] providing the voice of Gizmo. ''Gremlins'' was a [[blockbuster (entertainment)|commercial success]] and received positive reviews from critics. However, the film was also heavily criticized for some of its more violent sequences. |
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In response to this, and to similar complaints about other films (''[[Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom]]''), [[Steven Spielberg]] suggested that the [[Motion Picture Association of America]] (MPAA) alter its rating system, which it did within two months of the film's release. |
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==Plot== |
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While searching for a Christmas present for his teenage son, inventor Randall Peltzer ([[Hoyt Axton]]) discovers a small, furry creature called a Mogwai in an antique store in [[Chinatown]] owned by Mr. Wing ([[Keye Luke]]). The owner of the store refuses to sell the Mogwai to Randall on the grounds that owning one is too great a responsibility. However, as Randall is leaving the store, the owner's grandson (John Louie) sells Randall the creature stating that the family needs the money. The boy gives Randall three specific instructions in caring for the Mogwai: never expose it to bright light (especially sunlight, which will kill it); never get it wet (which will make it multiply); and, most importantly: never feed it after midnight. Randall takes the Mogwai, which he gives the name "Gizmo", to his family in the town of Kingston Falls. |
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The following evening, Randall gives Gizmo to his son Billy ([[Zach Galligan]]). A glass of water is accidentally spilled on Gizmo, causing him to convulse and produce five new Mogwai from his own body. One of the Mogwai, dubbed Stripe for his white quiff of hair, acts as their leader, but is very hostile to Gizmo. Curious to learn more about Mogwai, Billy takes Gizmo to his science teacher, Mr. Hanson ([[Glynn Turman]]), and produces a sixth new Mogwai. Leaving the new Mogwai with Mr. Hanson, on which he will conduct tests, Billy returns home, and the other five Mogwai trick him into feeding them after midnight by biting the cord of his alarm clock. In the morning, Billy discovers the Mogwai have turned into cocoons. Gizmo, having virtuously refused the food earlier, remains unchanged. |
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In the meantime, the sixth Mogwai steals Hanson's sandwich and cocoons itself. During a film, it hatches and breaks out of its cage, hiding in the dark corners of the room. Hanson tries to reason with it and bribe it with a candy bar, but the Mogwai eats it and Hanson's hand, killing him. Billy arrives and finds the Mogwai has turned into a reptilian monster. Elsewhere, the other Mogwai hatch into "gremlins", mischievous reptilian creatures with sharp teeth and claws. They attack Billy's mother ([[Frances Lee McCain]]), but she manages to gain the upper hand by catching one in a cake mixer and another in the microwave. One of the last gremlins attempts to attack her through the Christmas tree, but Mrs. Peltzer is able to escape with Billy's help. Stripe escapes and leaps into a swimming pool, creating hundreds of new gremlins who go on a rampage through the town. Billy and Gizmo rescue Billy's girlfriend Kate Beringer ([[Phoebe Cates]]) when the Gremlins overrun the tavern where she works. Billy, Kate, and Gizmo discover that the gremlins have temporarily stopped their rampage and have assembled in the local movie theater to watch ''[[Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937 film)|Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs]]''. The three set off an explosion that kills the gremlins and destroys the theater, but Stripe again escapes. |
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Billy follows Stripe into a [[department store]] nearby, and Stripe leaps into a water fountain, intending to multiply again. Before he can multiply, Gizmo opens a set of window blinds, causing sunlight to pour into the store, killing Stripe. As the Peltzers recover from the rampage, Mr. Wing arrives to claim Gizmo, saying that the Western world is not yet ready for the responsibilities that come with caring for a Mogwai. But he does state that Billy may someday be ready to properly care for Gizmo. As Mr. Wing is walking down the street with Gizmo in his possession, the film ends with a narration by Rand: |
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: "Well, that's the story. So if your air conditioner goes on the fritz or your washing machine blows up or your video recorder conks out. Before you call the repairman, turn on all the lights, check all the closets and cupboards, look under all the beds. 'Cause you never can tell there just might be a gremlin in your house." |
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==Cast== |
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* [[Zach Galligan]] as William "Billy" Peltzer |
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* [[Phoebe Cates]] as Kate Beringer |
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* [[Hoyt Axton]] as Randall Peltzer |
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* [[Frances Lee McCain]] as Lynn Peltzer |
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* [[Corey Feldman]] as Pete Fountaine |
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* [[Keye Luke]] as Mr. Wing |
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* John Louie as Mr. Wing's grandson |
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* [[Dick Miller]] as Murray Futterman |
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* [[Jackie Joseph]] as Sheila Futterman |
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* [[Polly Holiday]] as Mrs. Ruby Deagle |
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* [[Judge Reinhold]] as Gerald Hopkins |
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* [[Edward Andrews]] as Mr. Roland Corben |
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* [[Glynn Turman]] as Mr. Roy Hanson |
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* [[Belinda Balaski]] as Mrs. Joe Harris |
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* [[Harry Carey, Jr.]] as Mr. Anderson |
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* [[Chuck Jones]] as Mr. Jones |
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* [[Kenny Davis]] as Dorry |
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* [[Nicky Katt]] and [[Tracy Wells]] as Schoolchildren |
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* Mushroom as Barney |
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===Voices=== |
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* [[Howie Mandel]] as Gizmo |
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* [[Frank Welker]] as Stripe |
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* [[Marvin Miller (actor)|Marvin Miller]] as Robby the Robot (''uncredited'') |
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Gremlin vocal effects provided by [[Michael Winslow]], [[Bob Bergen]], [[Fred Newman]], [[Peter Cullen]], [[Mark Dodson]], [[Bob Holt (actor)|Bob Holt]], and Michael Sheehan. |
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===Cameos=== |
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* [[Steven Spielberg]] as Man riding Recumbent Bicycle |
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* [[Tom Bergeron]] as TV News Reporter |
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* [[Jerry Goldsmith]] as Man in Phone Booth |
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* [[William Schallert]] as Father Bartlett |
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* [[Chuck Jones]] as Billy's drawing mentor |
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==Production== |
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===Background=== |
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''Gremlins'' was produced at a time when combining horror and comedy was becoming increasingly popular. ''[[Ghostbusters]]'', released the same weekend as ''Gremlins'', and the comic strip ''[[The Far Side]]'' also followed this trend. According to Professor Noël Carroll, the new genre emphasized sudden shifts between humorous and horrific scenes; drawing laughs with plot elements that have been traditionally used to scare. The theme was also drawn from older films and television programs, such as ''[[Bride of Frankenstein]]'', ''[[Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein]]'' and the 1960s TV series, ''[[The Addams Family (TV series)|The Addams Family]]'' and ''[[The Munsters]]''.<ref>Noël Carroll, "Horror and Humor," ''The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism'', Vol. 57, No. 2, ''Aesthetics and Popular Culture'' (Spring, 1999), page 145.</ref> |
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The notion of gremlins was first conceived during [[World War II]], when mechanical failures in [[military aviation|aircraft]] were jokingly blamed on the small monsters. The term "gremlins" also entered popular culture as children's author [[Roald Dahl]] published a book called ''[[The Gremlins]]'' in 1943, based on the mischievous creatures.<ref>Roger E. Bilstein, ''Flight in America: From the Wrights to the Astronauts'' (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2001), p. 318, ISBN 0-8018-6685-5.</ref> (Walt Disney considered making a film of it. A Bugs Bunny cartoon of the era has him battling a gremlin on an airplane.) Joe Dante had read ''The Gremlins'', and said that the book was of some influence on his film. In 1983, Dante publicly distanced his work from earlier films, explaining, "Our gremlins are somewhat different—they're sort of green and they have big mouths and they smile a lot and they do incredibly, really nasty things to people and enjoy it all the while".<ref name="Featurette">''Gremlins: Behind the Scenes'', Warner Bros., 1983, in the DVD Steven Spielberg presents ''Gremlins.'' Special edition. Warner Home Video, 2002.</ref><ref name="DVD">DVD commentary; Steven Spielberg presents ''Gremlins.'' Special edition. Warner Home Video, 2002.</ref> |
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===Initial stages=== |
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The story of ''Gremlins'' was conceived by [[Chris Columbus (filmmaker)|Chris Columbus]]. As Columbus explained, his inspiration came from his loft, when at night "what sounded like a platoon of [[mouse|mice]] would come out and to hear them skittering around in the blackness was really creepy".<ref name="Behind Scenes">''Behind the Scenes'', in the DVD Steven Spielberg presents ''Gremlins.'' Special edition. Warner Home Video, 2002.</ref> He then wrote the original screenplay as a [[spec script]] to show potential employers that he had writing abilities. The story was not actually intended to be filmed until Steven Spielberg took an interest in turning it into a film.<ref name="DVD" /> As Spielberg explained, "It's one of the most original things I've come across in many years, which is why I bought it."<ref name="Featurette" /> |
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After deciding to executive produce the film, Spielberg chose Dante as his director because of his experience with horror-comedy; Dante had previously directed ''[[The Howling (film)|The Howling]]'' (1981), however, in the time between ''The Howling'' and the offer to film ''Gremlins'', he had experienced a lull in his career.<ref name="DVD" /> The film's producer was [[Michael Finnell]], who had also worked on ''The Howling'' with Dante. Spielberg took the project to Warner Bros. and co-produced it through his own company, [[Amblin Entertainment]]. |
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The film's script went through a few drafts before a shooting script was finalized. The first version was much darker than the final film. Various scenes were cut, including one which portrayed Billy's mother dying in her struggle with the gremlins, with her head thrown down the stairs when Billy arrives. Dante later explained the scene made the film darker than the filmmakers wanted. There was also a scene where the gremlins ate Billy's dog, and a scene where the gremlins attacked a [[McDonald's]], eating customers instead of burgers. Also, instead of Stripe being a mogwai who becomes a gremlin, there was originally no mogwai named Stripe; rather, Gizmo was supposed to transform into Stripe the gremlin. Spielberg overruled this plot element as he felt Gizmo was cute and that audiences would want him to be present throughout the film.<ref name="DVD" /> |
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A famous [[urban legend]] is referenced in the film,<ref>"[http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/stuck.asp Santa Claustrophobia]". ''[[Urban Legends Reference Pages]]''. October 23, 1999.</ref> in which Kate reveals in a speech that her father died at [[Christmas]] when he dressed as [[Santa Claus]] and broke his neck while climbing down the family's [[chimney]]. After the film was completed, the speech proved to be controversial, and studio executives insisted upon its removal, because they felt it was too ambiguous as to whether it was supposed to be funny or sad. Dante stubbornly refused to take the scene out, saying it represented the film as a whole, which had a combination of horrific and comedic elements. Spielberg did not like the scene but, despite his creative control, he viewed ''Gremlins'' as Dante's project and allowed him to leave it in.<ref name="DVD" /> A parody of this scene is featured in ''[[Gremlins 2: The New Batch]]''. |
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===Casting=== |
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[[Phoebe Cates]] was cast as Kate, Billy's girlfriend, despite concerns that she was known for playing more risqué parts, such as Linda Barrett in ''[[Fast Times at Ridgemont High]]'' (1982). Spielberg urged the casting of the relatively unknown [[Zach Galligan]] as Billy because he saw chemistry between Galligan and Cates during auditions. Galligan later compared himself to Billy, saying he was a "geeky kid", and that being in the film "was really kind of a dream" given "what I get to do, what my character gets to do, blow up movie theatres", adding that he "got to work with great people".<ref name="DVD" /> |
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In contrast to Galligan, many of the supporting actors and actresses were better known. Veteran actor [[Glynn Turman]] portrayed the high school science teacher whose study of a mogwai leads to his death after it forms a cocoon and emerges as a vicious gremlin. [[Dick Miller]], who was a regular in Dante's films, was another experienced actor on the set, playing a [[World War II]] veteran who first refers to the creatures as gremlins. Rand was played by [[Hoyt Axton]], who was always the filmmakers' preferred choice for the role even though it was widely contested by other actors{{Citation needed|date=June 2010}}. Axton's experience included acting as the father in ''[[The Black Stallion (film)|The Black Stallion]]'' (1979), and he was also a [[country music]] [[singer-songwriter]]. After an introductory scene to ''Gremlins'' was cut, Axton's voice earned him the added role of the [[narrator]] to establish some context. Mr. Wing was played by [[Keye Luke]], a renowned film actor. Although in reality, he was around 80 at the time of filming, and his character was very elderly, Luke's youthful appearance had to be covered by [[make-up]].<ref name="DVD" /> |
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[[Corey Feldman]], who up to that time had primarily been in commercials, played Pete Fountaine, establishing his early credentials as a child actor. |
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[[Polly Holliday]], an actress best known for her role in ''[[Alice (TV series)|Alice]]'', played Mrs. Deagle. Dante considered the casting fortunate, as she was well-known and he considered her to be talented. Ironically, two other well-known actors, ''Fast Times''{{'}} [[Judge Reinhold]] and character actor [[Edward Andrews]], received roles that were significantly reduced after the film was edited; they played Billy's superiors at the bank.<ref name="DVD" /> |
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===Special effects=== |
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The performances were shot on the [[backlot]] of [[Universal Studios]] in [[California]] (except the opening street scenes in Chinatown, which were filmed on the [[Warner Bros. Studios]] backlot). This required fake snow; Dante also felt it was an atmosphere that would make the special effects more convincing. As the special effects relied mainly on puppetry, the actors worked alongside some of the puppets. Nevertheless, after the actors finished their work for good, a great deal of work was spent finishing the effects. Numerous small rubber puppets, some of which were mechanical, were used to portray Gizmo and the gremlins. They were designed by [[Chris Walas]]. There was more than one Gizmo puppet, and occasionally Galligan, when carrying one, would set him down off camera, and when Gizmo appeared again sitting on a surface it was actually a different puppet wired to the surface. These puppets had many limitations. The Gizmo puppets were particularly frustrating because they were smaller and thus broke down more. Consequently, to satisfy the crew, a scene was included in which the gremlins hang Gizmo on a wall and throw darts at him.<ref name="DVD"/> |
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A few [[marionette]]s were also used. Other effects required large mogwai faces and ears to be produced for [[close-up]]s, as the puppets were less capable of conveying emotion. Consequently, large [[Theatrical properties|props]] simulating food were needed for the close-ups in the scene in which the mogwai feast after midnight. An enlarged Gizmo puppet was also needed for the scene in which he multiplies. The new mogwai, who popped out of Gizmo's body as small, furry balls which then started to grow, were balloons and expanded as such. Walas had also created the exploding gremlin in the microwave by means of a balloon that was allowed to burst.<ref name="DVD"/> |
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[[Howie Mandel]] provided the voice for Gizmo, and prolific voice actor [[Frank Welker]] provided the voice for Stripe. It was Welker who suggested Mandel perform in ''Gremlins''. The puppets' lines were mostly invented by the voice actors, based on cues from the physical actions of the puppets, which were filmed before the voice work. When developing the voice for Gizmo, Mandel explained, "[Gizmo was] cute and naive, so, you know, I got in touch with that... I couldn't envision going any other way or do something different with it".<ref name="DVD" /> The majority of the other gremlins voices were performed by Mark Dodson. Ironically, [[Peter Cullen]] provided vocals effects as he and Welker are both well known for their roles in the television series ''[[The Transformers (TV series)|The Transformers]]'' which aired the same year. It was the first live action film both Cullen and Welker starred in together. The next live action film they would star together in would be ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen]]'' released 25 years later and also with [[Steven Spielberg]] as the excutive producer. |
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===Music=== |
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The film's score was composed by [[Jerry Goldsmith]], who won a [[Saturn Award for Best Music]] for his efforts. The main score was composed with the objective of conveying "the mischievous humor and mounting suspense of Gremlins".<ref name="Behind Scenes" /> Goldsmith also wrote Gizmo's song, which was hummed by a child actress and acquaintance of Goldsmith's, rather than Mandel himself.<ref name="DVD" /> Goldsmith also appears in the film (as does Steven Spielberg), in the scene where Rand calls home from the salesman's convention. |
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The soundtrack album was released by [[Geffen Records]] as a specially-priced mini-album on LP and cassette (Goldsmith's music comprised all of side two), and reissued on compact disc in 1993 only in Germany. |
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# Gremlins...Mega Madness — [[Michael Sembello]] (3:50) |
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# Make It Shine — [[Quarterflash]] (4:10) |
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# Out/Out — [[Peter Gabriel]] (7:00) |
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# The Gift (4:51) |
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# Gizmo (4:09) |
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# Mrs. Deagle (2:50) |
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# The Gremlin Rag (4:03) |
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"Gremlins...Mega Madness" was also released as a single, with "The Gremlin Rag" as its B-side. |
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In 2011 [[Film Score Monthly]] issued a two-disc release of the soundtrack, with the complete score on disc one and the original soundtrack album on disc two (representing the latter's first North American CD issue); this was the label's final Jerry Goldsmith album. |
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''DISC ONE: The Film Score'' |
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# Fanfare in C ([[Max Steiner]])/The Shop/The Little One 4:30 |
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# Late for Work 1:46 |
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# Mrs. Deagle/That Dog 2:22 |
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# The Gift 1:45 |
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# First Aid 2:17 |
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# Spilt Water 3:02 |
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# A New One 1:10 |
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# The Lab/Old Times 2:35 |
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# The Injection 2:56 |
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# Snack Time/The Wrong Time 1:49 |
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# The Box 1:24 |
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# First Aid 1:39 |
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# Disconnected/Hurry Home 1:03 |
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# Kitchen Fight 4:06 |
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# Dirty Linen 0:43 |
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# The Pool 1:07 |
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# The Plow/Special Delivery 1:16 |
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# High Flyer 2:22 |
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# Too Many Gremlins 2:06 |
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# No Santa Claus 3:27 |
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# After Theatre 1:39 |
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# Theatre Escape/Stripe Is Loose/Toy Dept./No Gizmo 4:36 |
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# The Fountain/Stripe's Death 5:42 |
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# Goodbye, Billy 2:56 |
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# End Title/The Gremlin Rag 4:10 |
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# Blues 2:17 |
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# Mrs. Deagle (film version) 1:27 |
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# God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen (traditional, arr. Alexander Courage) 1:12 |
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# After Theatre (With "Silent Night") 1:36 |
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# After Theatre (Without "Silent Night") 1:36 |
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# Rabbit Rampage (Milt Franklyn) 0:47 |
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# The Gremlin Rag (full version) 3:35 |
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# Gizmo's New Song 0:35 |
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# Gizmo's Trumpet 0:30 |
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Tracks 26-34 are listed as bonus tracks. |
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''DISC TWO: 1984 Soundtrack Album'' |
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# Gremlins...Mega Madness — Michael Sembello 3:52 |
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# Make It Shine — Quarterflash 4:11 |
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# Out/Out — Peter Gabriel 7:02 |
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# The Gift 4:58 |
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# Gizmo 4:14 |
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# Mrs. Deagle 2:54 |
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# The Gremlin Rag 4:13 |
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===Rating=== |
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Along with ''[[Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom]]'', also [[MPAA film rating system#The PG-13 rating is adopted|rated PG]], ''Gremlins'' was one of two films in 1984 to influence the [[Motion Picture Association of America|MPAA]] to create the PG-13 rating, with ''[[Red Dawn]]'' being the first film given the new rating in August 1984.<ref name="PG-13" /> The scene in which a gremlin explodes in the microwave was particularly influential to the idea that some films too light to be rated R are still too mature to be rated PG. The change to the rating system was not insignificant; the rating PG-13 turned out to be appealing to some film patrons, as it implied some excitement without being too explicit.<ref name="PG-13" /> |
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==Reception== |
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===Critical reaction=== |
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Film critics' reaction to ''Gremlins'' was mixed to positive. [[Roger Ebert]] approved of the film, declaring it to not only be "fun", but also a "sly series of send-ups", effectively [[parody]]ing many elemental film storylines. In his opinion, ''Gremlins'' did this partly through depictions of mysterious worlds (the shop in Chinatown) and tyrannical elderly women (Mrs. Deagle). Ebert also believed the rule in which a mogwai cannot eat after midnight was inspired by [[fairy tale]]s, and that the final scenes parody the classic horror films. He connected Kate's speech about her father with "the great tradition of 1950s sick jokes".<ref name="Ebert">Roger Ebert, "Gremlins," January 1, 1984. ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]].''</ref> Conversely, [[Leonard Maltin]] disapproved of the film, and his view was made clear in remarks he made on the television show ''[[Entertainment Tonight]]''. He called the film "icky" and "gross".<ref name="Grant">Edmond Grant, "''Gremlins 2''," ''Films in Review'', October 1990, vol. 41, issue 10, page 485–487.</ref> He later wrote that despite being set in a "picture-[[postcard]] town" and blending the feel of ''[[It's a Wonderful Life]]'' (a clip of which appears in ''Gremlins'') with that of ''[[The Blob]]'', the film is "negated by too-vivid violence and mayhem"; giving the film two out of four stars.<ref>Leonard Maltin, ed., ''Leonard Maltin's 2002 Movie & Video Guide.'' A Signet Book, 2001, page 557.</ref> Maltin actually made a tongue-in-cheek appearance in ''Gremlins 2'', repeating his criticisms of the original on film, as an [[in-joke]], before being throttled by the creatures; he later gave the second film a more positive rating, three out of four stars. |
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While some critics criticized the film's depictions of violence and greed—such as death scenes, Kate's speech, and the gremlins' gluttony—for lacking comic value, scholar Charlotte Miller instead interpreted these as a [[satire]] of "some characteristics of [[Western culture|Western civilization]]", suggesting that Westerners may take too much satisfaction from violence. ''Gremlins'' can also be interpreted as a statement against technology, in that some characters, such as Billy's father, are overly dependent on it. In contrast, Mr. Wing is shown to have a strong distaste for television.<ref>Charlotte Miller, "Using ''Gremlins'' to Teach Theme," ''The English Journal'', Vol. 74, No. 4. (Apr., 1985), p. 69.</ref> [[Kirkpatrick Sale]] also interpreted ''Gremlins'' as an anti-technology film in his book ''Rebels Against the Future''.<ref>Sale Kirkpatrick, ''Rebels Against the Future, Quartet Books, p.240</ref> Another scholar suggested that the film is meant to express a number of observations of society by having the gremlin characters shift in what they are meant to represent. At different times, they are depicted as [[teenager]]s, the wealthy establishment, or fans of [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]] films.<ref name="Rosenbaum">Jonathan Rosenbaum, review of ''[[Who Framed Roger Rabbit|Who Framed Roger Rabbit?]]'' by [[Robert Zemeckis]], ''[[Film Quarterly]]'', vol. 42, no. 1. (Autumn, 1988), page 37.</ref> |
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Another scholar drew a connection between the microwave scene and urban legends about pets dying in microwave ovens. He described the portrayal of this urban legend in the film as successful, but that meant it seemed terrible.<ref name="Doyle">Charles Clay Doyle, "The Avenging Voice from the Depths," ''Western Folklore'', Vol. 47, No. 1 (Jan., 1988), page 21.</ref> This is indeed a scene that is thought of as being one of the film's most violent depictions; with even Roger Ebert expressing some fear in his review that the film might encourage children to try similar things with their pets.<ref name="Ebert" /> |
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''Gremlins'' has been criticized for more than its depictions of violence. One [[BBC]] critic wrote in 2000 that "The plot is thin and the pacing is askew". However, that critic also complimented the dark humour contrasted against the ideal Christmas setting.<ref>Almar Haflidason, "[http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2000/12/15/gremlins_1984_review.shtml Gremlins (1984)]," ''Film Reviews'', [[BBC]]. Retrieved April 29, 2006.</ref> In 2002, another critic wrote that in hindsight, ''Gremlins'' has "corny special effects" and that the film will tend to appeal to children more so than to adults; he also said the acting was dull.<ref>Blake French, "[http://www.filmcritic.com/misc/emporium.nsf/ddb5490109a79f598625623d0015f1e4/763408a278500cd788256c2b00838caf?OpenDocument Gremlins]", ''[[AMC (TV channel)|Filmcritic.com]]'', 2002. URL accessed May 3, 2006.</ref> |
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Despite the initial mixed criticism, ''Gremlins'' has continued to receive critical praise over the years. It currently holds a 78% "Certified Fresh" rating on the review aggregate website [[Rotten Tomatoes]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gremlins/ |title= ''Gremlins'' Movie Reviews, Pictures |publisher=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |date= |accessdate=May 21, 2010}}</ref> and is considered by many as one of the best films of 1984.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmsite.org/1984.html |title=The Greatest Films of 1984 |publisher=[[AMC (TV channel)|AMC Filmsite.org]] |date= |accessdate=May 21, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.film.com/features/story/10-best-movies-of-1984/15492765 |title=The 10 Best Movies of 1984 |publisher=[[RealNetworks|Film.com]] |date= |accessdate=May 21, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/search/title?year=1984,1984&title_type=feature&sort=moviemeter,asc |title=Most Popular Feature Films Released in 1984 |publisher=[[IMDb|IMDb.com]] |date= |accessdate= May 22, 2010}}</ref> |
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===Box office=== |
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Financially, ''Gremlins'' was a commercial success. Produced on an $11 million budget, it was more expensive than Spielberg had originally intended, but still relatively cheap for its time.<ref name="DVD" /> The [[Trailer (film)|trailer]] introduced the film to audiences by briefly explaining that Billy receives a strange creature as a Christmas present, by going over the three rules, and then coming out with the fact that the creatures transform into terrible monsters. This trailer showed little of either the mogwai or the gremlins.<ref>''Theatrical Trailers'', in the DVD Steven Spielberg presents ''Gremlins.'' Special edition. Warner Home Video, 2002.</ref> In contrast to this, other advertisements concentrated on Gizmo, overlooked the gremlins and made the film look similar to Spielberg's earlier family film ''[[E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial]]'' (1982).<ref name="PG-13">Anthony Breznican, "[http://www.seattlepi.com/movies/187529_pg13rating24.html PG-13 remade Hollywood ratings system]", [[Associated Press|The Associated Press]], August 24, 2004.</ref> |
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''Gremlins'' was released into North American theaters on June 8, 1984, the same day as Ivan Reitman's ''[[Ghostbusters]]''. ''Gremlins'' ranked second, with $12.5 million in its first weekend, $1.1 million less than ''Ghostbusters''. By the end of its American screenings on November 29, it had grossed $148,168,459 domestically. This made it the fourth highest-grossing film of the year, behind ''[[Beverly Hills Cop]]'', ''[[Ghostbusters]]'', and ''[[Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom]]''.<ref name="box office">"[http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=gremlins.htm Gremlins]," ''[[Box Office Mojo]]''. Retrieved April 30, 2006.</ref> In August 1984, it opened in Argentina and Spain, and in October it premiered in [[West Germany]]. Screenings began in Mexico, Australia and much of the rest of Europe in December.<ref>"[http://imdb.com/title/tt0087363/releaseinfo Release dates for Gremlins]" [[IMDb|IMDb.com]], URL accessed May 11, 2006.</ref> As ''Gremlins'' had an international audience, different versions of the film were made to overcome cultural barriers. Mandel learned to speak his few intelligible lines, such as "Bright light!", in various languages, including German. Regional music and humor were also incorporated into foreign-language versions. Dante credited this work as being one of the factors which helped to make ''Gremlins'' a worldwide success.<ref name="DVD" /> However, many critics questioned the summer release date of the film in America, as the film takes place during the Christmas holiday season, causing them to comment that it should have had a Christmas release date instead. |
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In addition to this, there were also complaints from audiences about the violence depicted in the film. This was particularly present in people who had brought their children to see the film, many of whom walked out of the theatre before the film had ended. Dante admitted to reporters later that "the idea of taking a 4-year-old to see ''Gremlins'', thinking it's going to be a cuddly, funny animal movie and then seeing that it turns into a horror picture, I think people were upset... They felt like they had been sold something family friendly and it wasn't entirely family friendly".<ref name="PG-13" /> |
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The film became available to audiences again when it was brought back to theatres on August 30, 1985. This additional release brought its gross up to $153,083,102.<ref name="box office" /> |
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===Awards=== |
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''Gremlins'' won numerous awards, including the 1985 [[Saturn Award]]s for [[Saturn Award for Best Direction|Best Director]], [[Saturn Award for Best Horror Film|Best Horror Film]], [[Saturn Award for Best Music|Best Music]], [[Saturn Award for Best Special Effects|Best Special Effects]], and the award for [[Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress|Best Supporting Actress]], given to Holiday's performance as Mrs. Deagle. The film also won Germany's Golden Screen Award and the 1985 [[Young Artist Award]] for Best Family Motion Picture (Adventure). [[Corey Feldman]], who played Billy's young friend, was also nominated for the [[Young Artist Award]] for Best Young Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture Musical, Comedy, Adventure or Drama. |
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===Home media=== |
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''Gremlins'' was released on [[VHS]] in 1985, and made $79,500,000 in [[rental shop|rental stores]].<ref>"[http://imdb.com/title/tt0087363/business Business Data for Gremlins]" [[IMDb|IMDb.com]], URL accessed May 7, 2006.</ref> The film was released on [[DVD]] in 1997, and again in 1999. On August 20, 2002, a "[[special edition]]" DVD was released, which featured [[Audio commentary|cast and filmmakers' commentary]] and [[deleted scene]]s. A [[Blu-ray Disc|Blu-ray]] edition was released on December 1, 2009. |
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===Allegations of racism=== |
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Since its release, some people have criticized ''Gremlins'' as being culturally insensitive. Some observers have commented that the film presents gremlins as [[African Americans]],<ref name="Rosenbaum" /> and in an unflattering manner. At the time of its release, some members of the African-American community protested that the film was racist. In ''Ceramic Uncles & Celluloid Mammies'', Patricia Turner writes that the gremlins "reflect negative African-American stereotypes" in their dress and behavior. They are shown "devouring fried chicken with their hands", listening to black music, breakdancing, and wearing sunglasses after dark and newsboy caps, a style common among African American males in the 1980s.<ref>Patricia A. Turner, ''Ceramic Uncles & Celluloid Mammies: Black Images and Their Influence on Culture''. (New York: Anchor Books, 1994), pp. 151–52, ISBN 0-385-46784-2.</ref> |
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==Merchandising== |
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With its commercial themes, particularly the perceived [[cuteness]] of the character Gizmo, ''Gremlins'' became the center of considerable merchandising. Due to this, it became part of a rising trend in film, which had received a boost from Spielberg's ''[[E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial]]''.<ref name="DVD" /> Manufacturers including [[LJN]] produced versions of Gizmo as [[doll]]s or [[stuffed animal]]s. (The latter of which became a popular high demand toy during the [[holiday season]] of 1984.) Both Gizmo and the gremlins were mass produced as [[action figure]]s, and [[Topps]] printed [[trading card]]s based upon the film.<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000A1R4Q Gremlins Action Figure: Gizmo by NECA], [[Amazon.com]], URL accessed April 30, 2006; [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000A1R4O Gremlins Action Figure: Poker Player by NECA], [[Amazon.com]], URL accessed April 30, 2006; [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000EO5MRI Gremlins Movie Photo Trading Cards Box -36 Count by Topps]," [[Amazon.com]]. Retrieved April 30, 2006.</ref> A product placement deal with fast food chain [[Hardee's]] also led to a series of five book-and-cassette/45 records adaptations of the film's story. Starting in the early 2000s, companies such as [[Jun Planning]] and the [[National Entertainment Collectibles Association]] produced all-new Gremlins toys and collectibles. |
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The film was also the basis for a [[novel]] of the same name by [[George Gipe]], published by [[Avon Books]] in June 1984. The novel offered an origin for mogwai and gremlins as a prologue. Supposedly, mogwai were created as gentle, contemplative creatures by a scientist on an alien world. However, it was discovered that their physiology was unstable, and under "certain circumstances", alluding to the three rules that were given in the film, mogwai would change into creatures that the novel referred to as "mischievous". This origin is unique to the novel but is referred to in the novelization of ''Gremlins 2'' by [[David Bischoff]]. No definitive origin for mogwai or gremlins is given in either ''Gremlins'' film. |
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Several [[video game]]s based on the film have also been produced. At the time of the film's release, an [[interactive fiction]] game based on scenes from the film titled ''Gremlins — The Adventure'' (1985) was released for various [[home computers]], including the [[Acorn Electron]], the [[BBC Micro]], the [[Commodore 64]] and the [[ZX Spectrum]]. The game was written by [[Brian Howarth]] for [[Adventure Soft]] and was text based, with full colour illustrations on some formats. In addition, the game ''Gremlins'' was released for the [[Atari 2600]], while a far superior version appeared on the [[Atari 5200]]. In the 2000s, more games were released; ''Gremlins: Unleashed!'' was released on [[Game Boy]] in 2001. The game was about Gizmo trying to catch Stripe and thirty other gremlins, while the gremlins also try to turn Gizmo into a gremlin. Both Gizmo and Stripe are playable characters in the game.<ref>"[http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00005OW8Z Gremlins Unleashed]", [[Amazon.com]], URL accessed May 3, 2006.</ref> ''Gremlins: Stripe Versus Gizmo'', with both Gizmo and Stripe as playable characters, was released in 2002. |
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In addition to this, ''Gremlins'' brand breakfast cereal was produced by Ralston for a few years concurrent to and after the first film was released in 1984. The front of the cereal box featured Gizmo, and inside were decals of the malevolent gremlins, including Stripe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lavasurfer.com/cereal-ralston2.html|title=Topher's Breakfast Cereal Character Guide|accessdate=August 8, 2008}}</ref> |
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==Legacy== |
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The film not only spawned the [[sequel]], ''[[Gremlins 2: The New Batch]]'', and an advertisement for [[BT Group|British Telecom]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/video/2008/apr/30/dragons.den.gremlins.bt|title=It's Dragon v Gremlins in BT ad|publisher=The Guardian|date=April 30, 2008}}</ref> but it is believed to have been the inspiration for, or at least similar to, several later unrelated films about small monsters. These include ''[[Critters (film series)|Critters]]'',<ref>Maltin, 298.</ref> ''[[Ghoulies]]'',<ref name="Doyle" /> ''[[Troll (film)|Troll]]'',<ref>Maltin, 1141.</ref> ''[[Hobgoblins (film)|Hobgoblins]]'',<ref>Jason Gibner, [http://www.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll ''Hobgoblins.''] ''[[Allmovie]]''. Retrieved April 28, 2006.</ref> ''[[Beasties (1989 film)|Beasties]]'',<ref>According to the cover: "Mix a little ''Gremlins'' and a dash of ''Back to the Future'' and this recipe explodes with adventure and fantasy!"</ref> ''[[Kamillions]]'',<ref>According to the cover:"''Kamillions'', a horror comedy frightening enough to remind you of ''The Fly'' and funny enough to make you laugh at those new ''Gremlins''..."</ref> ''[[Spookies]]'',<ref>cover blurb: "''Gremlins'' chased you; ''Ghoulies'' terrified you"</ref> and ''[[Munchies (film)|Munchies]]''.<ref>Lawrence O'Toole, "NY CLIPS Nell says no to fashion king and Warren's spoon is hot," ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', January 16, 1987, pg. D.6.</ref> Many of these films were not critical successes, and ''Hobgoblins'' was lampooned on the television series ''[[Mystery Science Theater 3000]]''. Both ''Critters'' and ''Ghoulies'' actually began development before ''Gremlins''.<ref>''Critters'' UK VHS liner notes (Cinema Club edition)</ref><ref>[http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/empirepictures/page2.html 1985]{{Dead link|date=April 2010}}</ref> The [[anime]] ''[[Pet Shop of Horrors]]'' has also been compared to ''Gremlins''.<ref>"[http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews2/alt_reviews/416.php Pet Shop of Horrors]," ''Anime on DVD Reviews''. Retrieved April 30, 2006.</ref> The Manga of Petshop of Horrors even makes reference to the movie on the first page of the first volume. While the results of breaking the rules are suggested later on to be met with an unsympathetic response from Count D. The [[tongue-in-cheek]] [[Christmas]]-themed horror film ''[[Jack Frost 2: Revenge of the Mutant Killer Snowman]]'' parodies Gremlins. |
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There were rumors that the talking doll [[Furby]] was so similar to the character Gizmo that Warner Bros. was considering a lawsuit in 1998, but Warner representatives replied that this was not true.<ref>"Gizmo And Furby To Co-Exist," December 24, 1998, ''StudioBriefing''.</ref> (A Gizmo version of Furby was later produced.) In music, the Scottish post-rock band [[Mogwai]] are named after the film's creatures, although the guitarist of the band, Stuart Braithwaite, comments that "it has no significant meaning and we always intended on getting a better one, but like a lot of other things we never got round to it".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mogwai.co.uk/words/Frequently_Asked_Questions/Frequently_Asked_Questions/ |title=Mogwai Band FAQ |publisher=Mogwai.co.uk |date= |accessdate=April 12, 2010}}</ref> |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist|2}} |
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<!--<nowiki>Please do not type footnotes here. Instead insert the footnote in its proper spot in the body of this article using the<ref name="> </ref"> tags. See [[Wikipedia:Footnotes]] for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the tags.</nowiki>--> |
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==External links== |
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{{wikiquote}} |
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* {{IMDb title|0087363}} |
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* {{Amg movie|20918}} |
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* {{mojo title|gremlins}} |
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* {{rotten-tomatoes|gremlins}} |
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* [http://16-9.dk/2008-02/side11_inenglish.htm Gremlins in the Mix] - Article on '' Gremlins '' and genre-blending |
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* [http://www.horrorlair.com/movies/gremlins.html April 27, 1982, Second Draft screenplay by Christopher Columbus] |
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{{Gremlins}} |
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{{Joe Dante}} |
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{{Steven Spielberg}} |
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{{Saturn Award for Best Horror Film 1972–1990}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gremlins}} |
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[[Category:Gremlins]] |
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[[Category:1984 films]] |
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[[Category:1980s comedy films]] |
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[[Category:1980s horror films]] |
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[[Category:American films]] |
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[[Category:American black comedy films]] |
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[[Category:American comedy horror films]] |
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[[Category:English-language films]] |
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[[Category:Films directed by Joe Dante]] |
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[[Category:Films produced by Steven Spielberg]] |
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[[Category:Christmas films]] |
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[[Category:Films based on urban legends]] |
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[[Category:Films featuring puppetry]] |
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[[Category:Monster movies]] |
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[[Category:Amblin Entertainment films]] |
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[[Category:Warner Bros. films]] |
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