STACK #257 March 2026

FEATURE MOVIE

Few films have balanced mischief, horror and heart quite like Gremlins . From its unlikely beginnings as an unproduced script to a box office sensation, Joe Dante's classic still delights. Words Bob J

A fter writing a film script that he titled Gremlins , Chris Columbus hawked it around the Hollywood studios basically to prove to the movie moguls that he could actually write a screenplay. However, none of them were interested in what they considered to be basically a "puppet show" story. Enter Steven Spielberg who, after reading a copy of Columbus's script, realised it could play like a darker version of his classic movie E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Spielberg now took the project to Warner Bros with an offer to co-produce it through his Amblin Entertainment company. With a budget of $11 million, Spielberg told Columbus to polish his script ready to film (Columbus would go on to have a successful career writing and directing films such as Home Alone, Mrs Doubtfire, and the first two Harry Potters ). Spielberg then gave the director's chair to exploitation filmmaker Roger Corman's protégé Joe Dante, after being impressed with his 1978 f ilm Piranha , as a witty spoof of Spielberg's own Jaws . Gremlins begins with inept inventor Randall Pelzer (Hoyt Axton) searching for a Christmas gift for his son Billy (Zach Galligan) Strolling through Chinatown, he comes across a small out-of-the-way junk shop owned by Mr Wing (Keye Luke). Inside the shop he finds exactly what he's looking for; a cute furry, adorable little creature who sings and smiles called a Mogwai.

However, Mr Wing does not want to sell him the Mogwai, claiming that it requires strict responsibility. However, Mr Wing's grandson sneaks it out and sells it to Randall. But he warns him that there are three strict rules

caught the public mood on its release. Furthermore, it also proved that both Spielberg and Dante had successfully collaborated on a movie that combined their light and dark sensitivities. Not only does Gremlins work as a creature feature and gateway horror movie, it has also become a holiday favourite. Dante followed it with a much more comedic and cartoony 1990 sequel, which has since earned cult

that must be obeyed; One: Mogwai hates bright lights, it may kill him. Two: Don't get him wet. Three: And definitely don't feed him after midnight. Unknown

status, and decades later a well-received animated prequel series arrived. Most exciting of all, Gremlins 3 is currently underway, with Chris Columbus directing.

to Randall "Mogwai" is Cantonese Chinese for "Demon". Billy names his Mogwai Gizmo and needless to say when the strict rules get broken all hell breaks loose. When

• Gremlins is out Mar 18

FUN FACT

Warner Bros's iconic shield logo completely disappeared from its films

water is splashed on Gizmo, he gives birth to a whole parcel of malicious and devious mogwais who, amongst causing several catastrophes, cut off the power of Billy's clock. Unknowingly, Billy now feeds them after midnight, breaking the worst rule of all as the Mogwai now swiftly grow into fully fledged nasty little green Gremlins. Complete devastation follows as the dangerous Gremlins go on a total rampage throughout the town. One stand-out scene amongst many humorous and brilliantly staged others is where Mrs Peltzer (Frances Lee) has to battle the Gremlins in her kitchen using a knife, a

at the end of the 1960s. Director Joe Dante, who had a huge love for the old Warner Bros classics, asked for it to be re-instated for his Gremlins film and it was. Furthermore, it now appears on all WB films today.

blender, and a microwave, all with extremely gory results. Gremlins is indeed a darkly humoured comedy set in a typical Spielberg Americana town, but actually filmed on the backlots of both Universal and Warner Bros studios. The film featured outstanding state-of-the-art special effects, there was no CGI here,

this was real filmmaking the way films used to be made. Subsequently, the film's box office success of $148 million domestically indicated that it certainly

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