Critic Reviews
Gremlins (1984) Rank 5 Reviews
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based on (42) reviews
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Boxoffice Magazine
The featureless initial release of "Gremlins," as pretty as it was, is now history, rightly replaced by a feature-packed special edition. And that's not all. The much-maligned but superior sequel, "Gremlins 2: The New Batch," has also made its DVD ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at Boxoffice Magazine
Arrow in the Head ("The Arrow")
Zany inventor Rand ( Axton) gets his son (Galligan) a new pet (a "Mogwai" to be precise) for Christmas The snag is that the cute furry little bugger comes with three peculiar rules to it: Keep it away from light, keep it away from water and don't ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at Arrow in the Head ("The Arrow")
Tail Slate ("The Horror Guru")
Unfortunately for us horror fans, there is not a huge pool of films to choose from for the holiday season. And of the holiday-oriented horror, the majority are just downright bad. ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at Tail Slate ("The Horror Guru")
Shade.ca
This is one of the only horror movies (along with its sequel), that is aimed at all audiences. It is addressed to children because of its simplicity and its immature characters but brings to life mutilations, pulverizations and other things that the MPAA ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at Shade.ca
Tail Slate ("The Horror Guru")
This film is the total package, with something for everyone in the house - a true family movie, albeit a little twisted. ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at Tail Slate ("The Horror Guru")
DVD MovieGuide
Welcome to Gremlins, one of the final vestiges of the original "PG" rating! For the first 15 or so years of the MPAA's system, no step between "PG" and "R" existed. ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at DVD MovieGuide
Cinema Laser (Derek M. Germano)
What I liked best about GREMLINS ($20) is the film's decidedly dark sense of humor, which contrasts nicely with its fantasy themed story. GREMLINS tells the tale of what happens when a less than successful inventor named Randall Peltzer (Hoyt Axton) ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at Cinema Laser (Derek M. Germano)
DVD Town (John J. Puccio)
When my wife and I and a close friend went to see "Gremlins" on opening night in 1984, it was with high hopes, thanks to Steven Spielberg's name as executive producer and Joe Dante's as director. Spielberg was riding high with "Jaws," "Close ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at DVD Town (John J. Puccio)
Nick Schager Film Project (Nick Schager)
Gleefully mischievous and full of dark, magical energy. ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at Nick Schager Film Project (Nick Schager)
The Stop Button (Andrew Wickliffe)
Okay, I don't get it. How did Zach Galligan not succeed as an actor? He's not astoundingly good or anything, but he's incredibly likable. From his filmography, it looks like he just disappeared... ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at The Stop Button (Andrew Wickliffe)
Apollo Guide
I'm sure when most of us were very young, the idea of having a pet such as a dog, cat or goldfish carried much appeal. When I was five, my mom and grandma took me to a pet store and I fell in love with a pair of guinea pigs. ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at Apollo Guide
DVD Talk (Adam Tyner)
To those who grew up with Gremlins, a purchase of this very well-produced special edition is an absolute no-brainer, though uninitiated viewers might not entirely understand the fanatical devotion so many have for this movie. With its strong ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at DVD Talk (Adam Tyner)
Filmtracks
Finally, with the Gremlins themselves at this point demonstrating the full range of their mean streak, MOVIE THEATRE/EXPLOSION and HUNTING STRIPE go totally ballistic with craziness, as the Gremlins theme shows up in short violin cues and ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at Filmtracks
Classic Horror
Never get them wet.
Keep them away from bright lights.
And no matter how much they cry. No matter how much they beg. Never, ever feed them after midnight. ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at Classic Horror
ZombieKeeper.com
On his way home from a convention, Randall ends up in Chinatown on a search to find his son the ultimate Christmas gift. There, he meets a young Chinese boy that tells him of a shop his Grandfather owns, and promises him every thing. Randall accepts the ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at ZombieKeeper.com
Cinema Laser (Derek M. Germano)
I've always thought of GREMLINS ($25) as a cute and fun little fantasy movie with a dark underbelly that gave it a bit of an edge. GREMLINS has certainly proved to be a popular film, so I wasn't too surprised when it made its appearance on DVD. ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at Cinema Laser (Derek M. Germano)
ToxicUniverse.com (Daniel Briney)
Gremlins, in short, just adds up-for me, at least-to one of those fun little '80s movies I remember so ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at ToxicUniverse.com (Daniel Briney)
DVD Verdict (Patrick Naugle)
The original Gremlins has the dubious distinction of being one of two films to get the PG-13 rating instated (the other one being Steven Spielberg's Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom). For Gremlins, the reason for the new rating change was the ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at DVD Verdict (Patrick Naugle)
Mutant Reviewers From Hell
I like Gremlins and I'll tell you why (naturally). In so many little monster movies, critters exist mostly to look ugly and jump out of inconvenient places. Once the shock of seeing them wears off (my record: a piddling half-second), all that remains ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at Mutant Reviewers From Hell
Daily-Reviews (Brian Matherly)
... the story is so involving that it becomes incredibly easy to forget that the majority of the cast is made of fake fur and foam rubber. ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at Daily-Reviews (Brian Matherly)
DVD Authority.com (Matt Brighton)
Though not directed by Stephen Spielberg, it might as well should have been. Gremlins remains a favorite among many and for good reason. It combines the elements that make stories entertaining (not good, mind you), but it's got drama, suspense, action ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at DVD Authority.com (Matt Brighton)
The UK Critic (Ian Waldron-Mantgani)
I feel obliged to pick a Christmas movie, and I don't want to go down the obvious road of "It's a Wonderful Life". Still, this is a time of year to reflect on that which is close to the heart, and so we come to "Gremlins", which is a holiday ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at The UK Critic (Ian Waldron-Mantgani)
DVDork.com (Roger Herridge)
In this 1984 Steven Spielberg classic we have a very unlikely story that is half comedy and half suspense/horror. Starring Zach Galligan and Phoebe Cates as the main characters (Billy & Kate) aside from Gizmo and the Gremlins, they find themselves trying ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at DVDork.com (Roger Herridge)
SF, Horror and Fantasy Film Review
Gremlins was the runaway box-office hit of 1984. This was due, in no small part, to the headlining name of Steven Spielberg. (Some advertising campaigns even went so far as to misleadingly claim that Steven Spielberg directed ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at SF, Horror and Fantasy Film Review
Time Out
With a characteristic mix of narrative anarchy, cinephile allusion, cartoon-style slapstick and black-tinged comedy, Dante gleefully sinks his teeth into the kind of fluffy, sugary, sickly small town fantasy beloved of his pal and sometime producer ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at Time Out
Dragan Antulov
During the release of GREMLINS Joe Dante enjoyed reputation of Steven Spielberg's disciple and this is probably the main reason why many critics tend to dismiss this film as nothing more than an example of Spielbergian 1980s formula. At first glance ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at Dragan Antulov
David Wilcock
The problem with the film, though, is that Gremlins don't really get into swing until one hour into the movie, when the Gremlins drive a snow plough through a house. It's non stop action from there on. But before that, the story has to be set up, and ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at David Wilcock
DVD Clinic ("JoBlo")
It's Christmas and an inventor father has just bought his nice son a "magwai" pet as a gift. The animal is said to have three rules to follow: 1) do not expose it to light 2) do not place it in contact with water 3) do not feed it after midnight. Well, ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at DVD Clinic ("JoBlo")
Audio Revolution
If you watched 60 consecutive hours of 'The Muppet Show' while tripping on LSD and then fell asleep and had a nightmare, you might come up with something like 'Gremlins. ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at Audio Revolution
DVDActive (Chris Gould)
This is another average disc, but the film is a little gem (far better than its sequel). You can pick this disc up for very little (mine was £10) and if like me you grew up when this film was big, it’ll be worth every penny. I bought my copy ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at DVDActive (Chris Gould)
Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
In GREMLINS, an inventor buys a strange but infinitely cute pet for his son while in a small curio shop in the Orient. This creature is called a "Mogwai" and caring for it requires three things: 1) don't give it any water, 2) it will ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
filmcritic.com (Blake French)
Funny how we remember old movies as being better than they really are. I first saw Gremlins as a little kid, and I loved the film so much that my parents got me a Gizmo doll for Christmas that year. In fact, even though they don’t make Gizmo toys ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at filmcritic.com (Blake French)
BBC Films (Almar Haflidason)
Devilishly dark humour and mischief romp about unchecked in the bizarre movie creation that is "Gremlins". The plot is thin and the pacing is askew, but this is a film that offers plenty of unpredictability, and a vicious streak enrobed in cornball ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at BBC Films (Almar Haflidason)
The Spinning Image (Graeme Clark)
Eccentric inventor Randall Peltzer (Hoyt Axton) is selling his wares when he finds a curious shop run by an elderly Chinese man. Randall is taken with the old man's pet, a Mogwai, and buys it as a present for his teenage son Billy (Zach Galligan). But ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at The Spinning Image (Graeme Clark)
Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
GREMLINS is a confrontation between Norman Rockwell's vision of Christmas and Hollywood's vision of the blood-sucking monkeys of voodoo island. It's fun. On the one hand, you have ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
Combustible Celluloid (Jeffrey M. Anderson)
Taking a second look back at Joe Dante's career, I realize he was actually one of the most interesting American directors working. An animator at heart, he always begins with a Spielbergian vision of something wondrous and exciting, something so awesome ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at Combustible Celluloid (Jeffrey M. Anderson)
Sci-Fi Movie Page (James O'Ehley)
A man buys a Mogwai as a Christmas present for his son. The young boy is told to keep the pet away from water, out of the light and never to feed it after midnight. Inadvertently, the creature is dampened and almost instantly, produces half a dozen furry ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at Sci-Fi Movie Page (James O'Ehley)
BBC Films (Almar Haflidason)
Joe Dante's deliciously dark and amusing "Gremlins" has not fared too well on TV reruns or on VHS. The print looked decidedly shabby, but the DVD release is a mighty fine improvement.
The disc does suffer from some print damage, but the picture is ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at BBC Films (Almar Haflidason)
Not Coming to a Theater Near You (Chiranjit Goswami)
In 1984, every kid had a plush Gizmo doll. The irony of Joe Dante's Gremlins is that, in allegorizing American panic about Asian imports, it caused its own small boom in cheaply-made "foreign pieces of crap. ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at Not Coming to a Theater Near You (Chiranjit Goswami)
DVDTown.com (John J. Puccio)
There's a mischievous playfulness about the spirit of Gremlins , and that's its most endearing quality, but I found it grating on me by the story's end. ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at DVDTown.com (John J. Puccio)
New York Times (Vincent Canby)
Gremlins is far more interested in showing off its knowledge of movie lore and making random jokes than in providing consistent entertainment. ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at New York Times (Vincent Canby)
TV Guide's Movie Guide (--)
Yes, Dante gleefully trashes cliches and sentimental Capra-esque notions, but one should not forget this movie was given a "PG" rating and cynically aimed to draw an audience of small children who would no doubt be terrorized by this myth-shattering film. ...read the complete Gremlins movie review at TV Guide's Movie Guide (--)
User Reviews
by Melissa Blubaugh on October 25, 2007
These movies are wonderful.I remember watching them when I was younger and they are such fun to still watch.My son also enjoys watching these.I recommend these to everyone to enjoy. ...
by D. Simpson "PinkC... on June 29, 2007
Definitely cute movies, fun to watch now and remember loving them when I was little. This is a great deal here, though beware, the cases are the paperback kind, if you care at all. ...
by M. Forsgren on January 16, 2007
Very pleased with this product saw this movie in theaters when i was little and its still as good as i remember glad to see it as a package deal everywhere else the first one was the same the same price as this package so this is a very good deal thanks ...
by Success Center on January 16, 2007
This movie is a classic in our family, so it was a must have on my daughter's video collection shelf. ...
by David Amati "Dave... on November 10, 2006
We just love this Gremlins Part I and Part II DVD, never get bored of watching this movies many many times. We will continue to do so till this DVD wears out! We can't wait until our son is old enough to watch this movies, he probably will enjoy it much ...
I've seen this moive on tv befor the part 2 is better then part 1 this moive was hard to find. they dont make this moive anymore. auyway I fond at best buy the frist time I wanted this moive. I told my mom can i go see if they have this moive and she ...
by Master Yoda "Yoda... on October 02, 2005
What movie is better than a cute little mogwhite getting wet than sprouting a ton of little fur balls? Well no movie gets better than that, and that's what the Gremlins is. A cute little creature sprouted a bunch of little punk gremlins running around ...
by P. R. Crenshaw on August 15, 2005
A FUN MOVIE AND NOT TOO SCARY FOR YOUNGER ...
by Tsukasa "Inuyasha... on July 21, 2005
well gremlins are about these little fuzzie creatures (Mogwai) that turn into vicious little monsters if they eat food after midnight and will multiply when wet. its a movie with thrill and excitment. if your in it for the cute Mogwai on the cover then ...
by Matthew Medeiros on October 07, 2002
The director that brought us many great movies such as Jaws to Saving Private Ryan. Gremlins isn't a movie with these potentials but when seeing it you can laugh and love the story of this small town being corrupted. In the sequel to the first Gremlins ...
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