Film · 1984

Gremlins

Gremlins is a 1984 American comedy horror film directed by Joe Dante, written by Chris Columbus and starring Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton, Polly Holliday and Frances Lee McCain, with Frank Welker providing the voice of the titular imp-like monsters' leader and main antagonist, Stripe, and Howie Mandel providing the voice of their progenitor, mogwai Gizmo. It draws on legends of folkloric mischievous creatures that cause malfunctions—"gremlins"—in the British Royal Air Force going back to World War II. The story follows Billy Peltzer, who receives Gizmo as a pet, who then spawns more of his kind that evolve into the titular monsters that wreak havoc on Billy's hometown during Christmas Eve. The film was accompanied by a large merchandising campaign and juxtaposes comedy horror with a Christmas time setting. Steven Spielberg was the executive producer, with the film being produced by Michael Finnell.