Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)

Director:

Joe Dante

Writers (WGA):

Chris Columbus (characters)
Charles S. Haas (written by)

Release Date:

15 June 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy | Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Take Your Batch to See the New Batch.

Plot:

The Gremlins are back, and this time, they've taken total control over the building of a media mogul.

Plot Keywords:

Gremlin | Skyscraper | Monster | SWAT Team | Surprise After End Credits

Awards:

6 nominations

Cast

Zach Galligan	...	Billy Peltzer
Phoebe Cates	...	Kate Beringer
John Glover	...	Daniel Clamp
Robert Prosky	...	Grandpa Fred
Robert Picardo	...	Forster
Christopher Lee	...	Doctor Catheter
Haviland Morris	...	Marla Bloodstone
Dick Miller	...	Murray Futterman
Jackie Joseph	...	Sheila Futterman
Gedde Watanabe	...	Mr. Katsuji
Keye Luke	...	Mr. Wing
Kathleen Freeman	...	Microwave Marge
Don Stanton	...	Martin
Dan Stanton	...	Lewis
Shawn Nelson	...	Wally

Also Known As:

Gremlins 2 (USA) (original script title)
Monolith (USA) (fake working title)

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby SR (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Finland:K-11 | Iceland:10 | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Netherlands:6 | Netherlands:6 (DVD) | South Korea:All | USA:PG-13 (certificate #30326) | Canada:G (Régie du Cinéma Québec) | UK:12 (re-rating) (2005) | UK:15 (video rating) (1991) | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Canada:14A | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12/9 | France:U | Norway:10 (original rating) | Norway:11 (video rating) | Singapore:PG | Sweden:11 | UK:12 (original rating) | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

101 Park Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

When Billy is trying to explain the rules regarding the mogwai to Forster's staff, they find them quite absurd and interrogate him on the application of this rules. This scene originates from the fact that the filmmakers themselves saw the rules as irrational, and some questions in the scene were based upon queries raised by fans of Gremlins (1984).

Goofs:

Continuity: When Billy and Mr. Clamp come up with the idea to fool the Gremlins into thinking the sun has gone down, they say they'll set the clocks in the building forward at 4:20. But it’s actually done at 3:55.

Quotes:

Marla Bloodstone: [trapped in a giant spider's web] Can I get some help here, please? I'm trapped in some sort of adhesive, polymer material and I'm on deadline!

Movie Connections:

References Do the Right Thing (1989)

Soundtrack:

BOMBERS IN THE SKY

More Humor Makes This A More Appealing Gremlins Film

When this came out, it was an amazing movie because these Gremlin creatures looked so lifelike. They still look pretty real. What I like best about this film is that it took the hard edge off the first one and made it more of a comedy. To me, this sequel was more entertaining than the first film and one I would watch a lot more times.

There are so many jokes and wild scenes in here it would many viewings to catch them all. For movie buffs, it's especially fun with all the references to other films in here.

However, it should be pointed out that there are still plenty of scenes where the gremlins are nasty and attack people, so the film is still horror-like in that respect. It may be played for comedic purposes, but these creatures are anything but friendly. In other words, there is still a bit of a hard edge in here for people who want that.

After three viewings of this film over the years, the only person who wore thin on me was John Glover's character, "Daniel Clamp," an obvious Donald Trump-imitation but grossly overacted by Glover. He winds up just being too silly.

Phoebe Cates and Zach Galligan reprise their roles as the cute, small-town, wholesome (despite not being married, however) couple who live together who, of course, know all about these gremlins.

It was nice to see Jackie Joseph (of the original "Little Shop Of Horrors") again as well as some other well-known characters such as Christopher Lee, Robert Prosky, Dick Miller and Keye Luke.

The film just flies by, which tells you it's entertaining.