Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990) User Reviews (211)

Respectable sequel

[jhaggardjr · 7/10 · 9 April 2000]

"Gremlins 2: The New Batch" is the 1990 sequel to the 1984 box office hit "Gremlins" which is one of my all-time favorite movies. The sequel is not as good as the original, but its not bad either. Here the filmakers did something different. They tried to make this one more of a comedy than the original. The first film was funny but also scary. "Gremlins 2" plays more like a Mel Brooks-type movie with some of the jokes that are in it. But its hardly scary. Plus, it got a little tiresome to watch the gremlins do some of the exact same things that they did the first time around like drinking, smoking, etc. Nevertheless, this is for the most part an entertaining movie that I'd wish had done better at the box office. I think if they had made this three years after the original instead of six years, it would have done better. In between the two "Gremlins" flicks there were all those ripoffs ("Critters", "Ghoulies" and their sequels) and by 1990 moviegoers became tired of it all. But the two "Gremlins" movies are much better than the "Critters" and "Ghoulies" movies. A good job by director Joe Dante.

*** (out of four)

A sequel every bit as enjoyable as the first movie...

[paul_haakonsen · 7/10 · 8 May 2017]

I am, and have always been, a fan of the "Gremlins" movies. Especially since they manage to combine comedy and horror in a most satisfying manner, but most importantly because of the Mogwai and the gremlins themselves.

If you enjoyed the 1984 "Gremlins" movie, then you will definitely also like the "Gremlins 2: The New Batch" from 1990.

This is a direct continuation of the first movie in a way, and the writers managed to come up with a story angle that supports the transition between the first and second movie quite well.

In "Gremlins 2: The New Batch" Billy (played by Zach Galligan) and Kate (played by Phoebe Cates) have moved to New York and are working for the Clamp company and work in an advanced skyscraper. When Gizmo finds his way to Billy, and is accidentally exposed to water, New York is in for a repeat of the incident that happened at Kingston Falls.

One might think, at a glance, that I have already seen this in the first movie. And you are right, to a certain extend. Sure, there are similarities to the first movie, but everything in "Gremlins 2: The New Batch" is taken one step further. More gremlins, more mutations, more mayhem, more comedy, and so forth.

What I love about "Gremlins 2: The New Batch" is the great ideas for changing the gremlins, as they are exposed to the various formulas and genetic materials from a research company also house in the Clamp Tower. The gremlins designs are just fantastic, and the creativity behind these ideas is just fabulous.

There are also some great performances in this movie. Of course, first and foremost, it was nice to have Zach Galligan and Phoebe Cates return to their roles. But it was equally great to have Dick Miller return as well, despite for a small role only (just as in the first movie). Furthermore, there were some memorable performances by Christopher Lee, Robert Prosky, John Glover and Robert Picardo.

The storyline in "Gremlins 2: The New Batch" is also good, and it matches the craziness, intensity and the unique style of the first movie very well, and then adds a new element to that.

"Gremlins 2: The New Batch" is a movie that you can watch again and again, just like the first movie. And this is one of those types of movies that everyone is familiar with, even if they haven't actually seen the movie. I think that these two movies are definitely something that everyone should take the time to sit down and watch.

Disappointing Sequel

[ReelCheese · 5/10 · 11 August 2006]

The horror element of the original "Gremlins" is replaced entirely with lame comedy in this disappointing sequel. Zach Gilligan and Phoebe Cates return as Billy Peltzer and Kate Beringer, now living in the Big Apple. It's not long after their reunion with Gizmo (he's so cute it's sickening) that the little guy is accidentally hit with water and the villainous title characters return to wreak havoc. This time their target is a high-tech corporate skyscraper run by a Trump-like suit.

"Gremlins 2: The New Batch" tries hard enough, and it's certainly original and creative. But it just never really clicks. The film plays like a bad episode of "The Muppet Show" as the cartoonish gremlins sing musical numbers, destroy property and morph into giant bats and spiders. It repeatedly attempts to poke fun at itself, but those efforts, too, fall flat on their face. Maybe the gremlins just aren't cut out for comedy. Chalk this one up as one of the weakest efforts from highly-talented director Joe Dante.

Even more underrated of a film than the first.

[dgb · 6 December 1998]

This film is often looked back on as not only the lesser of the two Gremlins flicks but not a very good movie in general. I just don't understand it -- I love this movie! It successfully continues the underlying theme of the original (unlike a lot of sequels which seem to forget their points entirely): "gremlins" are mythical creatures blamed for mechanical errors (if an appliance is broken, it must have been the work of gremlins). In this movie, the gremlins are loose in a totally automated high-rise office building, already suffering from its own malfunctions, which serves as the perfect playground for them. Charles Haas' script is absolutely hilarious, filled with more movie in-jokes than I can recall seeing in a single movie, and it even pokes fun at the more serious original. In fact, I think many people disliked this film because of its total irreverence compared to the first; it didn't try to be scary for a second and Rick Baker's creature effects turned out goofier than Chris Walas's original creature designs. Just realize...this is a comedy! Definitely worth seeing more than once to catch the barrage of jokes and references...and sit all the way through the credits!

Good Gremlins Sequel!

[gwnightscream · 7/10 · 18 March 2012]

Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, John Glover, Robert Picardo, Robert Prosky, Haviland Morris, Christopher Lee and Dick Miller star in Joe Dante's 1990 horror comedy sequel. A couple try to stop a new wave of mischievous monsters attacking an office building. Billy (Galligan) and Kate (Cates) are now engaged and living in New York working at an office building owned by developer, Daniel Clamp (Glover). Billy finds Gizmo who has left his owner's building because of his passing. When Billy leaves Gizmo for a while, Gizmo gets wet and multiplies more mischievous monsters that begin wreaking havoc. Gizmo endures torture from his evil brothers, but eventually fights back while Billy and Kate try saving the Clamp building with help from Clamp himself. Picardo (The Howling, Innerspace) plays head of security, Forster, Morris (Sixteen Candles, Who's That Girl?) plays Billy's assistant, Marla, the late, Prosky (Christine) plays Dracula dressed host, Fred, Lee plays scientist, Catheter, Miller also reprises his role as Murray Futterman and Howie Mandel returns as the voice of Gizmo. There's also cameos by Dante, late great composer, Jerry Goldsmith & more. This is a good sequel and Rick Baker did excellent as usual creating the Gremlins in this. I recommend this.

gremlins 2

[marmar-69780 · 6/10 · 20 February 2020]

Gremlins 2 is film that far more satirical and goofy then the first one and becase of that it was fun to watch in some scenes but in some all of that just become to much and even if some staff or referances and 4wall breaking was nice to see it was felt like out of place and like they tried to hard to make us laugh and cause of that they werent able to achieve their mission,what i like in first gremlins is that it mixed comedy and horror elements rather well and it had a dose of seriousness in it,but this one had none of that,gremlins 2 is at leved down compared to first but satirical jokes and use of said referances will made up for some lack of quality

The next level

[hellholehorror · 7/10 · 25 October 2017]

Cleaner image than the first movie. The creature effects go to the next level too. Great use of all the speakers except the bass speaker which was a little soft. This takes everything to the next level. There is more comedy, more crazy gremlins and that's your lot. Much less serious than the first and I prefer it that way.

Loads more fun

[gcd70 · 7/10 · 29 November 2007]

The further adventures of Billy Peltzer, Gizzmo and the "Gremlins" take us to the Big Apple, and a hi-tech high rise where the very destructive creatures run riot once again.

Joe Dante has outdone himself here with another clever, even more off-beat feature which is actually funnier than the first. The main source of humour this time is when the slimy "Gremlins" get hold of the building's genetic lab and change into some very unusual things, including 'bat-Gremlin', 'spider-Gremlin' and 'brainy-Gremlin' (a very funny character with voice by Tony Randall).

The cast are again mostly resigned to the background except for a wonderful performance from John Glover as the wacky entrepreneur Clamp. Loads of fun once again!

Monday, August 16, 1993 - T.V.

The best thing about Joe Dante's hilarious, manic creature-feature is not only that it matches the first film for chaotic madness, but that it is done superbly tongue-in-cheek and actually manages to send itself and other movies up brilliantly.

Dante paces the film perfectly, delivering very funny and consistent laughs as he mixes satire, slapstick and stupidity with aplomb. Gizzmo is sufficiently cute again, and the Gremlins nasty enough, while John Glover's fabulously off beat Clamp is a must and every bit as good as the rest of this film. Jerry Goldsmith provides a lively score.

If you enjoyed "Gremlins", don't miss this superior sequel.

Sunday, April 17, 1994 - Video

Dante does satire and nobody noticed ?

[hitchcockthelegend · 8/10 · 4 March 2008]

I rate both films exactly the same but for very different reasons, the first film was an enjoyable romp fusing horror and comedy to great effect. When I saw that there was to be this sequel 6 years later I was very pleased indeed. What I hadn't bargained for was the sharpness of the writing and the satirical structure that director Dante laid out for audiences to watch.

Focusing very much on the then modern obsessions like tearing things down to build state of the art monstrous complexes, or the need for a better world; be it the laboratory testings for better life forms, or machines to run our lives; Gremlins 2 plays out as a sort of morality tale that sees the creatures themselves as byproducts of the human condition. In true classic creature feature fashion, Dante manages to garner a level of sympathy for the Gremlins. These vile offspring of the offspring are party animals, they have fun, they like to sing and go nuts, they are in short, quite like a stag party on the Costa Del Sol! Throwing in as many film references as it can, Gremlins 2 may have a satirical slant at it's heart, but sure enough the fun from the first film segues nicely into this picture to make this one of the better, and more smarter sequels on the market.

And those darn Gremlins are nastier and uglier than ever as well! 8/10

When a Gremlin gets milked it makes a second movie

[one9eighty · 6/10 · 12 February 2020]

Billy Peltzer, Kate Beringer and Gizmo the Mogwai are back - but this time they are in New York. If you've seen the first Gremlins film you know what to expect, and you know the rules to follow. Unfortunately though they aren't followed (of course - or there wouldn't be a film), Gizmo gets wet, produces some Gremlins, and they go on a chaos fuelled rampage through a high-tech corporate skyscraper.

This film often gets ignored as a rubbish sequel but in truth it's not that bad, it just tries a little too hard for me. It was made at a time when sequels where the in-thing, trying to expand a story sometimes for artistic purposes, sometimes to squeeze a few more dollars out of a story. Gremlins 2 falls somewhere between those two reasons - putting a decent concept in a new location but not actually bringing anything massively new - albeit a few laughs poking fun at itself. Expect more horror, and there definitely are a lot more laughs - but this is certainly nothing revolutionary which you won't see coming a mile off once you start watching the film. It doesn't take itself too seriously and often parodies itself in-between parodying some of Hollywood's finest films. Despite any negatives I may be writing, it isn't a hard film to watch and can easily be viewed without having to engage your brain too much. Unfortunately though, this sequel won't be a timeless film like the first outing of Gremlins. Decent without being brilliant - 6 out of 10.

Extremely self indulgent.

[the_daz · 4/10 · 9 January 2007]

After having a bout of nostalgia, I just finished watching a Gremlins 2-pack DVD set tonight.

I have to say, I thought the first one holds up fairly well.

However, the sequel sadly does not. I'm really quite surprised at the high number of positive reviews here.

This film is terrible.

Don't get me wrong, I love Joe Dante and I can see where he was coming from. He knew it was a totally unnecessary sequel, so he wanted to spoof the whole thing and just have a good time.

He really should've stayed home. This is quite possibly the most self-indulgent, stupid, shallow mess of a film I've ever seen.

There's virtually no plot to speak of. The supposed "main" characters run around like morons amongst a barrage of childish Gremlin gags. Most of which, are plain idiotic and verging on embarrassing.

I felt for the actors here, as they really gave it their all.

I know Dante is obsessed with Warner Bros cartoons, but including Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck in this film was totally unjustified and insipid. Their scene couldn't have been less funny and I can't believe Dante got away with it.

In fact, I can't believe he got away with the whole movie.

Strange, weird, bizarre, brilliant

[cryofry · 10/10 · 24 April 2005]

This movie came out when I was 5 years old. I remember the movie posters in the streets and the wacky preview for it on TV. I'm now 20 years old, and this is still one of my most favourite movies of all time. It's even better than the original, I believe. The reason I love it so much is because it is so damn strange. It really, really is! It's like a live action "Looney Tunes" episode. The gremlins are wacky, Gizmo is cute and mysterious, the human actors are all brilliant in their roles and the New York building setting is well, neat.

The basic premise for this movie picks up a few years after the first "Gremlins" movie. This time however, it takes place in the busiest city on the planet, New York.

The movie opens with the death of Gizmo's frail Chinese owner. In accordance with the owners death, the place where Gizmo is kept is demolished by a bulldozer and recking ball. Terrified, Gizmo flees from the building and into an alley where he is plucked up by a scientist and brought to the "Clamp Cable Network" building. The building belongs to media mogul Daniel Clamp and contains a vast variety of shops including: coffee houses, restaurants, dental clinics and science laboratories.

Coincidentally, Billy and Kate are both working in the same building. Billy is in the art department and Kate gives guided tours of the building. It is here that they stumble upon Gizmo and the inevitable happens.

I won't give anymore of the story line away. If you haven't seen this movie yet, I urge you to. It may not be brilliant in the eyes of the "Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences", but it is in my eyes. 10 stars!

Pros and cons

[benjyboom · 6/10 · 22 December 2019]

Pros: Pretty funny sometimes, had some unexpected commentary in the form of jokes Decent action with the different creatures, the lab was a wise gimmick to implement The first magwi and gremlins had a lot of character Good callbacks to the first one, I liked every returning character

Cons: Building made no sense at all The goofy gremlin designs fall flat Some bad effects here and there Story is fairly coincidental, no real stake in what happened next (aside from a small handful of real human deaths)

Best part: Hulk Hogan threatening gremlins in the balcony area Worst part: the implied sex between human man and gremlin woman

Big Disappointment Compared To The First One.Just Uses The Characters As Gags,

[lesleyharris30 · 5/10 · 9 September 2012]

Gremlins 2: The New Batch is not a great movie and a very big disappointment compared to the original.Gizmo isn't that main,the main characters as the new Gremlins,who are causing trouble around a big building for half of the movie.The original is displayed in a sort of old fashioned neighborhood,this movie is completely different,its an a very futuristic place.Once the Gremlins turn into the monsters the whole plot just gets abandoned and its just gag after gag,at once stage they have to stop the whole movie and Hulk Hogan has to put the movie back on,what where they thinking,you can tell it wasn't written by Chris Columbus.

The Gremlins have returned,Gizmo is found by a building where his old owner Billy is now working,and scientists give him water and multiply him.Then the other Gremlins are experimented on and one is able to talk,once again they are fed after midnight,and take total control of the building.Its up to Billy and Gizmo to save the day.

the gremlins are back

[jaws! · 5 December 1999]

gremlins 2 is not a horror movie like the original kind of was, but it's funnier, and more entertaining than the original in my opinion. gremlins 2 is full of movie in-jokes, and all kinds of other goofy stuff. i just believe this movie provides more entertainment than the original did. i wish they'd make a 3rd gremlins movie. all in all gremlins 2 is great fun! i give gremlins 2: the new batch *** out of ****

A very similar film to its predecessor, naturally

[r96sk · 7/10 · 8 February 2020]

A very similar film to its predecessor, naturally.

It doesn't quite hit the same positive beats as the 1984 film did, yet 'Gremlins 2: The New Batch' still makes for solid viewing. The Mogwai again look splendid, as Gizmo remains awesome.

There are a few negatives, Zach Galligan's acting was weaker and Dick Miller was shoehorned in, but they don't damage the film all that much.

If you're expecting a plot, look elsewhere...

[Leofwine_draca · 7/10 · 24 July 2016]

Joe Dante directs another movie filled with in jokes and references to old horror and science fiction movies, which is a pretty good reason to watch the film if you're a cult movie fan in the first place. Just spotting all of the visual references passes the time pleasingly enough. There isn't a plot but instead the film is full of gags, which is not necessarily a bad thing, in fact it was a pleasure to watch something different for a change.

Christopher Lee stars in the film, playing a sinister (what else?) doctor, which is another reason to watch it, and he gets to utter some hilarious lines, such as when he receives a parcel; "Oh splendid this must be my malaria!". This is one of Lee's better roles from the period but to be truthful, that isn't saying much. Also on hand are the twins Don and Dan Stanton, who you may remember from TERMINATOR 2, playing two scientist clones. The in-jokes are numerous; Lee appears carrying a pod from INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS; THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS is playing at the cinema. Hulk Hogan, the epitome of all that was wrong with the early '90s, even puts in a guest appearance! Robert Picardo, best known to audiences as the holographic doctor in STAR TREK: VOYAGER, plays an unlikeable businessman who forms an unlikely bond with a female gremlin.

There are a lot of memorable scenes as well, such as when a gremlin is fed into a shredder, causing one hell of a mess! The spider-gremlin is also very creative and well designed, as is the bat-gremlin. Dick Miller, a Dante and Corman regular, puts in a welcome heroic performance as a man on the street who battles the creatures, and Gizmo even becomes Rambo, tying a bandanna around his head after seeing RAMBO : FIRST BLOD PART II on television! There isn't much plot but it's a fun film to watch. Remember, though, kids, that this is primarily a comedy so if you're looking for horror or plot it would be wise to go elsewhere

Good, Not Better

[view_and_review · 6/10 · 21 February 2020]

New York has enough problems without gremlins mucking things up. That was what NYC was looking at when the lovable Gizmo was pretty much kidnapped by some geneticists in downtown New York. By pure coincidence (read: writer's design) Gizmo ended up being housed in the same building Billy Peltzer (Zach Galligan) worked in. It was only a matter of time before Gizmo would get wet and his evil spawns would eat after midnight (otherwise there'd be no movie).

BTW: what is the cutoff time in which they can eat? I mean, they can't eat after midnight, but at what time can they eat: 1 a.m., 2 a.m., sunup?

"Gremlins 2: The New Batch" was about having fun, they even broke the fourth wall. I admit, it was funnier than its predecessor though it wasn't better. Good, not better.

Comedy horror sequel with entertainment , fun and deft satiric edge

[ma-cortes · 6/10 · 6 February 2023]

The sequel to Gremlins is inferior to original that was quite good. Set in a futuristic skyscraper in the Big Apple where the young couple of Billy (Zach Galligan) and Kate (Phoebe Cates) now work for the money-grubbing tech-mogul, Daniel Clamp (John Glover) , in his colossal Clamp Tower high-rise . But, before long , things go wrong , as Gizmo (Howie mandel voice) , the orphaned Mogwai, falls prey to the nasty scientist, Doctor Catheter (Christopher Lee) . Once again , Gremlins , and Brain Gremlin (Tony Randall voice) appearing to cause chaos , as they don't execute the rules , neither warnings : ¨don't expose them to bright light, don't ever get wet and don't ever , ever feed after midnight¨. The Gremlins are back, and this time, they've taken control of a New York City media mogul's high-tech skyscraper !. Take Your Batch to See the New Batch !. Look out , a new batch is on the way !. Here they grow again , we warned you !. Remember the rules !. You didn't listen !.

Director Joe Dante presents a less violent but far more campy vision , paying myriad surreal tribute to soudtracks of movies and with great sense of amusement . Naturally, there're lots of mayhem , frolics , antics and jokes , this all happening at the skyscraper and the result is a gang of nasty gremlins who decide to tear up the building and after the city . This watchable enough motion picture was regular but professionally directed by Joe Dante displaying their characteristic surrealist humor and sense of style . The story is nothing more than a fleeble excuse to string together gags , silly sketches , ironical craziness , several cameos and fast-paced set pieces . Dante is surely right to let his visual imagination run riot , in fact in this follow-up there's more comedy , more irony , but perhaps less inventive . Including ¨The Wizard of Oz¨ and other famous film parodies and other musical extravaganzas of the past . Also incorporates a Donald Trump parody , takes on TV news and body-slams modern urban living with funny action , adding a lot of rapid-fire surreal sight gags . Along with ordinary starring : Zach Galligan and Phoebe Cates , appearing here and there a number of familiar secondaries : Robert Prosky , Robert Picardo , Christopher Lee, Haviland Morris , Dick Miller , Raymond Cruz , Julia Sweeney , Keye Luke, Kathleen Freeman and various cameos , such as : Paul Bartel , Kenneth Tobey , Howie Mandel , Tony Randall , John Astin, Henry Gibson, Leonard Maltin , Hulk Hogan, Bubba Smith , Isiah Whitlock Jr , Dean Norris , and musician Jerry Goldsmish who composes a lively and enjoyable score similar to Gremlis I .

Lavishly Produced by Steven Spielberg , and professionally directed by Joe Dante, but without originality, because copying situations from previous film . Dante's most hits took place when found himself working alongside Steven Spielberg, John Landis and Australian director George Miller for the anthology movie ¨The Twilight Zone, The Movie¨ (1983) in which Dante directed the third segment . Steven Spielberg then hired him to work as director for ¨Gremlins¨ (1984) which was another box-office success. He directed some episodes for the Sci-Fi series "Amazing Stories" before directing his next Science Fiction feature which was ¨Innerspace¨ (1987) which, whilst critically well reviewed, was another box office failure. After directing five episodes of "Eerie, Indiana", Dante returned to the big-screen with the well-received ¨Matinee¨ (1993), an affectionate period satire set in 1962 against the background of the Cold War. Dante spent the next several years working for television and directed a satire on politics with ¨The Second Civil War¨ (1997) . Dante's next two films, ¨Small Soldiers¨ (1998), and ¨Looney Toons: Back in Action¨ (2004) garnered good reviews but were not commercial hits. Gremlins 2 rating : 6/10.

Underrated sequel

[CuriosityKilledShawn · 9/10 · 4 August 2000]

Fancy some Gremlin Stew? Three underrated sequels came out in 1990. Predator 2, RoboCop 2, and Gremlins 2. I remember waiting in the lobby of a cinema in Orlando, Florida before a screening of Back to the Future 3, looking at the cardboard standees for Gremlins 2 and RoboCop 2 side by side. My 9-year-old self was a HUGE fan of the first movies and staring at a standee taller than me, featuring wonderful artwork, for those sequels was big deal for me. I pity kids nowadays who don't have the attention span to soak up little moments like that.

Dante takes everything that was great about Gremlins and cranks it all the way up to a zillion. The original movie was a dark xmas comedy horror with B-movie undertones. The sequel goes so over-the-top it launches itself into the stratosphere and doesn't come back down until the very, very end of the credits. It's just wall-to-wall mayhem with so many in-jokes it'll make your head explode. The movie even attempts to begin as a Looney Tunes cartoon.

Gizmo, now back with Mr. Wing, escapes the curiosity shop after the old man dies and is found by a scientist working at Splice of Life, a laboratory located in the Clamp Premiere Regency Trade Centre and Retail Concourse (a big skyscraper in Manhattan). Working in the art department of that skyscraper is Billy Peltzer, hero of the first film. Billy eventually locates and rescues Gizmo, but he gets wet before Billy can take him home, spawning a new generation of cute, fluffy, malevolent Mogwai (Mohawk, Lenny, Edward G. Robinson-lookalike George, and the absolutely mad Daffy). They eat after midnight at a Yoghurt stand in the lobby. The following day the Clamp building, and all of the tenants (from the Archery Channel to the movie print itself, leading to an amusing cameo from Hulk Hogan) are besieged by a horde of gremlins intent on mass destruction and good times at any cost.

One can accuse the film of having no story beyond giving the Gremlins a lively backdrop for their wild antics, but when you're having so much fun isn't that what matters most? Goldsmith's score (sadly underrepresented on the 22-year-old Varese Sarabande CD) has a lot more weight second time around, backed-up by a large orchestra and string-based action cues. You'll absolutely love it! Chris Columbus didn't return for this movie, leaving scripting duties to Charlie Haas. He uses the Gremlins and the location to skewer big city culture and satirize business tycoons. John Glover is brilliant as the easily excitable Daniel Clamp, a Donald Trump-like property magnate who has more money and power than he knows what do with.

It's amazing that a third Gremlins movie was never made. Despite it now being 22 years since Gremlins 2 and 28 years since the first movie virtually every kid knows what the Gremlins are and are familiar with Gizmo (who may well be the cutest thing that ever existed). It's still a huge cash cow and a recognizable brand, and why Warner never greenlit Gremlins 3 is puzzling to say the absolute least.

One last thing. Stay with this film until the end of the credits.

balls to the wall

[sagastaxavier · 7/10 · 4 March 2022]

Dont go in looking for any sort of meaningful sequel. Pure satire at its peak. This movie is great at being funny and its main use of practical effects really make the film feel authentic. Hilariously insane. Keeps its core characters, but invests new ideas entirely into the gremlins. Chefs kiss.

A not-so-fun sequel to Gremlins.

[OllieSuave-007 · 4/10 · 27 October 2015]

Billy Peltzer (Zach Galligan) and Kate Beringer (Phoebe Cates) return in this sequel, working at a giant media corporation. The Gremlin Gizmo has been captured and given to the corporation's genetics unit and, as a result, it gets accidentally exposed to water again and multiplies, sending a new batch of mischievous, hideous and dangerous little monsters lose on the entire building and its unsuspecting staff.

This movie has more gremlins and them doing mischievous things than the first movie, messing with people and playing mean tricks left and right. The special effects on the monsters were good for the most part (some of the animated sequences does fall flat a little) and the music score was OK. However, the comedic and scary moments turn up flat as much of the acting was pretty goofy, including those of the monsters, and many of the characters acted like clowns, especially the dumb twins and the Media Mogul Daniel Clamp (John Glover).

The plot went all over the place and wasn't kept quite together as that in the first movie and there were really no scary or jumpy moments. I wished the story showed more bewilderment and fear from the people who witnessed the gremlins' havoc; but, they just showed casual concern and intrigue.

Overall, it's not a very good sequel. It doesn't have the character development, unique flavor and suspense as the original movie, instead, it's just a wild crazy-fest of gremlins and overzealous humans trying to deal with all the chaos. Stick with the original film.

Grade D

Blame the gremlins for everything

[baumer · 9/10 · 9 September 1999]

To this day my friend and I still refer to the gremiln like he is real. When something goes wrong with my computer, it is the gremlin, when my keys are misplaced and then show up in a spot that you swear you checked before, it was the gremlin, when something, anything goes wrong, it has to be the gremlin. I am actually convinced that Spike has taken on a life of his own (kinda the way Freddy did in Wes Craven's New Nightmare) and lives to make my life difficult. Joe Dante's Gremlin's has had that much of an impact on my life. Gremlins was a wonderful film and it was a little more creepy than it was funny. But make no mistake about this one, it is one of the funnier movies that I've seen. It abandons all that was scary and atmospheric in the first and just adds comedy a-plenty. And I would seriously put this humour up against some of the funnier comdies of the 90's.

This time the adventures of Magwai and Spike reach a skyskraper like building owned by a guy that has to be a distant cousin of Donald Trump. And if you think back to Gremlins, remember how much trouble the little guys could get into using simple household products (microwave, chimney etc ) well that is nothing compared to what they can do at an office filled with the latest technology.

There are also many many inside jokes about Hollywood and such that you have to watch it several times to pick up on all of them. What is also great about the film is the two versions ( one for the theater and one for the VCR ) I remember when I saw this in the theater I really thought something was wrong with the projector when it first went all strange. And I like the fact that the makers of this had the guts and the gaul to try something new like that. It kind of reminds me of Something About Mary when at the end the entire cast is singing that song. The movie never stops trying to entertain, and that is what I got from this film too. It will do anything to make you laugh, even throw in a little Hulkamania when he was cool.

Gremlins 2 is one of the funniest films that you will see. And I'm just a little surprised that Joe Dante isn't still active so much in the business anymore. He made some great films and I would gladly see anything that he puts his name on.

If you haven't seen this film for quite some time, then I highly suggest that you do see it soon. I was browsing through Rick Baker's filmography on the IMDb and I came across Gremlins 2. I rented it the same night and I was very glad I did. Not only did it make me laugh, it brought me back to a time when films like this and The Goonies and even E.T. were made. Movies aren't the same anymore and that is not neccessarily a criticism, it is just a comment pointing out that in the early 90's and the 80's movies were just different sometimes. This is one of the funnier ones, and one of the more entertaining. Do you remember a film by Amblin that wasn't?

Hardcore will never die, but you will.

[southdavid · 7/10 · 1 December 2021]

I think, prior to the most recent rewatches, that I'd have previously said that I liked "Gremlins" a lot but thought that "Gremlins 2" was a bit too zany for its own good. Now though, I feel like the original is a bit lifeless, and tonally confused, whereas this is much more knowing and accepting of its premise and all the better for it.

The gentrification of Chinatown and the death of Mr. Wing leads Gizmo to be taken to the science labs within Clamp towers, the automated skyscraper of Daniel Clamp (John Glover) a business magnate. Ironically, also in the tower are Billy (Zach Galligan) and Kate (Phoebe Cates) who have moved to New York and have jobs in the complex. When the rules are not followed, and a gang of Gremlins are released to wreak havoc, it's again up to the pair to save the tower and the city.

I'm not going to think badly of you if your preference is the first "Gremlins" over this one, but, as I said, you can't argue that this is a more much consistent film. The meta jokes begin before the film does, with the Warner Brothers animation gags, and continue throughout, with the film breaking down and Hulk Hogan threatening the Gremlins to get the film running again. The song and dance routine. Christopher Lee hamming it up. The parody of Kate's Christmas story from the first film. The parody of "Marathon Man". The gags keep coming. I can't do a better job of trying to explain the madness, than the "Key and Peele" sketch does, so I won't try.

The model and puppetry work is better on this film, though some of the composition shots (particularly around the bat-Gremlin and his outside scenes) are looking pretty dodgy now.

Having not expected much I enjoyed "Gremlins 2" a lot and now consider it one of those rare sequels better than the original.

A Real Lover of Original, but Willing to Admit Sequel Sucks

[TheRedDeath30 · 4/10 · 11 August 2015]

First, my little back of obligatory backstory. I was 9 years old when the original GREMLINS was released. Probably smack dab in the middle of the perfect target audience for a fun little horror film full of gleeful gore and maniacal monsters. Due to many factors, a sequel to the mega-hit was not produced for some time afterwards. By the time this was released, I was then 15 and looking for something a little more from my entertainment. The sequel was, then, quickly relegated to a little corner of my memory.

Years have elapsed. I have submersed myself in horror films and still, to this day, have an undying love of the original. I can see, now, all of the fun little horror tidbits that Dante hid in his movie for the more adult viewers, while spicing just enough family fun to keep the whole family interested.

This movie, though, is lacking any of the charm and craft that made the original so good. What Dante and all involved seem to have forgotten is that the gremlins and mogwai became stars, but what made the original so successful was good writing, a good script and a good plot.

This sequel seems hellbent on packing as many different gremlin creations and bad jokes as possible in its' runtime. There is almost no story developed here, at all, and the story that is doesn't make sense half of the time. The plot moves along just enough to propel the viewer from one gag to another, most of which are not funny by child or adult standards, that become a tireless, repetitive bore by the end. Naturally, most of these gags also serve to introduce us to a bevy of new characters, with their own personalities. Yes, it smells a little too much of marketing and the need to create new mogwai/gremlins as if they figured they missed out on something with only having Gizmo and Stripe as recognizable creations in the original. Most of these new creations are even more annoying than the gags.

Even the human characters have become cardboard cutouts this time around. Billy and his girlfriend are barely there, just fodder for another gag, or when the plot is needed to move along to the next step. The corporate heads are interesting ideas that become convoluted and, mostly, generic. Even the great Christopher Lee is wasted here in a role that anyone could have filled, as a minor scientist who serves only to introduce the experiments that will, in turn, produce the gallery of gremlin hybrids.

Many point out the fun easter eggs in this movie and how much this shows Dante's love of 50s sci fi. Yes, it is fun for a drive-in horror junkie like myself to find those hidden gems and appreciate all the little nods to films of past years that Dante worked in, but that doesn't even come close to saving this movie from being a mess.

About halfway through this, my wife and I looked at each other and quickly realized exactly why we had both pushed this to the depths of our subconscious. If you removed the GREMLINS franchise name from this movie, you'd have nothing but a second-rate imitation, which is all this really is in the end.