12 Snappy Facts About Gremlins
The Movie
12 Snappy Facts About Gremlins: “Gremlins,” released in 1984, is a dark comedy horror film directed by Joe Dante and produced by Steven Spielberg. The story revolves around a young man named Billy who receives a peculiar creature called a Mogwai as a Christmas gift. However, he inadvertently breaks the three crucial rules of caring for the Mogwai, leading to the creation of malevolent gremlins that wreak havoc on his small town. Blending humor with horror, “Gremlins” became a cult classic, praised for its innovative special effects, memorable characters, and its unique ability to balance festive cheer with chaotic mayhem.
The Idea
Steven Spielberg came up with the idea for Gremlins while working on the set of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. He shared the concept with writer Chris Columbus, who went on to write the screenplay.
Original Script
The original script for Gremlins was much darker and more violent than the final product. It included scenes of the Gremlins attacking and killing people, and even featured a scene where they decapitate Billy’s mother and throw her head down the stairs.
The Movie Poster
The film’s iconic poster, featuring Gizmo peeking out of a Christmas present, was designed by artist John Alvin. Alvin also created posters for other classic films, including Blade Runner and The Lion King.
Gizmo
The character of Gizmo was originally supposed to turn into a Gremlin and become the leader of the evil creatures. However, Spielberg and Dante decided to keep Gizmo as a separate character, as they felt he was too likable to become a villain.
Billy Peltzer
The role of Billy Peltzer was originally offered to actors like Emilio Estevez and Judd Nelson before Zach Galligan was ultimately cast in the part.
Plush Toys
Gizmo became a popular toy after the release of the film. Several companies produced plush versions of the character, and Gizmo has since become a pop culture icon.
The Sequel
The film’s success led to a sequel, Gremlins 2: The New Batch, which was released in 1990. The sequel was directed by Joe Dante and starred Zach Galligan and Phoebe Cates.
The Theater
The scene where the Gremlins attack the movie theater was filmed in the historic Mann’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood. The theater has been featured in several films, including Die Hard and Lethal Weapon 4.
The Score
The film’s score was composed by Jerry Goldsmith, who also composed the scores for Alien and Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Goldsmith’s score for Gremlins was nominated for a Grammy Award.
Stripe’s Voice
The voice of Stripe, the leader of the Gremlins, was provided by Frank Welker. Welker has provided voices for numerous animated characters, including Scooby-Doo, Megatron, and Fred Jones.
The Puppets
The Gremlin puppets used in the film were very complex and required several puppeteers to operate them. Each puppet had 23 separate controls.
The Gremlin’s Design
The design of the Gremlins was inspired by the creatures in the Twilight Zone episode “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet.” Special effects artist Chris Walas designed and created the Gremlins.