GREMLINS was the 5th Spielberg film I saw growing up, either he directed or was an executive producer. The previous being Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T., Poltergeist, and The Temple of Doom. Gremlins will always be a classic must see for me! Gremlins 2, a little more comical, but still fun to watch.
Can we give some credit to the mom in this movie who is just slaughtering Gremlins left and right? The real badass of the story, she'd survive a horror movie.
It was also a myth. Kinda like poltergeists for mechanical objects. There's a Twilight Zone episode with William Shatner ("Terror At 20,000 Feet") that had a great take on the mythology. Check it out. You'll love it
A few fun facts for the film: 1. The man Billy shows his drawing to in the beginning of the film is legendary Looney Tunes animator and director Chuck Jones who was also director for the animated classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas, 2. The scene when Billy’s dad is at the convention not only is there plenty of science fiction cameos like Robby the Robot from the film Forbidden Planet, but also in the background the Time Machine from the 1960 film it is there one moment and disappears the next. Also Steven Speilberg is the one driving around on the recumbent bicycle and the person who scored the music Jerry Goldsmith is the one wearing the yellow suit in the telephone booth behind the dad, 3. Howie Mandel did the noises for Gizmo
I grew up loving this. I’ve always laughed so hard when Mrs Deagle sees the gremlins and says, “They’re here! They’ve come for me!” Like she knows she deserves to be hauled off to hell by demons haha
Is that what she says? She was panicking so much in that moment I couldn't really make out what she was saying, but I figured it didn't really matter. But the idea that she knew she was about to pay for her sins does take the scene up to another level.
My favorite part is when her chairlift starts zooming up the stairs, and it bumps a big picture of who i can only assume is the late Mr. Deagle, and the portrait going askew mixed with the look on the guy's face makes it look like he's watching her get launched out the window and smiling at his horrible wife finally getting hers.
The reason this setting gave you “Back to the Future” vibes is because it was filmed on the same set. Recognize the center of town? 😁 Also, just my opinion, but I always felt that Mrs. Deagle is like Scrooge and the wicked witch from OZ rolled into one person. lol
Sometimes Gizmo was just a puppet and sometimes he was a mechanized puppet depending on the scene. Gremlins is one of the movies responsible for creating the PG13 rating. Parents had been complaining about warnings for movies since Poltergeist came our but Indiana Jones & The Temple of Doom abd Gremlins were the last straw. PG13 became a thing immediately after their release in theaters.
The legend of gremlins existed long before this movie. Similar to Big Foot, the Abominable Snow Man, the Lochness Monster, etc. They are said to be very mischievous and enjoy messing with mechanical things like engines. I highly recommend watching the episode from The Twilight Zone. Both the black and white TV series and the 80’s remake have an episode regarding the gremlins. It was called “Nightmare at 20,000 feet”
Gremlins are not as ancient as some of those, the term first appeared in the Second world war, when planes had unexplained mechanical failure, they would say the gremlins had got to it. Roald Dahl, while best known for children's books, also wrote adult books, including a novel about gremlins, set in the second world war.
Guys, do yourselves a favor and check out the sequel. Four words: Die Hard, with Gremlins. 😁 Also yeah, keep Kate's grim dark childhood story in mind because, believe it or not, it is the setup to a freaking PUNCHLINE in "Gremlins 2." 😆
Originally, Gizmo and Stripe were the same character. The director and producers eventually realized that would kill the fun/cuteness factor of the movie and it was thankfully changed.
The popularity of this movie led to a number of similar “swarm of little creature” movies, like Critters, Ghoulies, and Munchies. BTW, I’m looking forward to your reaction to The Dark Crystal. Since you loved this and Labyrinth, I think you’ll love that one too.
@@whitenoisereacts I really think you should watch the dark crystal. The puppetry, the plot, and imagine how totally creepy and scary it would be to see it as a kid, and how existential it is as an adult.
If you guys think this one was crazy, then the sequel will blow you away. They were given a bigger budget and free reign to do whatever they wanted, just to kind of give you an idea.
@@LarryBonson Making a 3rd one? Part of me is thrilled that we might get more of this inspired madness, but I'm also very, very worried that they won't be able to pull it off again.
@@LarryBonson they're doing a animated series called "secrets of the mowgai" they released a few images not long ago. I don't think theres any solid confirmation yet on a 3rd movie but I know the actor who plays billy has been literally campaigning for a 3rd for years
As a kid, this movie was my Star Wars. I missed the hype train of those movies the first time around, but this hit me at just the right age (6) and I somehow managed to get my dad to take me a total of 13 times to the theater to see it... it was a big enough hit that it was released twice, over the whole summer, and once again at Christmas.
@@whitenoisereacts I would advise to watch the theatrical cut of Little Shop of Horrors, and then watch the original director's cut ending after, for a taste of how drastically things can change based on screening feedback.
When I was in college, the Cabaret Troupe performed Little Shop of Horrors and one of my friends did the voice of Audrey. He had to coordinate carefully with the guy performing Audrey so that the movements of the mouth matched the dialogue and singing. It was physically demanding work. When the show was over, the guy would be drenched in sweat.
This is a great example of what movies were back in my day. Also, I’m sure someone else has mentioned it but that town is the same exterior set as Back to the Future. I almost lived on the Universal back lot when I was a kid. I have taken more pictures of the Psycho house than anything else… ever.
The script to the movie was a lot darker than the film: Billy's mom was decapitated and a gremlin would throw her head down a flight of stairs. The gremlins would attack a McDonald's restaurant but instead of eating the burgers they would kill and eat the customers. The climax would have Gizmo turn into a gremlin where he would fight off Stripe and his minions. Spielberg wanted Gizmo to be a normal character, someone who is so cute and funny, the audience will root for him.
I think one idea in the script was that Gizmo would turns into a Gremlin and becomes the Stripe character. But yeah Spielberg hated that idea and thanks to his input we have our adorable hero.
I really love Gremlins, but I'd also love a modern remake that uses some of these ideas. One of the few times where a remake of a classic mnovie might be justified, if they just do something interesting with it!
I'm glad the mom didn't die in the movie. As an adult, I think one of the best parts of this movie is that the mom is a "badass". Or, more precisely, it shows us an adult woman who when threatened is capable of assessing the situation and is smart and practical in dealing with it. It's not that she isn't scared or confused--who wouldn't be?--but she doesn't become hysterical or stupid or useless; she fights back for herself, her home, and her family and does her best not to become a victim. She doesn't come out of the experience entirely unscathed, but she does get through it. That may not seem like a big deal today, but it was very unusual at the time (with a few notable exceptions).
I wanted Gizmo as a pet when I was a kid lol. I already know I would've forgotten about the rules and fed him after midnight. Btw the sequel is a lot of fun too. 💕
Dick Miller (The vet obsessed with Gremlins and his "Wife") were supposed to have died in the original script. But everyone liked him so much they included a line about them surviving in the epilogue. This made it possible for them to reappear in the sequel.
Please watch Gremlins 2! I ADORE that sequel! It’s totally camp and is absolutely bonkers. They’ve been trying to get a third movie going for quite a bit now, but I think they’re waiting to see how the animated show does. I think with how well received Grogu was, a Gremlins 3 would do well.
Holy crap, this brings back memories. I remember McD's happy meals giving out Gremlins read-along storybooks with plastic "records" that you cut out and played. They had to make sure alllll the little kids hassled their parents into taking them to see it! 😣😆
The town square in this film is the same one used in the Back to the Future trilogy. It's called Courthouse Square and it's at Universal Studios Hollywood.
now I have to see if you saw the second one lol we loved this as 80s kids. Laughed our arses off. Then when the 2nd one came out it was even better. Still watch these movies with my nephews
This movie is filed in the same set that Back to the Future was filmed on. The theater Marty crashes into is the same theater the Gremlins watch Snow White in.
"she is like sarah connor and Ripley in one" yes she freacking is...in less than 2 minutes she cleaned her house of Gremlins, yet we all always forget to mention her in strong female characters lists. You go Gremlins' movie Mom!!!! this movie is so freaking perfect XDDDD and the fact that gizmo and the dog are besties XD
Such a classic 80s movie and a really good example of why the movies from the 80's are still some of the best. No CGI...all practical effects, animatronics, and a little bit of stop motion. The puppet/animatronic effects are so good, especially the close ups of Gizmo's face in my opinion. The voice of Gizmo is actually Howie Mandell. This was a true fantasy adventure with a bit of horror thrown in. I remember seeing this in the theater when I was a kid and being surprised at the scary creepy gory parts in the movie. The town square reminds you of Back to the Future...because it is the town square from Back to the Future...just with some redressing and a sprinkling of snow. You can see the Clock tower plain as day. So in this story the creatures are Mogwai...fantastical creatures of Asian origin. The idea of Gremlins comes in when Mr. Futterman talks about Gremlins being responsible for their planes in the war having malfunctions. A gremlin is a mischievous folkloric creature invented at the beginning of the 20th century to originally explain malfunctions in aircraft and later in other machinery. Stories about them as the causes of technical and mental problems of pilots were especially popular in World War II and first arose in Royal Air Force slang among British pilots stationed in Malta, the Middle East, and India in the 1920s. Mr. Futterman later refers to them as such hence the name in the movie. I'm not sure why you think light doesn't work on them. The theater doesn't put out bright light so the screen wouldn't have effected them but the camera flash did. I always liked the fact that in the end it was Gizmo that ends up taking out the threat, showing that Mogwai's aren't bad...just their evolved "Gremlin" form is. There's actually a sequel that is even more over the top but in a very good and self aware entertaining way. It actually almost spoofs itself. I'd recommend it.
this movie was insanely popular when it came out, especially with kids. If you meet any quirky middle-aged people and ask them, a lot of them used to have pet dogs or cats or rabbits or gerbils....that they named "Gizmo."
Gremlins are mythical creatures based on folklore dating back to the 1920's.. They were invented originally to explain malfunctions in aircraft and later in other machinery and processes and their operators. Depictions of these creatures vary widely.. There was a book written by Roald Dahl called The Gremlins and published in 1943. It was Dahl's first book and was written for Walt Disney Productions, in anticipation of a feature-length animated film that was never made". Lot's of stories and books were written about these creatures. Thanx guys and take care..xx
33:46 - I always love the 'Bar Scene' from the movie😁🥰 basically reminds me of the first few weekends when the bars reopened after the first lockdown here in the UK during the Pandemic, was lifted, when things were completely safe, but also reminds me of the wild college night outs I had with college friends 7 years ago🥰🏴🍺🍻🥂🍾🍷🥃🍸🍹🍺
The main 'town' (movie studio backlot) in Gremlins is the same town from Back To The Future. The set was built for the 1948 film An Act of Murder and was featured as downtown Hill Valley in the Back to the Future trilogy, as well as Kingston Falls in the Gremlins series. It was also used in The Twilight Zone: "Where Is Everybody?" (1959; first episode) and "Mr. Dingle, the Strong" (1961) as well as many other TV shows and movies.
That bathroom sequence was done by having two Gizmos. One Billy brings in and one already sat on the sink. I think the one sat near the sink was sat on a fake surface that was used to hide all the wiring behind him that was fed through a hole. I can’t remember whether the puppeteers for the “sat down” Gizmo were in the bathroom with the performers or not (they may not have been based on the size of the room as I think there were puppeteers following Billy as they brought Gizmo into the room). If not, they mostly likely would have been in the room next door (behind the mirror/sink) where they would have had monitors with them to see what they were doing.
Yeah, I'm curious about the demographics of their viewers/subscribers. Sometimes it seems like it must be mostly a bunch of 80s kids (who are now old enough to be their parents). But I'm glad that WNR appreciate 80s movies in a way that I never appreciated the media of my parents' childhood and teen years. Also, I'm continuously surprised that music and movies from the 80s have lasted this long, compared to the media of my parents' and grandparents' generations. Glad to have the WNR guys as honorary 80s kids.
Btw, the actress playing Kate (Phoebe Cates) has been married to Kevin Kline for a billion years and they have like 5 kids, I think. One of the few Hollywood couples who have lasted.
The actress that played Mrs. Deagle is most famous for playing Flo on the sitcom Mel's Diner back in the 70's and 80's. If you've ever heard someone say kiss my grits, that was her catchphrase.
‘Man, they’re kinda like little goblins” ‘They’re more than just like, animals, ya know? Like smart, evil creatures.” It’s almost like they’re… Gremlins
Director Joe Dante grew up in N.J. going to the local movie theater watching classic and "B" monster and Sci-Fi movies of the 30's , 40's, 50's and 60's. He got his start in the movie business like so many filmmakers like James Cameron , Ron Howard and Frances Coppola by working with Roger Corman. Many of the older actors in this movie are veterans of those classic movies he saw growing up. For the music in his movies he would use veteran film composer Jerry Goldsmith to do the scores until Goldsmith passed away in 2004.
Even now, when I think back it makes me laugh. My best friends and I all had money at the same time for once and we made a day of it, during the Christmas season, ending at the one screen movie theater in our town that was showing Gremlins. We sat through the movie and when we left, they were completely blown apart. Their faces! Lol. Man, they really were shocked. They expected something like E.T., where it seems scary at first, but turns nice. I don't know how they got that impression from the commercials, because I knew exactly what to expect. They were so shook they were angry! I still find it hysterical. They were completely horrified! We walked our bikes home and they just didn't really talk at all. It just killed the party, but I still think it's a riot.
I don’t recall if you guys have seen Ghostbusters, highly recommend reacting if you have not. It’s my favorite movie of all time, came out the same year as this one. The special effects aren’t as good as this film but they’re still really impressive for the time, but what’s best about the film it’s is dry sense of humor. Funniest movie without going super over the top with its comedy, I will never get tired of it.
I love watching Gremlins every Christmas. Best non-Christmas movie ever. Gremlins 2 is just more fun gremlin antics. The Twilight Zone story about the Gremlin, is terrifying. You guys should watch it if you haven't seen it. Other 80 movie recommendations: The Abyss Who framed Rodger Rabbit
Recommendation: Killer Klowns from Outer Space, Little Shop of Horrors, War of the roses, and The Hitcher. Gives new meaning to "mama said knock you out" 🤭 they all went in with the aggression. I loved this movie growing up, it had everything that thrilled me as a kid dark comedy is the best. 😁 Not one person watches these movies without thinking did this idiot really get them wet? And yet we're all excitedly holding our breath hoping for it. Definitely watch the sequel 🙏
Toy you're thinking of, I think, was an old 80's toy I grew up with called Teddy Ruxpin. It was a bear who moved and talked/blinked. It was all the rage back in the day.
I don't see anyone comment about it, but yes, gizmo is an animatronic, but it was the most annoying one to deal with, as there were a ton of complicated animatronics in the tiny body of it, causing it to malfunction, youtuber dead meat actually talked about it and that it constantly broke down on set, he has more info on the BTS (behind the scenes) info on it
I Loved both Gremlins and Gremlins 2, I know in Gremlins 2 i was kinda Rooting for the Gremlins, they were Hilarious, with a touch of Frank Sinatra thrown in
the theater that released this on opening night in LA gave exact to movie size Gizmo dolls. my dad got one and it was my version of a teddy bear as a kid. still have it.
When Billy's dad is in the convention the machine in the back is the time machine from the movie "The time machine" from 1960, and it even dissapears hinting at it time traveling lol
I made a similar comment about the stereotypical evil cat lady thing in someone else's reaction (glad you two mentioned it too). I mean for goodness sake cats were extinct for a while in Europe because people hated them! They've been hurt enough. Make the evil people have something ridiculous if you're going out of your way to make them super evil. A leech collector, a mosquito breeder, a poacher who adores their trophies, and so on and so forth.
My mom took me to see this in the theatre when I was 5. It was the first movie I saw all the way through in theatres. Two years earlier she took me to see E.T. but I started crying so hard when E.T. & Elliot got sick that she had to take me home. I've had a crush on Phoebe Cates for the past 38 years because of this film. This director did a very underrated werewolf movie in the 80s called "The Howling". You should check it out.👍
Back in WWII the British Royal Air force had legends of creatures they called Gremlins that they would blame every time something went wrong with the plane.
9TB nailed it with the Grogu comparison when Gizmo was revealed. I saw Gremlins in the 90s when I was wee, and when I first watched The Mandalorian, I was 3 episodes in and realized “Baby Yoda is like a shaved green-skinned Gizmo! They both have large eyes, batlike ears, very neotanized features, and absolutely everything they do is heart-meltingly endearing!” And then James said “Master Shifu”, and the whole thing was **chef’s kiss**
My favorite character in this movie is definitely Gizmo he is really cute and adorable. For Gizmo it must be so hard for him that he can't get wet no matter what happens, or that he can't eat after midnight, and big thing that is really hard for Gizmo is that he hates bright lights and that can never go into sunlight because it will kill him. All of these three things that Gizmo can't do, that must be very, very hard for Gizmo and i feel so sorry for him.
In the scene where the father is calling home from the convention, the man who disappears is riding the original prop from The Time Machine (1960) and The large robot is Robby the robot from the 1956 classic Forbidden Planet, he's even saying lines from that movie when he's on the phone.
"Kid was older than expecting" They had a few early scripts for the film. First was more horror like with more deaths like the dog. Billy was more teen there. They changed it to "family horror comedy" and billy was turned into a kid in another draft. Next draft he is older again, but some things stayed from that draft like his best friend is a little kid and the school was going to be billys school. As a kid watching the film i never picked up on it. This film came out same day as ghostbusters by the way! Gremlins came in second but a rare time where both first and second were huge hits!
Yeah Gremlins are a legend in the military, especially in aircraft. Especially during wwii There’s even a bugs bunny cartoon made back in the 40s where he goes up against a gremlin. There was also an episode of the twilight zone where there’s a gremlin
This movie used to freak me out so much 😂 I would love if you guys reacted to Quarantine and/or the original called Rec. Also a Korean movie called "Gonjiam Haunted Asylum"!
Another nugget of 80s trivia you've probably been told already.. George Gipe's novelisation of the movie puts forward the idea that the reason Mogwai can't communicate with us is that they are super-intelligent, not only in comparison to us, but to themselves. Their brains run faster than their mouths can vocalise (as an autistic, I can totally relate!). The description of Gizmo's struggle to force out that 'Bye, Billy,' is quite heartbreaking.
I am POSITIVE that I am the only person on this thread that knows(without looking it up lol, NO CHEATING) that the star of this movie is named Zach Galligan. I read it once way back in the 80s and for some reason unknown to me I remembered that bit of trivia lol
@@whitenoisereacts I could win final jeopardy if that was the question 😆 because I'm the only person on Earth who knows that...besides Zach Galligan himself of course 🤣🤣🤣
In case it wasn't mentioned... at the 4.40 mark here, the cinema sign in the background of the street is a Stephen Spielberg Easter egg, with 'A Boy's Life' the shooting name that was used when E.T.' was being shot, and 'Watch The Skies' the shooting name for 'Close encounters of the third kind'. A wink for the audience there. Even today, many films have or use very different shooting names while a film is in production, to try and throw fans off or keep things secret. Loved this film when it came out, and the sequel is an utter blast - while Stephen Spielberg is the obvious big name, its director, Joe Dante, deserves to be remembered more, as he was a very reliable and steady hand behind a number of decently received hits back in the day...
I mean this movie was made almost 40 years ago and it still looks amazing. Its would have been like watching a movie made during the 40's in the year this was made and being blown away by it
I remember when I was 10 in year 6 and we convinced my teacher that this was a kids film about Teddy bears and we should watch it as a treat. It's a 15 certificate!
The toy you are thinking of is probably the Furby. Gizmo is Not a gremlin, he is a mogwai. In the bar scene, the dancing gremlin was a Flashdance reference. Mrs Deegle launch is awesome. This and Die Hard 1 & 2 are my Christmas movies.
What is your crazy 80s (or teenage) experience, Gremlins or no!
Time Bandits is def an 80's oddball that you may like the technically skills in
You guys finally watch the Gremlins I'm so happy the next one you should watch this The outsider's
GREMLINS was the 5th Spielberg film I saw growing up, either he directed or was an executive producer. The previous being Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T., Poltergeist, and The Temple of Doom. Gremlins will always be a classic must see for me! Gremlins 2, a little more comical, but still fun to watch.
🤣 My teenage experience was Jaws and Alien in the 70's.
Little shop of horrors was like an 80s musical acid trip 🤣
Can we give some credit to the mom in this movie who is just slaughtering Gremlins left and right? The real badass of the story, she'd survive a horror movie.
She’s SUCH A LEGEND!!! Love her!
Gremlins would've been an awesome game to play at the arcade!
100% “Gremlin in the engine” was a turn of phrase for when something mechanically went wrong and there was no easy explanation.
Was a phrase? I still use it like my father before me.
Ohhh shoot!!! That makes sense!!
Yep, trying to find the source of a mechanical problem or troubleshoot something is sometimes called "chasing down a gremlin".
I definitely remember that phrase being used! Haven't heard it in a long time now.
It was also a myth. Kinda like poltergeists for mechanical objects.
There's a Twilight Zone episode with William Shatner ("Terror At 20,000 Feet") that had a great take on the mythology. Check it out. You'll love it
Gremlins 2 is one of the best sequels in film, the creativity is off the charts .
Ok we will have to keep that one in mind!!
I second that opinion....HERE HERE!!!
And the film fully knows what it is and what it's doing.
@@whitenoisereacts and there is a Prequel animated series coming soon on HBO Max.
It’s an under rated sequel that flopped at the time but to quote Marty McFly “I guess you all aren’t ready for that… but your kids are gonna love it.”
A few fun facts for the film:
1. The man Billy shows his drawing to in the beginning of the film is legendary Looney Tunes animator and director Chuck Jones who was also director for the animated classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas,
2. The scene when Billy’s dad is at the convention not only is there plenty of science fiction cameos like Robby the Robot from the film Forbidden Planet, but also in the background the Time Machine from the 1960 film it is there one moment and disappears the next. Also Steven Speilberg is the one driving around on the recumbent bicycle and the person who scored the music Jerry Goldsmith is the one wearing the yellow suit in the telephone booth behind the dad,
3. Howie Mandel did the noises for Gizmo
I had no idea it was Howie Mandel and now I can't unhear it! I'm 41 years old and had no idea, thank you! lol
Also, the deputy at 30:39 is Jonathan Banks, later to be known as Mike Ehrmantrout on Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul.
@@Corn_Pone_Flicks I'm typically good at pointing out actors in things, but you beat me on this one, I never new it! Well done!
And Frank Welker was Stripe and a majority of the Gremlins.
Also Michael Winslow voiced Gremlins
I grew up loving this. I’ve always laughed so hard when Mrs Deagle sees the gremlins and says, “They’re here! They’ve come for me!” Like she knows she deserves to be hauled off to hell by demons haha
Is that what she says? She was panicking so much in that moment I couldn't really make out what she was saying, but I figured it didn't really matter. But the idea that she knew she was about to pay for her sins does take the scene up to another level.
My favorite part is when her chairlift starts zooming up the stairs, and it bumps a big picture of who i can only assume is the late Mr. Deagle, and the portrait going askew mixed with the look on the guy's face makes it look like he's watching her get launched out the window and smiling at his horrible wife finally getting hers.
"I'm not ready! I'M NOT READY!"
This is one of those movies that works perfectly as a Christmas movie, as well as a Halloween movie
The perfect blend!!!
The reason this setting gave you “Back to the Future” vibes is because it was filmed on the same set. Recognize the center of town? 😁
Also, just my opinion, but I always felt that Mrs. Deagle is like Scrooge and the wicked witch from OZ rolled into one person. lol
Oh dang!! I was trying not to call it out
Good old Universal Studios Backlot Courthouse Square. Used in so many movies and TV shows.
Yeah I recently read that, that they used ‘the town’ set for several different movies.
The theater that Billy blows up is the same one that Marty drives into in "Back to the Future".
Sometimes Gizmo was just a puppet and sometimes he was a mechanized puppet depending on the scene.
Gremlins is one of the movies responsible for creating the PG13 rating. Parents had been complaining about warnings for movies since Poltergeist came our but Indiana Jones & The Temple of Doom abd Gremlins were the last straw. PG13 became a thing immediately after their release in theaters.
That’s so awesome! So well done the way they combined it!
@@whitenoisereacts and the 1985 movie "Red Dawn" was the first film ever to have the PG-13 rating! Another great film to watch!
@@FireTiger941 Man, that movie was a wakeup call. I always had the feeling of us being too vulnerable
@@candicelitrenta8890 Yea those pesky Cubans have always looked to invade Wyoming
The legend of gremlins existed long before this movie. Similar to Big Foot, the Abominable Snow Man, the Lochness Monster, etc.
They are said to be very mischievous and enjoy messing with mechanical things like engines.
I highly recommend watching the episode from The Twilight Zone. Both the black and white TV series and the 80’s remake have an episode regarding the gremlins. It was called “Nightmare at 20,000 feet”
That’s clever!!
Yeah, they originated in WWII, where rumors were spread/used as an excuse as to why planes weren't working.
@Atheos B. Sapien And he is not far from Gizmo, in appearance. Coincidence?
Just a note that the 80s version is in Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983), as opposed to the 80s TV series The Twilight Zone. :)
Gremlins are not as ancient as some of those, the term first appeared in the Second world war, when planes had unexplained mechanical failure, they would say the gremlins had got to it. Roald Dahl, while best known for children's books, also wrote adult books, including a novel about gremlins, set in the second world war.
Guys, do yourselves a favor and check out the sequel. Four words: Die Hard, with Gremlins. 😁 Also yeah, keep Kate's grim dark childhood story in mind because, believe it or not, it is the setup to a freaking PUNCHLINE in "Gremlins 2." 😆
And if you reat to the sequel, remember what you said about the gremlins standing on top of each other dressed in a trench coat.
"Die Hard, with Gremlins." haha. That's a good tagline.
Originally, Gizmo and Stripe were the same character. The director and producers eventually realized that would kill the fun/cuteness factor of the movie and it was thankfully changed.
“There might just be a gremlin in your house” Smfh that quote terrified me as a child😂
The popularity of this movie led to a number of similar “swarm of little creature” movies, like Critters, Ghoulies, and Munchies.
BTW, I’m looking forward to your reaction to The Dark Crystal. Since you loved this and Labyrinth, I think you’ll love that one too.
We’ll see if we watch it, but yeah
Munchies??😂😂😂 Never heard of that one. I’ll have to check it out.
@@whitenoisereacts I really think you should watch the dark crystal. The puppetry, the plot, and imagine how totally creepy and scary it would be to see it as a kid, and how existential it is as an adult.
Anyone see "The Pit"? That was a weird one, but kind of touches on themes of abuse and mental illness.
@@cflournoy1529 Yeah, it’s pretty obscure and REALLY low-budget. It has Harvey Korman in it though, so yay?
If you guys think this one was crazy, then the sequel will blow you away. They were given a bigger budget and free reign to do whatever they wanted, just to kind of give you an idea.
Their making a 3rd one.
@@LarryBonson Making a 3rd one? Part of me is thrilled that we might get more of this inspired madness, but I'm also very, very worried that they won't be able to pull it off again.
@@ericjette2435 Well, pitch your expectations low. That way, if you're surprised, it will be pleasantly.
@@jean-paulaudette9246 Good advice.
@@LarryBonson they're doing a animated series called "secrets of the mowgai" they released a few images not long ago. I don't think theres any solid confirmation yet on a 3rd movie but I know the actor who plays billy has been literally campaigning for a 3rd for years
As a kid, this movie was my Star Wars. I missed the hype train of those movies the first time around, but this hit me at just the right age (6) and I somehow managed to get my dad to take me a total of 13 times to the theater to see it... it was a big enough hit that it was released twice, over the whole summer, and once again at Christmas.
That’s really cool
Phoebe Cates 😍...an 80s icon that every guy had a crush on...even Dustin from stranger things 🤣
"The Lost Boys" is another 80s classic you guys have to watch
If you like puppetry, I recommned Little Shop of Horrors. Audrey II was an amazing puppet and took so many people to bring to life.
Ok cool!!!
@@whitenoisereacts I would advise to watch the theatrical cut of Little Shop of Horrors, and then watch the original director's cut ending after, for a taste of how drastically things can change based on screening feedback.
When I was in college, the Cabaret Troupe performed Little Shop of Horrors and one of my friends did the voice of Audrey. He had to coordinate carefully with the guy performing Audrey so that the movements of the mouth matched the dialogue and singing. It was physically demanding work. When the show was over, the guy would be drenched in sweat.
This is a great example of what movies were back in my day.
Also, I’m sure someone else has mentioned it but that town is the same exterior set as Back to the Future. I almost lived on the Universal back lot when I was a kid. I have taken more pictures of the Psycho house than anything else… ever.
That’s so fun!!
The script to the movie was a lot darker than the film:
Billy's mom was decapitated and a gremlin would throw her head down a flight of stairs.
The gremlins would attack a McDonald's restaurant but instead of eating the burgers they would kill and eat the customers.
The climax would have Gizmo turn into a gremlin where he would fight off Stripe and his minions. Spielberg wanted Gizmo to be a normal character, someone who is so cute and funny, the audience will root for him.
I think one idea in the script was that Gizmo would turns into a Gremlin and becomes the Stripe character. But yeah Spielberg hated that idea and thanks to his input we have our adorable hero.
The original idea was Gizmo becoming Stripe.
Even the dog was suppose to die attached to the lights in the roof.
katie dad´s story was more darker...
I really love Gremlins, but I'd also love a modern remake that uses some of these ideas. One of the few times where a remake of a classic mnovie might be justified, if they just do something interesting with it!
I'm glad the mom didn't die in the movie. As an adult, I think one of the best parts of this movie is that the mom is a "badass". Or, more precisely, it shows us an adult woman who when threatened is capable of assessing the situation and is smart and practical in dealing with it. It's not that she isn't scared or confused--who wouldn't be?--but she doesn't become hysterical or stupid or useless; she fights back for herself, her home, and her family and does her best not to become a victim. She doesn't come out of the experience entirely unscathed, but she does get through it. That may not seem like a big deal today, but it was very unusual at the time (with a few notable exceptions).
I would argue it’s still unusual today
Billy's mother and Marty's grandmother from 'Back To The Future' are played by the same actress.
The level of practical effects in this is indeed insane. Insanly good
I love how you can hear Gizmo singing along to Snow White from Billy’s backpack.
“Hi-Ho” 😁
I wanted Gizmo as a pet when I was a kid lol. I already know I would've forgotten about the rules and fed him after midnight. Btw the sequel is a lot of fun too. 💕
I can’t blame u!!
I am sure that Doc Brown and Billys dad are friends. ..... they do live in the same town. ......😉
I’d like to imagine that
Dick Miller (The vet obsessed with Gremlins and his "Wife") were supposed to have died in the original script. But everyone liked him so much they included a line about them surviving in the epilogue. This made it possible for them to reappear in the sequel.
Please watch Gremlins 2! I ADORE that sequel! It’s totally camp and is absolutely bonkers.
They’ve been trying to get a third movie going for quite a bit now, but I think they’re waiting to see how the animated show does. I think with how well received Grogu was, a Gremlins 3 would do well.
the role of Pete was played by Corey Feldman( the goonies , stand by me, the lost boys)
Holy crap, this brings back memories. I remember McD's happy meals giving out Gremlins read-along storybooks with plastic "records" that you cut out and played. They had to make sure alllll the little kids hassled their parents into taking them to see it! 😣😆
That’s so cool!!
Oh my gosh, I remember those, too.
The town square in this film is the same one used in the Back to the Future trilogy. It's called Courthouse Square and it's at Universal Studios Hollywood.
"That was VERY unique." 🤣🤣
You're definitely not wrong. This movie was a trip.
Hope you guys can react to Willow. An awesome 80s fantasy as well!!
Willow 2 is coming soon. Warrick is older.
now I have to see if you saw the second one lol we loved this as 80s kids. Laughed our arses off. Then when the 2nd one came out it was even better. Still watch these movies with my nephews
This movie is filed in the same set that Back to the Future was filmed on. The theater Marty crashes into is the same theater the Gremlins watch Snow White in.
Same Burger King as well.
Ohhhh shoot!!!
I know Gremlins are little monsters, but i love Gizmo so much.
That film always makes me cry in the end.
Watch the sequel.
The Maguai looks like the Furby toy :)
"she is like sarah connor and Ripley in one" yes she freacking is...in less than 2 minutes she cleaned her house of Gremlins, yet we all always forget to mention her in strong female characters lists. You go Gremlins' movie Mom!!!!
this movie is so freaking perfect XDDDD and the fact that gizmo and the dog are besties XD
The 80s got all the good female characters
Yeah, I replied to someone else's comment about this character, so I won't repeat myself here, but I agree that the character is great.
Such a classic 80s movie and a really good example of why the movies from the 80's are still some of the best. No CGI...all practical effects, animatronics, and a little bit of stop motion. The puppet/animatronic effects are so good, especially the close ups of Gizmo's face in my opinion. The voice of Gizmo is actually Howie Mandell. This was a true fantasy adventure with a bit of horror thrown in. I remember seeing this in the theater when I was a kid and being surprised at the scary creepy gory parts in the movie. The town square reminds you of Back to the Future...because it is the town square from Back to the Future...just with some redressing and a sprinkling of snow. You can see the Clock tower plain as day. So in this story the creatures are Mogwai...fantastical creatures of Asian origin. The idea of Gremlins comes in when Mr. Futterman talks about Gremlins being responsible for their planes in the war having malfunctions. A gremlin is a mischievous folkloric creature invented at the beginning of the 20th century to originally explain malfunctions in aircraft and later in other machinery. Stories about them as the causes of technical and mental problems of pilots were especially popular in World War II and first arose in Royal Air Force slang among British pilots stationed in Malta, the Middle East, and India in the 1920s. Mr. Futterman later refers to them as such hence the name in the movie. I'm not sure why you think light doesn't work on them. The theater doesn't put out bright light so the screen wouldn't have effected them but the camera flash did. I always liked the fact that in the end it was Gizmo that ends up taking out the threat, showing that Mogwai's aren't bad...just their evolved "Gremlin" form is. There's actually a sequel that is even more over the top but in a very good and self aware entertaining way. It actually almost spoofs itself. I'd recommend it.
Gremlins is so cool, it`s my favorite 80s Christmas movie.
Welcome to being a child in the 80s. We had the best films. Dark and twisted with cuddly and heartfelt. It was a wonderful time to be a kid.
this movie was insanely popular when it came out, especially with kids.
If you meet any quirky middle-aged people and ask them, a lot of them used to have pet dogs or cats or rabbits or gerbils....that they named "Gizmo."
Phoebe Cates was a huge Gen-Xer celebrity crush. Yes, this is a Christmas movie, like Die Hard and Brazil.
I had a Gizmo doll when I was a kid. And this is my favorite Christmas movie of all time.
Gremlins are mythical creatures based on folklore dating back to the 1920's.. They were invented originally to explain malfunctions in aircraft and later in other machinery and processes and their operators. Depictions of these creatures vary widely.. There was a book written by Roald Dahl called The Gremlins and published in 1943. It was Dahl's first book and was written for Walt Disney Productions, in anticipation of a feature-length animated film that was never made". Lot's of stories and books were written about these creatures. Thanx guys and take care..xx
Roald Dahl? Surely not the same author famous for many strange and creepy chldren's stories, such as "Charlie and The Chocolate Factory"?
They aren’t creepy, I love that guy
@@whitenoisereacts I've only heard by reputation, please forgive me.
This movie scared the crap out of me when I was 6, and it's still unnerving.
Goonies gives me Nostalgia , as well as Gremlins. Gremlins was a Christmas time movie. Great memories
33:46 - I always love the 'Bar Scene' from the movie😁🥰 basically reminds me of the first few weekends when the bars reopened after the first lockdown here in the UK during the Pandemic, was lifted, when things were completely safe, but also reminds me of the wild college night outs I had with college friends 7 years ago🥰🏴🍺🍻🥂🍾🍷🥃🍸🍹🍺
The main 'town' (movie studio backlot) in Gremlins is the same town from Back To The Future. The set was built for the 1948 film An Act of Murder and was featured as downtown Hill Valley in the Back to the Future trilogy, as well as Kingston Falls in the Gremlins series. It was also used in The Twilight Zone: "Where Is Everybody?" (1959; first episode) and "Mr. Dingle, the Strong" (1961) as well as many other TV shows and movies.
That bathroom sequence was done by having two Gizmos. One Billy brings in and one already sat on the sink.
I think the one sat near the sink was sat on a fake surface that was used to hide all the wiring behind him that was fed through a hole. I can’t remember whether the puppeteers for the “sat down” Gizmo were in the bathroom with the performers or not (they may not have been based on the size of the room as I think there were puppeteers following Billy as they brought Gizmo into the room). If not, they mostly likely would have been in the room next door (behind the mirror/sink) where they would have had monitors with them to see what they were doing.
I saw Gremlins during its original theatrical run. You guys are legit honorary 80s kids. Your reactions remind me tons of my 80s friends!
Aww thanks man!!! That means a lot!
Yeah, I'm curious about the demographics of their viewers/subscribers. Sometimes it seems like it must be mostly a bunch of 80s kids (who are now old enough to be their parents). But I'm glad that WNR appreciate 80s movies in a way that I never appreciated the media of my parents' childhood and teen years. Also, I'm continuously surprised that music and movies from the 80s have lasted this long, compared to the media of my parents' and grandparents' generations. Glad to have the WNR guys as honorary 80s kids.
Btw, the actress playing Kate (Phoebe Cates) has been married to Kevin Kline for a billion years and they have like 5 kids, I think. One of the few Hollywood couples who have lasted.
I hope you do the second movie as well. It is hilarious, almost a parody of itself but it works so damn good, so many amazing ideas and fun.
I love this movie so much I watch it every year on Christmas 🎄 lol I also got a Gizmo Doll for Christmas one year. It’s great, it sings and moves.
It's funny you kept referring to Doc Brown.
Billy's mum is played by the same actress who played Lorraine's mum in Back to the Future.
"Kid's Horror" is genre that needs a comeback.
Great reaction boys!
The actress that played Mrs. Deagle is most famous for playing Flo on the sitcom Mel's Diner back in the 70's and 80's. If you've ever heard someone say kiss my grits, that was her catchphrase.
‘Man, they’re kinda like little goblins”
‘They’re more than just like, animals, ya know? Like smart, evil creatures.”
It’s almost like they’re…
Gremlins
Director Joe Dante grew up in N.J. going to the local movie theater watching classic and "B" monster and Sci-Fi movies of the 30's , 40's, 50's and 60's. He got his start in the movie business like so many filmmakers like James Cameron , Ron Howard and Frances Coppola by working with Roger Corman. Many of the older actors in this movie are veterans of those classic movies he saw growing up. For the music in his movies he would use veteran film composer Jerry Goldsmith to do the scores until Goldsmith passed away in 2004.
Even now, when I think back it makes me laugh. My best friends and I all had money at the same time for once and we made a day of it, during the Christmas season, ending at the one screen movie theater in our town that was showing Gremlins. We sat through the movie and when we left, they were completely blown apart. Their faces! Lol. Man, they really were shocked. They expected something like E.T., where it seems scary at first, but turns nice. I don't know how they got that impression from the commercials, because I knew exactly what to expect. They were so shook they were angry! I still find it hysterical. They were completely horrified! We walked our bikes home and they just didn't really talk at all. It just killed the party, but I still think it's a riot.
I don’t recall if you guys have seen Ghostbusters, highly recommend reacting if you have not. It’s my favorite movie of all time, came out the same year as this one. The special effects aren’t as good as this film but they’re still really impressive for the time, but what’s best about the film it’s is dry sense of humor. Funniest movie without going super over the top with its comedy, I will never get tired of it.
I love watching Gremlins every Christmas. Best non-Christmas movie ever. Gremlins 2 is just more fun gremlin antics.
The Twilight Zone story about the Gremlin, is terrifying. You guys should watch it if you haven't seen it.
Other 80 movie recommendations:
The Abyss
Who framed Rodger Rabbit
20:45 in the background to the right, the guy is using the 1960 George Pal's Time Machine. Probably explains why he suddenly vanishes afterwards :)
This movie came out in 1984 when I was just 2 years old that is when I first saw it and it will always remain to this day.
Recommendation: Killer Klowns from Outer Space, Little Shop of Horrors, War of the roses, and The Hitcher.
Gives new meaning to "mama said knock you out" 🤭 they all went in with the aggression. I loved this movie growing up, it had everything that thrilled me as a kid dark comedy is the best. 😁 Not one person watches these movies without thinking did this idiot really get them wet? And yet we're all excitedly holding our breath hoping for it.
Definitely watch the sequel 🙏
I'd love to see them react to killer klowns from outer space :D one of my childhood favorites
Killer Klowns would be the BEST!
"What are you gunna do knock my block off?"
Toy you're thinking of, I think, was an old 80's toy I grew up with called Teddy Ruxpin. It was a bear who moved and talked/blinked. It was all the rage back in the day.
I don't see anyone comment about it, but yes, gizmo is an animatronic, but it was the most annoying one to deal with, as there were a ton of complicated animatronics in the tiny body of it, causing it to malfunction, youtuber dead meat actually talked about it and that it constantly broke down on set, he has more info on the BTS (behind the scenes) info on it
Gremlins 2 is one of the best sequels made.
I look forward to your "Gremlins 2" watch. It's a fun sequel.
I Loved both Gremlins and Gremlins 2, I know in Gremlins 2 i was kinda Rooting for the Gremlins, they were Hilarious, with a touch of Frank Sinatra thrown in
the theater that released this on opening night in LA gave exact to movie size Gizmo dolls. my dad got one and it was my version of a teddy bear as a kid. still have it.
When Billy's dad is in the convention the machine in the back is the time machine from the movie "The time machine" from 1960, and it even dissapears hinting at it time traveling lol
I made a similar comment about the stereotypical evil cat lady thing in someone else's reaction (glad you two mentioned it too).
I mean for goodness sake cats were extinct for a while in Europe because people hated them! They've been hurt enough.
Make the evil people have something ridiculous if you're going out of your way to make them super evil. A leech collector, a mosquito breeder, a poacher who adores their trophies, and so on and so forth.
My mom took me to see this in the theatre when I was 5. It was the first movie I saw all the way through in theatres. Two years earlier she took me to see E.T. but I started crying so hard when E.T. & Elliot got sick that she had to take me home. I've had a crush on Phoebe Cates for the past 38 years because of this film. This director did a very underrated werewolf movie in the 80s called "The Howling". You should check it out.👍
Love The Howling
Yeah, I've got fond memories of watching The Howling.
Back in WWII the British Royal Air force had legends of creatures they called Gremlins that they would blame every time something went wrong with the plane.
9TB nailed it with the Grogu comparison when Gizmo was revealed. I saw Gremlins in the 90s when I was wee, and when I first watched The Mandalorian, I was 3 episodes in and realized “Baby Yoda is like a shaved green-skinned Gizmo! They both have large eyes, batlike ears, very neotanized features, and absolutely everything they do is heart-meltingly endearing!” And then James said “Master Shifu”, and the whole thing was **chef’s kiss**
My favorite character in this movie is definitely Gizmo he is really cute and adorable. For Gizmo it must be so hard for him that he can't get wet no matter what happens, or that he can't eat after midnight, and big thing that is really hard for Gizmo is that he hates bright lights and that can never go into sunlight because it will kill him. All of these three things that Gizmo can't do, that must be very, very hard for Gizmo and i feel so sorry for him.
Another great 80s monster series is critters! For the longest time people wanted gremlins vs critters but sadly we never got it
In the scene where the father is calling home from the convention, the man who disappears is riding the original prop from The Time Machine (1960) and The large robot is Robby the robot from the 1956 classic Forbidden Planet, he's even saying lines from that movie when he's on the phone.
"Kid was older than expecting" They had a few early scripts for the film. First was more horror like with more deaths like the dog. Billy was more teen there. They changed it to "family horror comedy" and billy was turned into a kid in another draft. Next draft he is older again, but some things stayed from that draft like his best friend is a little kid and the school was going to be billys school. As a kid watching the film i never picked up on it. This film came out same day as ghostbusters by the way! Gremlins came in second but a rare time where both first and second were huge hits!
Yeah
Gremlins are a legend in the military, especially in aircraft.
Especially during wwii
There’s even a bugs bunny cartoon made back in the 40s where he goes up against a gremlin.
There was also an episode of the twilight zone where there’s a gremlin
Fun fact, the town square is the same set that was used for back to the future.
I think this, along with 'Indiana Jones' was a major reason for the PG13 rating.
The mother is a badass fighter, I'd want her on my side!
Gizmo is an animatronic puppet and was fiddly as HELL. The crew HATED working with it. That’s why there is a Gizmo torture scene!
This movie used to freak me out so much 😂 I would love if you guys reacted to Quarantine and/or the original called Rec. Also a Korean movie called "Gonjiam Haunted Asylum"!
Gizmo is voiced by Howie Mandel.
Another nugget of 80s trivia you've probably been told already.. George Gipe's novelisation of the movie puts forward the idea that the reason Mogwai can't communicate with us is that they are super-intelligent, not only in comparison to us, but to themselves. Their brains run faster than their mouths can vocalise (as an autistic, I can totally relate!). The description of Gizmo's struggle to force out that 'Bye, Billy,' is quite heartbreaking.
I read the book as a kid after seeing the movie and I also remember that Gizmo was ancient. Something like 400 years old.
I am POSITIVE that I am the only person on this thread that knows(without looking it up lol, NO CHEATING) that the star of this movie is named Zach Galligan. I read it once way back in the 80s and for some reason unknown to me I remembered that bit of trivia lol
Oh nice dude!
@@whitenoisereacts I could win final jeopardy if that was the question 😆 because I'm the only person on Earth who knows that...besides Zach Galligan himself of course 🤣🤣🤣
In case it wasn't mentioned... at the 4.40 mark here, the cinema sign in the background of the street is a Stephen Spielberg Easter egg, with 'A Boy's Life' the shooting name that was used when E.T.' was being shot, and 'Watch The Skies' the shooting name for 'Close encounters of the third kind'. A wink for the audience there.
Even today, many films have or use very different shooting names while a film is in production, to try and throw fans off or keep things secret.
Loved this film when it came out, and the sequel is an utter blast - while Stephen Spielberg is the obvious big name, its director, Joe Dante, deserves to be remembered more, as he was a very reliable and steady hand behind a number of decently received hits back in the day...
This and "Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom" are the reason why we have the PG-13 rating.
I mean this movie was made almost 40 years ago and it still looks amazing. Its would have been like watching a movie made during the 40's in the year this was made and being blown away by it
Me remembering that this was a "kids" movie in my house just explains so much
I remember when I was 10 in year 6 and we convinced my teacher that this was a kids film about Teddy bears and we should watch it as a treat. It's a 15 certificate!
The toy you are thinking of is probably the Furby. Gizmo is Not a gremlin, he is a mogwai.
In the bar scene, the dancing gremlin was a Flashdance reference.
Mrs Deegle launch is awesome.
This and Die Hard 1 & 2 are my Christmas movies.
So they had tiny animatronic ones for wide shots. And then for the faces they had larger ones that were more detailed
Well it worked so well
I have to say Gizmo was by far the most adorable little thing ever I wanted one when I first saw this movie with my mom
10:31 And when Randall was going over the water rule you can hear Gizmo say 'Glug-glug' and then 'no no no no no'
This was directed by Joe Dante who is the Director of the horror classic The Howling (1981) and the horror-comedy Piranha (1978)
13:13
They did that by putting Fur on Balloons and then slowly blowing them up with straws from underneath.