Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)
70%RT Audience Score: 57%
Awards & Nominations: 6 nominations
Gremlins 2 trades the spiky thrills of its predecessor for looney satire, yielding a succession of sporadically clever gags that add some flavor to a recycled plot
Gremlins 2: The New Batch” is a wild ride that will have you laughing and cringing at the same time. It’s like a live-action cartoon that takes place in the chaotic streets of New York City. Sure, the plot may be lacking, but who needs a plot when you have mischievous little creatures wreaking havoc everywhere? This sequel is definitely better than the original, and it’s a must-watch for anyone who loves a good horror-comedy. Just make sure to keep some snacks nearby, because you never know when a gremlin might pop out of nowhere and steal them.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
Warner Bros.
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
101 Park Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
PG-13
Year of Release
1990
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 46m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 15, 1990 Original
Release Date (Streaming): May 12, 1990
Genre(s)
Fantasy/Comedy
Keyword(s)
starring Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, John Glover, Robert Prosky, Robert Picardo, Christopher Lee, directed by Joe Dante, written by Charles S Haas, Fantasy, Comedy, PG-13, Michael Finnell, $40.5M, reviewed by Dave Kehr, John Hartl, Nigel Andrews, Gene Siskel, David Robinson, Michael Wilmington, Tim Brayton, Kiko Vega, Nestor Hidalgo, Tom Long, Roger Hurlburt, Gremlins, Gizmo, New York City, skyscraper, impish legion, reptilian pals, Billy Peltzer, Kate Beringer, Daniel Clamp, Doctor Catheter, Grandpa Fred, Forster, box office, Warner Bros., surround sound, stereo, magical collectibles store, satire, looney, gags, plot, sequel, Mel Brooks, spider Gremlin, Rick Baker, Lincoln’s Birthday story, Christmas story, horror movies, Netflix series, TV shows, MCU movies, Fandango
Worldwide gross: $41,482,207
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $95,632,639
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,038
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 10,428,859
US/Canada gross: $41,482,207
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $95,632,639
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 772
US/Canada opening weekend: $9,702,804
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $22,368,741
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 600
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $50,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $115,269,468
Production budget ranking: 329
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $62,072,609
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$81,709,438
ROI to date (est.): -46%
ROI ranking: 1,664
Phoebe Cates – Kate Beringer
John Glover – Daniel Clamp
Robert Prosky – Grandpa Fred
Robert Picardo – Forster
Christopher Lee – Doctor Catheter
Director – Joe Dante
Producer – Michael Finnell
Writer – Charles S. Haas
Director(s)
Joe Dante
Writer(s)
Charles S. Haas
Producer(s)
Michael Finnell
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
6 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (65) | Top Critics (19) | Fresh (46) | Rotten (19)
‘Gremlins 2” is sloppy and inconsistent, just as it needs to be — its bumptious, adolescent humor would wilt away if it were subjected to craftsmanship and mature reflection.
June 23, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4
Dave Kehr
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
What lends it novelty and makes it such wicked fun is the change of locale from a Capra-esque small town to rude, hectic New York City.
June 23, 2020
John Hartl
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
Gremlins 2 The New Batch has so much comic energy that we overlook its lack of anything worth calling a plot.
June 23, 2020
Nigel Andrews
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
A busy but boring sequel that spends most of its energy piling topical parody on top of product plug on top of gooey horror special effect.
June 23, 2020 | Rating: 2/4
Gene Siskel
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
Gremlins 2: The New Batch is a rarity: a sequel (again directed by Joe Dante) better than the original.
June 23, 2020
David Robinson
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
It’s an infernally funny mass entertainment: the Dream Machine snapping at its own tail.
June 22, 2020
Michael Wilmington
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
The story is essentially a duplication of the original film.
September 14, 2020 | Rating: 5/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
Many filmmakers throughout the years have tried to figure out how to make a live-action cartoon; Joe Dante, with this film, is the only man that got it 100% right.
August 18, 2020 | Rating: 5/5
Tim Brayton
Alternate Ending
An acidic look at U.S. culture. [Full Review in Spanish]
June 23, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/5
Kiko Vega
Espinof
A magnificent and unapologetically fun film. [Full Review in Spanish]
June 23, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Nestor Hidalgo
Sensacine
It’s… a lot of fun considering the fact it is also based on the antics of a bunch of mean little puppets.
June 23, 2020
Tom Long
Santa Cruz Sentinel
The antics of the Gremlins in this sequel are truly amazing, from their sudden appearances and jump-out tactics, to nasty, premeditated shenanigans and hand-to-hand confrontations with humans.
June 23, 2020
Roger Hurlburt
South Florida Sun-Sentinel…
Plot
Having moved to New York City after the Kingston Falls complete pandemonium in Gremlins (1984), the young couple of Billy and Kate now works for the money-grubbing tech-mogul, Daniel Clamp, in his colossal Clamp Tower high-rise. But, before long, Gizmo, the orphaned Mogwai, falls prey to the evil scientist, Doctor Catheter, and once more, a splash of water spawns hordes of the mischievous Gremlins that immediately start doing what they do best: wreaking havoc. Is there an escape from the onslaught of the new batch?
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no specific goofy or odd comment about the film in the Fresh Kernels summary, but one of the cast members is Christopher Lee, who plays Doctor Catheter.
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