Gremlins Opens

Setting the scene

Steven Spielberg's Amblin produced family-adjacent genre films in the 1980s, and Joe Dante directed Piranha before blending horror and comedy. Chris Columbus wrote Gremlins as a dark Christmas fairy tale about rules broken with cute creatures that multiply. The film arrived the same summer as Ghostbusters, sharing a June 8 release date.

What happened

Gremlins opened on June 8, 1984, starring Zach Galligan as Billy Peltzer, who receives a mogwai named Gizmo from his father in Kingston Falls. Feeding after midnight and water exposure spawn reptilian gremlins who trash the town in snow machines and movie theaters. Phoebe Cates's monologue about why she hates Christmas became infamous.

Why it still matters

The film's PG rating controversy helped push Hollywood to create the PG-13 rating alongside Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. It spawned sequels and merchandise while warning against cute pets. Memorable detail: Gizmo was puppeteered with complex animatronics, and the film's kitchen massacre scene shocked parents expecting E.T.-level gentleness.

Background

The horror-comedy helped invent the edgier summer 'PG-13' tone.