Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)

Gremlins 2: The New Batch throws the chaotic, mischievous creatures back into the spotlight — this time inside Clamp Tower, a flashy New York City skyscraper owned by media mogul Daniel Clamp. Billy and Kate, now living in the city, must contend with Gizmo being captured for genetic experiments; a little water, some cloning, and suddenly an even stranger, smarter, and weirder brood of gremlins runs loose. Expect inventive new gremlin breeds (including a scheming Brain Gremlin), escalating slapstick mayhem, and a string of set pieces that blend horror imagery with broad comedy and sharp satire of corporate media and sequels. If you watch it, you’ll get rapid-fire gags, self-aware fourth-wall humor, and over-the-top practical effects and puppetry — one moment you’ll be laughing at wildly absurd antics, the next recoiling at the film’s cartoony but nasty destruction. It’s zanier and more meta than the original Gremlins: part monster movie, part parody, full of sight gags, dark jokes, and nonstop chaos. Good for viewers who enjoy madcap special-effects creature features with a satirical bite.

Actors: Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Howie Mandel

Directors: Joe Dante, Chuck Jones

Runtime: 106 min

Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Horror

5.6 /10 69 /100 6.4 /10 6.3 /10