36 Fascinating Behind the Scenes Photographs From the Making of the Film “Gremlins” (1984)

The making of Gremlins (1984), directed by Joe Dante and produced by Steven Spielberg, is filled with fascinating behind the scenes details that showcase the creativity, innovation, and occasional chaos that brought the mischievous creatures to life.

Since CGI was still in its infancy in 1984, all of the Gremlins and Mogwai were brought to life using practical effects, primarily animatronics and puppetry. Chris Walas and his team created the puppets. Each Gremlin cost between $30,000–$40,000, and some scenes used dozens of them. The Mogwai (like Gizmo) were particularly difficult to operate due to their small size, which required extremely fine-tuned mechanics.

The movie was filmed on the Universal Studios backlot, and the town square is the same used in Back to the Future. The kitchen scene, where Gremlins are microwaved and pureed, was challenging to shoot due to the intricate coordination of puppet effects and pyrotechnics.

Gremlins walks a fine line between comedy and horror. Early drafts were much darker, including scenes like the Gremlins eating Billy’s dog and decapitating his mother. Spielberg and the studio toned it down to make it more broadly appealing (and PG-rated). The film’s violence, alongside Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, contributed to the creation of the PG-13 rating later in 1984.

Gremlins became a surprise hit and launched a massive wave of merchandising, especially of Gizmo plush toys. The movie’s behind-the-scenes success is a testament to practical effects ingenuity during the 1980s and has since become a cult classic.