A True Failure, This 90s Fantasy Film is Considered 'An Absolute Masterpiece' by Tarantino

Long considered a failed sequel, this 90s fantasy film has a notable admirer. Quentin Tarantino places it among his favorite works and believes it deserves to be rediscovered…

While most cinephiles primarily remember the first Gremlins, its sequel released in 1990 has largely faded into obscurity. This is a sentiment that Quentin Tarantino does not share at all. The director of Pulp Fiction even considers this second installment a true success, to the point of making it one of his favorite films.

Boundless Admiration for Gremlins 2

A great cinema enthusiast, Quentin Tarantino regularly reveals the works that have impacted him, even defending films that the general public has sometimes overlooked. After sharing his views on Unbreakable by M. Night Shyamalan and Dunkirk by Christopher Nolan, he focused, in his podcast The Video Archives, on Gremlins 2: The New Batch. Alongside his loyal collaborator Roger Avary, he did not hide his enthusiasm.

In his eyes, Joe Dante's feature film is far superior to the reputation that clings to it. He states:

“I think Gremlins 2: The New Batch is a f�king masterpiece, it’s an absolute masterpiece. It’s the best transformation of a Mad Magazine into a film.”

By mentioning Mad Magazine, Tarantino refers to the famous American satirical magazine, known for its absurd, irreverent, and offbeat humor, which he believes the film perfectly captures.

A Sequel That Never Matched the Phenomenon of the First Film

Despite the expectations placed on it, Gremlins 2 did not achieve the commercial triumph of its predecessor. Produced for about 50 million dollars, it only grossed 42 million worldwide, a result considered disappointing.

In France, however, the reception was warmer. The film notably holds a rating of 3.5 out of 5 on our site. However, this was not enough to grant it the cult status of the first Gremlins.

This new adventure finds Billy and Kate facing a new invasion of uncontrollable creatures, this time in a massive New York skyscraper. The genetic laboratories located in the building give rise to an array of increasingly extravagant Gremlins: a specimen capable of speech, a female Gremlin, a spider Gremlin, and even a plant Gremlin, in a deliberately outrageous escalation that adds to the film's charm.

Warner Bros.

Tarantino is Also a Fan of the Novel Adaptation of the Film

The director does not limit his admiration to the feature film. In the same episode of his podcast, he also expresses great appreciation for the novelization of Gremlins 2, particularly for one of its most wacky ideas.

Laughing, he recounts: “They also did something like that in the film's novel adaptation. In the novel, the Gremlins attack the novelist. They come, they attack him, snatch the novel from his hands, lock him in a closet, and the leader of the Gremlins continues his work to write a three-page manifesto until the author escapes, chases the Gremlin, and finishes his book.”

An anecdote that perfectly illustrates the meta and completely off-the-wall humor that Quentin Tarantino loves in this universe.

Gremlins 2: The New Batch is currently available on HBO Max, as well as on VOD.