If you were a kid in the mid-eighties, you probably remember the trauma. Or the joy. Honestly, it was usually both. When people ask when was the gremlins made, they’re usually looking for a date, but the real answer is about a moment in time when Hollywood got weird.
Gremlins was released on June 8, 1984.
That’s the same day Ghostbusters hit theaters. Think about that for a second. Two of the most iconic, genre-bending films of all time dropped on the exact same Friday. Talk about a box office showdown. But while Bill Murray was catching ghosts, Joe Dante was busy unleashing a horde of green monsters on a snowy, idyllic town called Kingston Falls.
The Weird Timeline of How Gremlins Came to Be
The movie didn't just pop out of nowhere. It actually started as a spec script by Chris Columbus. He was living in a loft in New York at the time, and he’s gone on record saying the sound of mice scurrying in the walls at night inspired the creepy-crawly vibe of the creatures.
Steven Spielberg bought the script.
He didn't direct it, though. He handed the keys to Joe Dante, who had already proven he could handle "scary-funny" with The Howling. Production took place throughout 1983. It wasn't an easy shoot. You have to remember, this was long before CGI. Every single Mogwai and Gremlin was a physical puppet.
The technology was basically a nightmare. The puppets were so expensive and temperamental that the cast and crew had to have their cars searched at the end of the day to make sure nobody was stealing the hardware.
Why the Summer Release Date Matters
It’s actually kinda strange that a movie set at Christmas was released in June. That’s a classic 1980s studio move. Warner Bros. knew they had a hit, and they didn't want to wait until December. They wanted to capture that summer blockbuster energy.
The contrast was jarring. You’re sitting in a hot theater in June, watching Billy Peltzer (Zach Galligan) deal with snow and holiday lights. But it worked. The film was a massive success, grossing over $150 million in its initial run.
When Was the Gremlins Made and Why Did It Ruin the PG Rating?
If there’s one thing people remember besides the "don't feed them after midnight" rule, it's the microwave scene.
In 1984, the PG-13 rating didn't exist. You either had G, PG, or R. Gremlins was rated PG. Parents took their five-year-olds to see what they thought was a cute movie about a fuzzy pet named Gizmo. Instead, they saw a Gremlin explode in a microwave and another get shredded in a kitchen blender.
The backlash was intense.
Parents were furious. Steven Spielberg, who also had Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom out at the same time (another "PG" movie with a lot of violence), suggested to the MPAA that there needed to be a middle ground. Because of the chaos caused by the release of Gremlins in June '84, the PG-13 rating was born just a few months later. Red Dawn was the first film to actually carry the new tag, but Gremlins was the catalyst.
The Puppet Problem and Practical Magic
Let's get into the weeds of the "making of" aspect. Chris Walas was the genius behind the creature effects. This guy basically lived on set, fixing wires and motors.
The puppets were incredibly delicate.
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There's a famous story about the scene where Gizmo is being pelted with darts. The puppets were so intricate and expensive that the crew was genuinely stressed every time one had to "take a hit." Sometimes, the electronics would pick up radio signals from local stations, and the Gremlins would start twitching on their own. It was chaotic.
Howlingly funny, but chaotic.
- The "Mogwai" name: It's actually derived from the Cantonese word for "devil" or "monster."
- The rules: 1. No bright light. 2. Don't get them wet. 3. Never, ever feed them after midnight.
- The "Midnight" loophole: Everyone always asks—when does it stop being "after midnight"? Is it 6:00 AM? 8:00 AM? The movie never really explains it, and Joe Dante has basically said, "Don't overthink it."
Kingston Falls or Hill Valley?
If the town in Gremlins looks familiar, that’s because it is. Most of the movie was filmed on the backlot at Universal Studios. Specifically, it was shot on "Courthouse Square."
Does that name ring a bell?
It’s the same set they used for Back to the Future a year later. The town square where the Gremlins cause mayhem is the exact same place where Marty McFly would eventually see the clock tower get struck by lightning. Warner Bros. basically rented the space from Universal. This is why the movie has that perfect, quintessential "Anytown, USA" feel. It’s a literal movie set designed to look like your childhood dreams.
The Sequel and the Legacy
By the time Gremlins 2: The New Batch was made in 1990, the world had changed. The sequel is way more satirical. It leans into the absurdity. But for many, the 1984 original remains the gold standard of horror-comedy.
When you look at the landscape of film today, you see its fingerprints everywhere. From Stranger Things to Five Nights at Freddy's, that blend of "cute" and "terrifying" started right here in the summer of '84.
The movie wasn't just "made"; it was forged in a period of Hollywood history where directors were allowed to be dark, weird, and risky with big-budget movies. We don't really see that as much anymore. Everything is a bit more polished now, a bit safer. Gremlins feels dangerous. It feels like something you shouldn't be watching, even though it's technically a family movie.
What to Do if You’re Re-watching in 2026
If you're planning a nostalgia night, don't just watch the movie. Look for the cameos. Steven Spielberg is actually in the movie—look for him in a motorized wheelchair at the science fair. Jerry Goldsmith, the legendary composer who wrote the score, also makes an appearance.
- Check the physical media: If you can find the 4K restoration, do it. The practical effects look incredible in high definition, far better than some of the CGI we see in modern blockbusters.
- Contextualize the horror: Remember that this was a PG movie. Watch it through the lens of a parent in 1984 who had no idea what they were walking into.
- The Merch: Gizmo was one of the first "must-have" movie toys. The marketing machine behind the 1984 release was massive, paving the way for how we sell movies today.
The reality is that when was the gremlins made is a question that leads to the heart of 1980s pop culture. It wasn't just a production date; it was the birth of a new kind of storytelling that respected kids enough to scare them a little.
If you want to dive deeper into the technical side, look up Chris Walas's interviews about the animatronics. The sheer amount of hydraulic fluid and cable-controlled puppetry is a lost art form. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the best way to make a movie is the hard way.
Actionable Steps for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking to engage with the franchise today, start by tracking down the original shooting script. It's much darker than the final film. In the original draft, the Gremlins actually eat Billy's mom and decapitate his dog. Spielberg was the one who suggested toning it down to make it more "palatable" for a wider audience.
Also, keep an eye on the animated prequel series, Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai. It provides a lot of the lore that the 1984 film left out, especially regarding where Gizmo actually came from and the history of the shop in Chinatown.
Finally, if you're a prop enthusiast, the "Hero" Gizmo puppets occasionally show up at high-end auctions. Just be prepared to spend more than you would on a real car. The craftsmanship from 1984 still holds up, even decades after the cameras stopped rolling.