Cast and Crew:  Joe Dante (Director); Chris Columbus (Writer); Frank Marshall and Steven Spielberg (Executive Producers); Jerry Goldsmith (Score); Keye Luke, Corey Feldman, Harry Carey Jr., Dick Miller, Phoebe Cates, Belinda Balaski, Judge Reinhold, Chuck Jones, Glynn Turman, Nicky Katt, Jonathan Banks, Frank Welker, Howie Mandel, Michael Winslow, “The Real” Don Steele, Marvin Miller, Robby the Robot, William Schallert, Kenneth Tobey

What It’s About:  Unsuccessful inventor Randall Peltzer (Hoyt Axton) buys his son Billy (Zach Galligan) what he thinks is the perfect Christmas present, a strange but adorable Mogwai who is soon dubbed Gizmo.  Mogwai are special creatures, however, and when Billy gradually breaks the rules of their care (do not get them wet, do not feed them after midnight, and keep them away from bright lights), mischievous and malevolent Gremlins are unleashed which threaten to destroy Kingston Falls and escape its boundaries.  Can Billy stop them before it’s too late?

Why Watch it Today?:  Gremlins takes place at the close of the holiday season, and it is one of the funniest satires of Hollywood Christmas stories, with enough monsters and scares to keep your inner 10-year-old glued to your seat.

Where to Get It:  Libraries and Netflix (rental)