Director
Joe Dante
A quirky, nostalgia-soaked adventure follows a mischievous group of creatures unleashed upon a small town, where chaos and comedy collide in a battle between innocence and destruction.
- Also:
- Producer
Known for
Ranked by community engagement + sustained interest across this person's catalogued credits.
Dernsie: The Amazing Life of Bruce Dern(2026)
Self
Phil Tippett: Mad Dreams and Monsters(2019)
Self
Ishiro Honda: Memoirs of a Film Director(2025)
Self
Creature Designers - The Frankenstein Complex(2015)
Self
Eaten Alive! The Rise and Fall of the Italian Cannibal Film(2015)
Actor
42nd Street Memories: The Rise and Fall of America's Most Notorious Street(2015)
Self - Director
Biography
Joe Dante is an American film director known for blending 1950s-style B movies with 1960s radicalism and cartoon comedy. Among his most notable works are *Gremlins* (1984) and its sequel *Gremlins 2: The New Batch* (1990), which showcase his signature style of combining horror, humor, and pop culture references. His films often reflect a nostalgic yet subversive take on classic genre conventions.
Filmography · 69 of 69
Director
19 creditsGremlins (The Rough Cut)(2026)
Director
Film
Nightmare Cinema(2018)
Director
Film
Burying the Ex(2014)
Director
Film
The Hole(2009)
Director
Film
Trapped Ashes(2006)
Director
Film
Looney Tunes: Back in Action(2003)
Director
Film
Small Soldiers(1998)
Director
Film
Matinee(1993)
Director
Film
Gremlins 2: The New Batch(1990)
Director
Film
The 'Burbs(1989)
Director
Film
Amazon Women on the Moon(1987)
Director
Film
Innerspace(1987)
Director
Film
Explorers(1985)
Director
Film
Gremlins(1984)
Director
Film
Twilight Zone: The Movie(1983)
Director
Film
The Howling(1981)
Director
Film
Piranha(1978)
Director
Film
Hollywood Boulevard(1976)
Director
Film
The Movie Orgy(1968)
Director
Film
Writer
1 credit
Actor
47 creditsDernsie: The Amazing Life of Bruce Dern(2026)
Self
FilmWalking with Animators(2026)
Self
FilmThe Thunder Road: Making 'Explorers'(2026)
Self - Interviewee
FilmIshiro Honda: Memoirs of a Film Director(2025)
Self
Film
The Creeps(2025)
Uncle John
Film
The Vincent Price Legacy(2025)
Self - Interviewee
Film
Boorman and the Devil(2025)
Themselves
Film
Hammer: Heroes, Legends and Monsters(2024)
Self - Film Director
Film
The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee(2024)
Self - Filmmaker & Friend of Christopher Lee
FilmSeverin Cellar(2023)
Self
TV
Sharksploitation(2023)
Self
Film
Blood, Guts and Sunshine(2022)
Actor
FilmRazzennest(2022)
Joe Dante
Film
Roger Corman: The Pope of Pop Cinema(2021)
Self
Film
Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies(2020)
Self - Interviewee
Film
Time Warp Vol. 1: Midnight Madness(2020)
Host
FilmPhil Tippett: Mad Dreams and Monsters(2019)
Self
FilmTime Warp: The Greatest Cult Films of All-Time, Parts 1-3(2019)
Self
TV
Love, Antosha(2019)
Self
Film
Making Apes: The Artists Who Changed Film(2019)
Self
Film
Hammer Horror: The Warner Bros Years(2018)
Self
Film
King Cohen(2017)
Self
Film
Sad Hill Unearthed(2017)
Self
FilmJamais sur vos écrans(2016)
Self
TV
Long Live the King(2016)
Self
Film
Unspeakable Horrors: The Plan 9 Conspiracy(2016)
Self
Film
24x36: A Movie About Movie Posters(2016)
Self
FilmCreature Designers - The Frankenstein Complex(2015)
Self
FilmEaten Alive! The Rise and Fall of the Italian Cannibal Film(2015)
Actor
Film42nd Street Memories: The Rise and Fall of America's Most Notorious Street(2015)
Self - Director
Film
Editor
2 credits
Memorable quotes
Browse all →No quotes logged for Joe Dante yet — add the first memorable line below.
Got a quote we’re missing?
Submit a line from any film, show, or game.
Edit history
Loading edit history…
Comments (0)
on Joe DanteNo comments yet. Be the first to share what you think.