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Joe Dante

Joe Dante

Directing·1946·139 films

Joseph James Dante Jr. (born November 28, 1946) is an American filmmaker, producer, editor and actor. His films—notably Gremlins (1984) alongside its sequel, Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)—often mix the 1950s-style B movie genre with 1960s radicalism and cartoon comedy.…

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As Director

Gremlins
Gremlins (1984)
Gremlins 2: The New Batch
Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)
Small Soldiers
Small Soldiers (1998)
Looney Tunes: Back in Action
Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003)
Innerspace
Innerspace (1987)
The 'Burbs
The 'Burbs (1989)
The Howling
The Howling (1981)
Twilight Zone: The Movie
Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983)
The Hole
The Hole (2009)
Piranha
Piranha (1978)
Burying the Ex
Burying the Ex (2014)
Explorers
Explorers (1985)
Matinee
Matinee (1993)
Nightmare Cinema
Nightmare Cinema (2018)
Amazon Women on the Moon
Amazon Women on the Moon (1987)
The Screwfly Solution
The Screwfly Solution (2006)
Trapped Ashes
Trapped Ashes (2006)
The Second Civil War
The Second Civil War (1997)
Homecoming
Homecoming (2005)
Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood Boulevard (1976)
The Movie Orgy
The Movie Orgy (1968)
Splatter
Splatter (2009)
Runaway Daughters
Runaway Daughters (1994)
The Warlord: Battle for the Galaxy
The Warlord: Battle for the Galaxy (1996)
Haunted Lighthouse 4-D
Haunted Lighthouse 4-D (2003)
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror - Preshow
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror - Preshow (1994)
Picture Windows: Lightning
Picture Windows: Lightning (1995)
The Man with Kaleidoscope Eyes
The Man with Kaleidoscope Eyes

As Actor

Gremlins
Gremlins (1984)Mogwai / Gremlins (voice) (uncredited)
Gremlins 2: The New Batch
Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)Grandpa Fred Director (uncredited)
Beverly Hills Cop III
Beverly Hills Cop III (1994)Jailer
Innerspace
Innerspace (1987)Vectorscope Employee (uncredited)
Piranha
Piranha (1978)Scuba Diver #2 (uncredited)
Sleepwalkers
Sleepwalkers (1992)Lab Assistant
Oscar
Oscar (1991)Face on the Cutting Room Floor
Tales of Halloween
Tales of Halloween (2015)Prof. Milo Gottlieb
The Silence of the Hams
The Silence of the Hams (1994)Dying Man
Eating Raoul
Eating Raoul (1982)Busboy (uncredited)
The Butterfly Room
The Butterfly Room (2012)Cab Driver
Cannonball
Cannonball (1976)Kid
Sad Hill Unearthed
Sad Hill Unearthed (2018)Self - Filmmaker
The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing
The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing (2004)Self
In Search of Darkness
In Search of Darkness (2019)Self
Corman's World
Corman's World (2011)Self - Filmmaker
Nightmares in Red, White and Blue
Nightmares in Red, White and Blue (2009)Self
American Grindhouse
American Grindhouse (2011)Himself
Love, Antosha
Love, Antosha (2019)Self
Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies
Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies (2020)Self
Machete Maidens Unleashed!
Machete Maidens Unleashed! (2010)Self
In Search of Darkness: Part II
In Search of Darkness: Part II (2020)Self
Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood Boulevard (1976)Party Waiter (uncredited)
Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan
Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan (2012)Self
24×36
24×36 (2016)Self
Blast Vegas
Blast Vegas (2013)Salesman #2
In Search of Tomorrow
In Search of Tomorrow (2022)Self - Interviewee
Creature Designers: The Frankenstein Complex
Creature Designers: The Frankenstein Complex (2015)Self
In Search of Darkness: Part III
In Search of Darkness: Part III (2022)Self
That Guy Dick Miller
That Guy Dick Miller (2014)Self
The Creeps
The Creeps (2025)Uncle John
King Cohen: The Wild World of Filmmaker Larry Cohen
King Cohen: The Wild World of Filmmaker Larry Cohen (2018)Self
Shadows in the Dark: The Val Lewton Legacy
Shadows in the Dark: The Val Lewton Legacy (2005)
The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee
The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee (2024)Self
Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story
Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story (2007)Self
Flesh and Blood: The Hammer Heritage of Horror
Flesh and Blood: The Hammer Heritage of Horror (1994)Self
She's Alive! Creating 'The Bride of Frankenstein'
She's Alive! Creating 'The Bride of Frankenstein' (1999)Self / Host
Tales of the Uncanny
Tales of the Uncanny (2020)Self
Cinerama Adventure
Cinerama Adventure (2002)Self
A Fuller Life
A Fuller Life (2013)Self - Reader (segment "Sicily Black and Blue")
Flying Saucers Over Hollywood: The 'Plan 9' Companion
Flying Saucers Over Hollywood: The 'Plan 9' Companion (1992)Himself
Making Apes: The Artists Who Changed Film
Making Apes: The Artists Who Changed Film (2019)Self
Hammer Horror: The Warner Bros. Years
Hammer Horror: The Warner Bros. Years (2018)Self
Razzennest
Razzennest (2022)Joe Dante
Hollywood Rated 'R'
Hollywood Rated 'R' (1997)Self
Phil Tippett: Mad Dreams and Monsters
Phil Tippett: Mad Dreams and Monsters (2019)Self
42nd Street Memories: The Rise and Fall of America's Most Notorious Street
42nd Street Memories: The Rise and Fall of America's Most Notorious Street (2015)Self
Out of Print
Out of Print (2014)Self
The Man Who Saw Frankenstein Cry
The Man Who Saw Frankenstein Cry (2010)Self
Chuck Jones: Extremes and In-Betweens - A Life in Animation
Chuck Jones: Extremes and In-Betweens - A Life in Animation (2000)Self
Mario Bava: Maestro of the Macabre
Mario Bava: Maestro of the Macabre (2000)Self
Eaten Alive! The Rise and Fall of the Italian Cannibal Film
Eaten Alive! The Rise and Fall of the Italian Cannibal Film (2015)
A Night at the Movies: Merry Christmas!
A Night at the Movies: Merry Christmas! (2011)Self - Interviewee
Soylent Green and Red Alert: When Reality Catches Up with Fiction
Soylent Green and Red Alert: When Reality Catches Up with Fiction (2022)Self
Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster
Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster (2021)Self
Roger Corman: Hollywood's Wild Angel
Roger Corman: Hollywood's Wild Angel (1978)Self
Edgar G. Ulmer: The Man Off-Screen
Edgar G. Ulmer: The Man Off-Screen (2004)Self
Trailer War
Trailer War (2012)Himself
Time Warp Vol. 3: Comedy and Camp
Time Warp Vol. 3: Comedy and Camp (2020)Host
Time Warp Vol. 1: Midnight Madness
Time Warp Vol. 1: Midnight Madness (2020)Host
Hammer: Heroes, Legends and Monsters
Hammer: Heroes, Legends and Monsters (2024)Self
Time Warp Vol. 2: Horror and Sci-Fi
Time Warp Vol. 2: Horror and Sci-Fi (2020)Host
Fantastic Flesh: The Art of Make-Up EFX
Fantastic Flesh: The Art of Make-Up EFX (2008)Self
Karloff: The Gentle Monster
Karloff: The Gentle Monster (2006)Self
Lugosi: The Dark Prince
Lugosi: The Dark Prince (2006)Self
Cute. Clever. Mischievous. Intelligent. Dangerous: Making Gremlins
Cute. Clever. Mischievous. Intelligent. Dangerous: Making Gremlins (2014)Self
It Conquered Hollywood! The Story of American International Pictures
It Conquered Hollywood! The Story of American International Pictures (2001)Self
Long Live the King
Long Live the King (2016)himself
The Flesh and the Fury: X-posing Twins of Evil
The Flesh and the Fury: X-posing Twins of Evil (2012)
The Magical World of Chuck Jones
The Magical World of Chuck Jones (1992)Self
Bugs Bunny's 80th What's Up, Doc-umentary!
Bugs Bunny's 80th What's Up, Doc-umentary! (2020)Self (archive footage)
Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet
Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet (2006)Self
A Century of Cinema
A Century of Cinema (1994)Self
The Perfect Scary Movie
The Perfect Scary Movie (2005)Self
From Gizmo to Gremlins: Creating the Creatures
From Gizmo to Gremlins: Creating the Creatures (2014)Self
The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal
The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal (1986)Self
Ray Harryhausen: The Early Years Collection
Ray Harryhausen: The Early Years Collection (2005)Self
Famous Monster: Forrest J Ackerman
Famous Monster: Forrest J Ackerman (2007)Self
Clawing! A Journey Through the Spanish Horror
Clawing! A Journey Through the Spanish Horror (2014)Self - Director
Mario Bava: Operazione paura
Mario Bava: Operazione paura (2004)Self / Host
Ishiro Honda: Memoirs of a Film Director
Ishiro Honda: Memoirs of a Film Director (2024)Himself
The Orson Welles Show
The Orson Welles Show (1979)Member of Studio Audience
Monsterland
Monsterland (2009)Self
Ray Harryhausen: Working with Dinosaurs
Ray Harryhausen: Working with Dinosaurs (1999)Self
Direct Your Own Damn Movie!
Direct Your Own Damn Movie! (2009)Self
RKO Production 601: The Making of “Kong, the Eighth Wonder of the World”
RKO Production 601: The Making of “Kong, the Eighth Wonder of the World” (2008)Self
Sharksploitation
Sharksploitation (2024)Self
Hitchcocked!
Hitchcocked! (2006)Self
Pure in Heart: The Life and Legacy of Lon Chaney, Jr.
Pure in Heart: The Life and Legacy of Lon Chaney, Jr. (2010)Self
The Return of the Living Dead: The Decade of Darkness
The Return of the Living Dead: The Decade of Darkness (2007)Self
Unleashing the Beast: Making ‘The Howling’
Unleashing the Beast: Making ‘The Howling’ (2003)
Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon
Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon (2006)Self
The Vincent Price Legacy
The Vincent Price Legacy (2025)Himself
The Wolf Man: From Ancient Curse to Modern Myth
The Wolf Man: From Ancient Curse to Modern Myth (2010)Self
Roger Corman, the Pope of Pop Cinema
Roger Corman, the Pope of Pop Cinema (2021)Self
Blood, Guts and Sunshine: The History of Horror Made in Florida
Blood, Guts and Sunshine: The History of Horror Made in Florida (2021)Self [archival]
Making a Monster Movie: Inside 'the Howling'
Making a Monster Movie: Inside 'the Howling' (1981)Self
Making The Earth Stand Still
Making The Earth Stand Still (2001)Self
Welcome to Werewolfland
Welcome to Werewolfland (2004)
The Hatching of Spider Baby
The Hatching of Spider Baby (2007)Himself
Tidal Wave
Tidal Wave (1975)
House of Wax: Unlike Anything You've Seen Before!
House of Wax: Unlike Anything You've Seen Before! (2013)Self
Dernsie: The Amazing Life of Bruce Dern
Dernsie: The Amazing Life of Bruce Dern (2026)
Mary Woronov: Cult Queen
Mary Woronov: Cult QueenSelf
We Come In Pieces: The Rebirth of the Horror Anthology Film
We Come In Pieces: The Rebirth of the Horror Anthology Film (2014)Self
Boorman and the Devil
Boorman and the Devil (2025)Self
Mark of The Beast: The Legacy of the Universal Werewolf
Mark of The Beast: The Legacy of the Universal Werewolf (2019)Self
Unspeakable Horrors: The Plan 9 Conspiracy
Unspeakable Horrors: The Plan 9 Conspiracy (2016)Himself
Fulci in the House: The Italian Master of Splatter
Fulci in the House: The Italian Master of Splatter (2009)Self
The Birds: Hitchcock's Monster Movie
The Birds: Hitchcock's Monster Movie (2012)Self
Monstres, l'ennemi de l'intérieur
Monstres, l'ennemi de l'intérieur (2017)Self
Produce Your Own Damn Movie!
Produce Your Own Damn Movie! (2011)Self
RKO, A Story made in Hollywood
RKO, A Story made in Hollywood (2010)Himself
Shrinkage: The Making of Innerspace
Shrinkage: The Making of Innerspace (2026)Self

As Writer

Rock 'n' Roll High School
Rock 'n' Roll High School (1979)
Rock 'n' Roll High School Forever
Rock 'n' Roll High School Forever (1991)