14 Movies Directed by Joe Dante

Piranha

Piranha

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1978-08-03

Languages:

English

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

94 min

Rated:

R

IMDB Ratings:

5.9 (13102 Reviews)

Director:

Joe Dante

Cast:

Writer:

Richard Robinson (story)

John Sayles (story)

John Sayles (screenplay)

Fullplot:

When flesh-eating piranhas are accidently released into a summer resort's rivers, the guests become their next meal.

The Howling

The Howling

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1981-04-10

Languages:

English, Spanish

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

91 min

Rated:

R

IMDB Ratings:

6.6 (20975 Reviews)

Director:

Joe Dante

Genres:

Horror

Cast:

Writer:

Gary Brandner (novel)

John Sayles (screenplay)

Terence H. Winkless (screenplay)

Fullplot:

Television newswoman Karen White takes some much-needed time off after a traumatic incident with a serial killer. Hoping to conquer her inner demons, she heads for The Colony, a secluded retreat where the creepy residents are a little too eager to make her feel at home. Also, there seems to be a bizarre connection between Eddie Quist and this supposedly safe haven. And when, after nights of being tormented by unearthly cries, Karen ventures into the forest and makes a terrifying discovery. Now she must not only fight for her life... but for her very soul! Helped launch the short-lived werewolf craze in the early 1980s.

Twilight Zone: The Movie

Twilight Zone: The Movie

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1983-06-24

Languages:

English, French, German, Vietnamese

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

101 min

Rated:

PG

IMDB Ratings:

6.5 (23841 Reviews)

Genres:

HorrorSci-Fi

Cast:

Writer:

Rod Serling (television series The Twilight Zone)

John Landis (prologue)

John Landis (segment)

George Clayton Johnson (screenplay)

Richard Matheson (segment)

Melissa Mathison (segment)

Jerome Bixby (story)

Richard Matheson (segment)

Richard Matheson (short story "Nightmare at 20

000 Feet")

Richard Matheson (screenplay)

Fullplot:

Four directors collaborated to remake four episodes of the popular television series 'The Twilight Zone' for this movie. The episodes are updated slightly and in color (the television show was in black-and-white), but very true to the originals, where eerie and disturbing situations gradually spin out of control.

Gremlins

Gremlins

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1984-06-08

Languages:

English, Spanish

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

106 min

Rated:

PG

IMDB Ratings:

7.2 (125839 Reviews)

Director:

Joe Dante

Genres:

ComedyHorror

Fullplot:

Minature green monsters tear through the small town of Kingston Falls. Hijinks ensue as a mild-mannered bank teller releases these hideous loonies after gaining a new pet and violating two of three simple rules: No water (violated), no food after midnight (violated), and no bright light. Hilarious mayhem and destruction in a town straight out of Norman Rockwell. So, when your washing machine blows up or your TV goes on the fritz, before you call the repair man, turn on all the lights and look under all the beds. 'Cause you never can tell, there just might be a gremlin in your house.

Explorers

Explorers

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1985-07-12

Languages:

English, German

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

109 min

Rated:

PG

IMDB Ratings:

6.6 (13280 Reviews)

Director:

Joe Dante

Fullplot:

Ben Crandall, an alien-obsessed kid, dreams one night of a circuit board. Drawing out the circuit, he and his friends Wolfgang and Darren set it up, and discover they have been given the basis for a starship. Setting off in the ThunderRoad, as they name their ship, they find the aliens Ben hopes they would find... but are they what they seem?

Innerspace

Innerspace

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1987-07-01

Languages:

English

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

120 min

Rated:

PG

IMDB Ratings:

6.7 (38517 Reviews)

Director:

Joe Dante

Cast:

Writer:

Chip Proser (story)

Jeffrey Boam (screenplay)

Chip Proser (screenplay)

Fullplot:

Tuck Pendleton is a cocky pilot, who is taking part in a miniaturization experiment. When some bad guys break into the lab to steal the technology, one of the scientists takes a syringe which contains the miniaturized Tuck and vessel. Now in the vessel is part of the material needed to restore him. But the other part which is the lab is stolen. The scientist's shot but before dying he injects Tuck into Jack Putter, a hypochondriac, who feels that something is wrong with him all the time. When Tuck links himself to Jack's systems, he discovers that something happened. So they go back to the lab, and discover what happened. Now they are told that unless they retrieve the material that was stolen they won't be able to restore Tuck before his oxygen is depleted. Now the government rep decides that the only thing that matters that as long as they have the other half of the material, it is useless to the thieves. So Tuck eggs Jack to go out and find the thieves. They enlist the aid of Tuck's old girlfriend, Lydia, who is a reporter. And it's fortunate for them that she has a lead that pans out.

The 'Burbs

The 'Burbs

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1989-02-17

Languages:

English

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

101 min

Rated:

PG

IMDB Ratings:

6.8 (47459 Reviews)

Director:

Joe Dante

Fullplot:

This story takes place in a typical American neighborhood, when some new neighbors come to live in the house next to Ray Peterson. These new people are really strange; nobody has ever seen them, their house is a real mess, and during the night you can hear weird noises from their basement. The only thing they know is their name: Klopeks. One day Walter (an old man of the neighborhood) suddenly disappears and everyone starts to suspect the Klopeks...

Gremlins 2: The New Batch

Gremlins 2: The New Batch

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1990-06-15

Languages:

English

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

106 min

Rated:

PG-13

IMDB Ratings:

6.3 (60620 Reviews)

Director:

Joe Dante

Genres:

ComedyHorror

Cast:

Writer:

Chris Columbus (characters)

Charles S. Haas

Fullplot:

An army of malevolent little monsters take over a high-tech corporate skyscraper when a cute and intelligent exotic pet is exposed to water. The "Mogwai's" owner joins forces with the Trump-like head of the corporation to regain control.

Matinee

Matinee

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1993-01-29

Languages:

English

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

99 min

Rated:

PG

IMDB Ratings:

6.7 (6175 Reviews)

Director:

Joe Dante

Genres:

ComedyDrama

Cast:

Writer:

Jerico (story)

Charles S. Haas (story)

Charles S. Haas (screenplay)

Fullplot:

A showman introduces a small coastal town to a unique movie experience and capitalises on the Cuban Missile crisis hysteria with a kitschy horror extravaganza combining film effects, stage props and actors in rubber suits in this salute to the B-movie.

The Second Civil War

The Second Civil War

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1997-03-15

Languages:

English, Spanish

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

97 min

Rated:

R

IMDB Ratings:

6.9 (1393 Reviews)

Director:

Joe Dante

Genres:

ComedyDrama

Fullplot:

An interesting story about a future United States where immigration has gone too far. Through a series of mishaps and mayhem several state 'militias' assist Idaho in order to protect them from the LONG ARM of the Federal government.

Small Soldiers

Small Soldiers

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1998-07-10

Languages:

English

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

110 min

Rated:

PG-13

IMDB Ratings:

6.1 (72853 Reviews)

Director:

Joe Dante

Cast:

Writer:

Gavin Scott

Adam Rifkin

Ted Elliott

Terry Rossio

Fullplot:

15-year-old Alan Abernathy, the son of a toy store owner, tries out some new action figures: The Commando Elite vs. The Gorgonites. But three months ago, a toy company believes it is onto something when it employs the latest government military technology in a series of action figures, enabling them to talk. They underestimate the power of the special micro chips they've employed, however, as the two opposing sides of the toy line start thinking for themselves and engaging in real combat! The Commando Elite vow to wipe out the Gorgonites in a suburban neighborhood. Alan, his neighbor Christy Fimple, (on whom he has a massive crush) with the help of the kind Gorgonites, must protect his home and family from the Commandos.

Looney Tunes: Back in Action

Looney Tunes: Back in Action

Basic Info:

Released Date:

2003-11-14

Languages:

English

Countries:

Germany, USA

Runtime:

91 min

Rated:

PG

IMDB Ratings:

5.7 (21834 Reviews)

Director:

Joe Dante

Fullplot:

Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck are up to their feuding ways again. Tired of playing second fiddle to Bugs, Daffy has decided to leave the Studio for good. He is aided by Warner Bros.' humor impaired Vice President of Comedy, Kate Houghton, who releases him from his contract and instructs WB security guard/aspiring stunt man DJ Drake to capture and "escort" Daffy off the studio lot. Suddenly a sidekick without a hero, the duck decides to ally himself with DJ, whether he likes it or not. Consequently, Daffy is on the scene when DJ discovers that his famous movie star father was Damian Drake, known for playing suave international spies onscreen, is actually a suave international spy in real life--and has been kidnapped by the evil insane nerdy, prancing villain known as Mr. Chairman of the equally nefarious Acme Corporation. It seems that Damian knows the whereabouts of the mysterious magical and powerful Blue Monkey Diamond, and the Chairman will do anything to get his hands on it! With Daffy in tow, DJ hits the road in a desperate attempt to outrace the evil Acme stooges to the diamond and save the world from their evil clutches. Unbeknownst to the two neo-spies, they are also being followed by VP Kate and Bugs--the studio brass has decided that the rabbit needs a comic foil after all, and Kate's job is on the line if she can't get Daffy back to work ASAP.

The Hole

The Hole

Basic Info:

Released Date:

2010-06-11

Languages:

English

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

92 min

Rated:

PG-13

IMDB Ratings:

5.7 (17621 Reviews)

Director:

Joe Dante

Fullplot:

Susan and her sons Dane and Lucas Thompson move from Brooklyn to Bensonville, in the countryside. Dane is upset with the constant changes of address and the family has lived in many cities. Lucas and Dane befriend their next door neighbor, the gorgeous Julie and the brothers find a bottomless hole in the basement of their house locked with several padlocks. They take the locks off and sooner they are haunted by their darkest fears. Further, they believe that the hole might be a gateway to hell.

Burying the Ex

Burying the Ex

Basic Info:

Released Date:

2015-06-19

Languages:

English

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

89 min

Rated:

R

IMDB Ratings:

5.3 (3240 Reviews)

Director:

Joe Dante

Genres:

ComedyHorror

Fullplot:

When Max (Yelchin) learns that his new live-in girlfriend, Evelyn (Greene) is controlling and manipulative, he is afraid to end the relationship. However, fate occurs and Evelyn is killed in a freak accident. A couple months have passed and Max meets his dream girl, Olivia (Daddario). The new romance gets tricky when Evelyn comes back from the grave and insists on continuing their once relationship by all means.

Become a Movie Insider

Join our mailing list and get access to expert analysis, trivia, and recommendations that will elevate your movie-watching experience.

View our privacy policy.