If you’re a fan of “Gremlins,” you’ll be thrilled to uncover a hidden gem that most likely slipped past you! Get ready to zoom in and keep your eyes peeled!
Directed by Joe Dante and produced by Steven Spielberg in 1984, “Gremlins” stands as a quintessential Christmas horror-comedy! The plot introduces us to Rand Peltzer who gifts his son Billy a peculiar pet: a mogwai named Gizmo. The previous owner of Gizmo had strict instructions: do not expose it to light, avoid water at all costs, and never feed it after midnight… The rest, as they say, is mayhem!
A Well-Hidden Detail!
As a “Gremlins” enthusiast, you might have noticed several subtle nods throughout the film, including an unexpected cameo by Steven Spielberg which we mentioned last February 12th. However, there’s a particular reference that even the most devoted fan might have missed, and we’re excited to reveal it to you!
To find this cleverly hidden easter egg, there’s no need to scrutinize the entire film. Simply take a closer look at the iconic movie poster featuring Billy’s hands holding the box that conceals Gizmo.
The poster was created by illustrator John Alvin, who is also behind the famous posters of “Blade Runner,” “The Goonies,” “Batman Returns,” and “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” as well as anniversary posters for the “Star Wars” saga. Among his most memorable works is the “E.T.” poster depicting Elliott’s finger touching that of the extraterrestrial against a starry backdrop.
Zoom, Zoom, and More Zoom
It’s in this hidden detail from Steven Spielberg’s own film “E.T.,” produced by his company Amblin, that we find our easter egg. Spielberg, who produced “Gremlins” for his friend Joe Dante, asked John Alvin to include a subtle nod to “E.T.” on the button of Billy’s jeans on the poster.
If you zoom in, you can spot the silhouette of Elliott and his alien friend on a bicycle.
This is clearly a homage to one of the most iconic scenes in “E.T.,” where Elliott and the alien soar across the moon on a bicycle. It also references the logo of Spielberg’s production company, Amblin Entertainment, which features the two characters on the bike.
Joe Dante and Spielberg enjoyed sprinkling other “E.T.” references throughout “Gremlins.” For instance, one creature tears out a phone line and utters “phone home,” echoing the famous line from Spielberg’s film. In another scene set in a toy store, an E.T. plush toy is hidden among others.
We invite you to discover these subtle details in the film, available on the Max platform.
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A passionate journalist, Iris Lennox covers social and cultural news across the U.S.