---
name: "Joe Dante"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/joe-dante"
fi1m_id: "joe-dante"
imdb_id: "nm0001102"
tmdb_id: 4600
wikidata_id: "Q455279"
roles: ["Director"]
born: "28 November 1946"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 69
average_as: "director"
average_over: 3
updated: "2026-09-24T21:13:44.501080+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Joe Dante

## Identity

Joe Dante

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/joe-dante
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** joe-dante
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001102
- **TMDB ID:** 4600
- **Wikidata ID:** Q455279
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Dante, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q455279, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001102/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/4600

Director. Born 28 November 1946 in Morristown, New Jersey, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Director
- **Born:** 28 November 1946, Morristown, New Jersey, USA
- **Active:** 1983–2010
- **Also known as:** Joseph James Dante Jr.
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 4: 3 directing, 1 other
- **Average Fi1m score:** 69, as director, over 3 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 73 (3), 2010s 65 (1)
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Genres:** Fantasy 2, Horror 2, Action & Adventure 1, Comedy 1, Crime 1, Drama 1
- **Screen time:** 3 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $183m across 2 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Dante, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q455279, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001102/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/4600

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*Gremlins*](https://film.one/film/gremlins.md) (80)
- **Apple TV:** [*Hawaii Five-0*](https://film.one/tv/hawaii-five-0.md) (65)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*Twilight Zone: The Movie*](https://film.one/film/twilight-zone-the-movie.md) (63)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Joe Dante

> Joe Dante makes horror funny without making it harmless. We rate his appetite for bad behaviour, though *Gremlins* also exposes the cost: creatures so entertaining that the humans seem to have been given less thought.

The Christmas cheer in *Gremlins* (1984) is convincing enough that its destruction feels rude. Dante first lets us want the strange creature bought as a present, then makes its appeal part of the trouble. Chris Columbus’s script supplies rules that demand care, and Dante gives the early sweetness time to work. We laughed at the creatures’ destructiveness, then felt slightly ashamed: their pleasure had briefly mattered more to us than the people in their way.

That combination of horror and impudence was already taking shape in *Piranha* (1978) and *The Howling* (1981), both written by John Sayles. Dante draws on 1950s B-films and cartoon comedy, with respectable suburban America among his recurring targets. The breakthrough with *Gremlins* gave those tastes a particularly apt setting: a wholesome small town at Christmas. The setting matters because we have to believe in the town before we can enjoy watching the creatures disrupt it.

Production designer James H. Spencer makes the town reassuring enough for the creatures’ arrival to feel like an intrusion. John Hora’s cinematography keeps the warmth and the monsters in the same film; their cuteness and ugliness remain legible. Dante lets us look at them, and they are worth looking at before they start causing damage. The reservation is plain: several of the humans are less interesting than their attackers. We can enjoy the chaos while wishing the people had been written with equal care.

Dante turns to effects-heavy farce in *Innerspace* (1987), suburban suspicion in *The 'Burbs* (1989), and self-aware sequel comedy in *Gremlins 2: The New Batch* (1990). The sequel’s in-jokes can become self-indulgent, asking us to enjoy the references as much as Dante does. Dick Miller and Robert Picardo are recurring members of his acting company. *Matinee* (1993) brings his affection for B-films and cinema-going more directly into the story. Start with *Gremlins*, but only if everyone on the sofa agrees that a Christmas film need not be nice.

## Biography

Joe Dante (born Joseph James Dante Jr. on 28 November 1946) is an American film director, producer and editor. He was born in Morristown, New Jersey, and began his career in the 1970s as a trailer editor for Roger Corman’s New World Pictures after studying at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.

Dante made his feature directorial debut with *Hollywood Boulevard* (1976, co-directed with Allan Arkush). He is known for *Piranha* (1978), *The Howling* (1981), *Gremlins* (1984), *Explorers* (1985), *Innerspace* (1987), *The 'Burbs* (1989), *Gremlins 2: The New Batch* (1990), *Matinee* (1993), *Small Soldiers* (1998) and *Looney Tunes: Back in Action* (2003). He has also directed episodes of television series including *Amazing Stories*, *Masters of Horror*, *Hawaii Five-0* and *DC's Legends of Tomorrow*.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (4)

### Directed (3) — the average rests on these

- *Hawaii Five-0* (2010), Fi1m 65, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/hawaii-five-0.md)
- *Gremlins* (1984), Fi1m 80, as Mogwai / Gremlins (voice) (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/gremlins.md)
- *Twilight Zone: The Movie* (1983), Fi1m 63, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/twilight-zone-the-movie.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *Eating Raoul* (1982), Fi1m 75, as Busboy (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/eating-raoul.md)

## Complete filmography (81)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Dernsie: The Amazing Life of Bruce Dern* (2026), Actor
- *The Creeps* (2025), as Uncle John
- *Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai* (2023), series, Consulting Producer
- *Razzennest* (2022), as Joe Dante
- *Time Warp Vol. 3: Comedy and Camp* (2020), as Host
- *Time Warp Vol. 2: Horror and Sci-Fi* (2020), as Host
- *Time Warp Vol. 1: Midnight Madness* (2020), as Host
- *Class of '79: 40 Years of Rock 'N' Roll High School* (2019), Actor
- *Camp Cold Brook* (2018), Executive Producer
- *Nightmare Cinema* (2018), Director
- *Trafficked* (2017), Executive Producer
- *MacGyver* (2016), series, Director
- *DC's Legends of Tomorrow* (2016), series, Director
- *Tales of Halloween* (2015), as Prof. Milo Gottlieb
- *Eaten Alive! The Rise and Fall of the Italian Cannibal Film* (2015), Actor
- *Burying the Ex* (2014), Director
- *Witches of East End* (2013), series, Director
- *Blast Vegas* (2013), as Salesman #2
- *The Butterfly Room* (2012), as Cab Driver
- *The Flesh and the Fury: X-posing Twins of Evil* (2012), Actor
- *To Be... A Film Favorite* (2012), Actor
- *Corman's World* (2011), Thanks
- *Trail of Blood* (2011), Producer
- *Embryo* (2010), Thanks
- *Hawaii Five-0* (2010), series, Director — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/tv/hawaii-five-0.md)
- *Splatter* (2009), Director
- *Splatter* (2009), series, Director
- *The Hole* (2009), Director
- *The Screwfly Solution* (2006), Director
- *Trapped Ashes* (2006), Director
- *Homecoming* (2005), Director
- *Masters of Horror* (2005), series, Director
- *Shadows in the Dark: The Val Lewton Legacy* (2005), Actor
- *CSI: NY* (2004), series, Director
- *Welcome to Werewolfland* (2004), Actor
- *Looney Tunes: Back in Action* (2003), Director
- *Haunted Lighthouse 4-D* (2003), Director
- *Unleashing the Beast: Making ‘The Howling’* (2003), Actor
- *Night Visions* (2001), series, Director
- *Small Soldiers* (1998), Director
- *The Second Civil War* (1997), Director
- *The Warlord: Battle for the Galaxy* (1996), Director, Producer
- *Picture Windows: Lightning* (1995), Director
- *Picture Windows* (1995), series, Director
- *Runaway Daughters* (1994), Director
- *Flesh and Blood: The Hammer Heritage of Horror* (1994), Associate Producer
- *The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror - Preshow* (1994), Director
- *Rebel Highway* (1994), series, Director
- *Beverly Hills Cop III* (1994), as Jailer
- *The Silence of the Hams* (1994), as Dying Man
- *Matinee* (1993), Director
- *Sleepwalkers* (1992), as Lab Assistant
- *Eerie, Indiana* (1991), series, Director
- *Rock 'n' Roll High School Forever* (1991), Characters
- *Oscar* (1991), as Face on the Cutting Room Floor
- *Gremlins 2: The New Batch* (1990), as Grandpa Fred Director (uncredited) · Director
- *The 'Burbs* (1989), Director
- *Amazon Women on the Moon* (1987), Director
- *Innerspace* (1987), as Vectorscope Employee (uncredited) · Director
- *Amazing Stories* (1985), series, Director
- *The Twilight Zone* (1985), series, Director
- *Explorers* (1985), Director
- *Gremlins* (1984), as Mogwai / Gremlins (voice) (uncredited) · Director — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/gremlins.md)
- *Twilight Zone: The Movie* (1983), Director — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/twilight-zone-the-movie.md)
- *Eating Raoul* (1982), as Busboy (uncredited) — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/film/eating-raoul.md)
- *Police Squad!* (1982), series, Director
- *The Howling* (1981), Editor, Director
- *Rock 'n' Roll High School* (1979), Story
- *The Orson Welles Show* (1979), as Member of Studio Audience
- *Piranha* (1978), as Scuba Diver #2 (uncredited) · Director, Editor
- *Grand Theft Auto* (1977), Editor
- *Cannonball* (1976), as Kid
- *Hollywood Boulevard* (1976), as Party Waiter (uncredited) · Director, Editor
- *Tidal Wave* (1975), Actor
- *The Arena* (1974), Editor
- *The Movie Orgy* (1968), Director, Editor
- *The AckerMonster Chronicles!*, Actor
- *Fear Paris*, Director
- *Labrintus*, Director
- *Mamie Exposed! The Life and Loves of the Last Blonde Bombshell*, Actor
- *The Man with Kaleidoscope Eyes*, Director, Producer

## Gallery

- ![Alexander Horwath, Joe Dante, Elizabeth Stanley, 2013](https://film.one/media/person/118223/gallery-e288bd0b502c.jpg) Alexander Horwath, Joe Dante, Elizabeth Stanley, 2013 — Sabine Maierhofer, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/Alexander_Horwath%2C_Joe_Dante%2C_Elizabeth_Stanley%2C_2013.jpg/1280px-Alexander_Horwath%2C_Joe_Dante%2C_Elizabeth_Stanley%2C_2013.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Joe Dante and Elizabeth Stanley. (2009)](https://film.one/media/person/118223/gallery-b5c8952ac6fd.jpg) Joe Dante and Elizabeth Stanley. (2009) — nicolas genin from Paris, France, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/Flickr_-_nicogenin_-_66%C3%A8me_Festival_de_Venise_%28Mostra%29_%2876%29.jpg/1280px-Flickr_-_nicogenin_-_66%C3%A8me_Festival_de_Venise_%28Mostra%29_%2876%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Joe Dante](https://film.one/media/person/118223/gallery-fedff49ac8b0.jpg) Joe Dante — nicolas genin, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d5/Joe_Dante%2C_66%C3%A8me_Festival_de_Venise_%28Mostra%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![American film director Joe Dante at Midnight Sun Film Festival in Sodankylä, Finland, 2012.](https://film.one/media/person/118223/gallery-bc29c14faaee.jpg) American film director Joe Dante at Midnight Sun Film Festival in Sodankylä, Finland, 2012. — Soppakanuuna, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/Joe_Dante.jpg/1280px-Joe_Dante.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Joe Dante](https://film.one/media/person/118223/gallery-28c8a1fc4c89.jpg) Joe Dante — Image via TMDB
- ![Joe Dante](https://film.one/media/person/118223/gallery-5573be4206a8.jpg) Joe Dante — Image via TMDB
- ![Joe Dante](https://film.one/media/person/118223/gallery-f97bab53533e.jpg) Joe Dante — Image via TMDB
- ![Joe Dante at Nightmare Weekend Richmond in 2023](https://film.one/media/person/118223/gallery-3b27ca88fc4e.jpg) Joe Dante at Nightmare Weekend Richmond in 2023 — Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/34/Joe_Dante_%2853256558110%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Joe Dante](https://film.one/media/person/118223/gallery-9a73422c1a4f.jpg) Joe Dante — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Other awards — 1 won

- Time Machine Award 2010: Time Machine Award (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/joe-dante