Joe Dante
Date of birth: 1946-11-28
Place of birth: Morristown, New Jersey, USA
Known for: Directing
Also known as:
Biography
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. Dante's output includes the films Piranha (1978), The Howling (1981), Explorers (1985), Innerspace (1987), The 'Burbs (1989), Matinee (1993), Small Soldiers (1998), and Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003). His work for television and cable include the social satire The Second Civil War (1997), episodes of the anthology series Masters of Horror ("Homecoming" and "The Screwfly Solution") and Amazing Stories, as well as Police Squad! and Hawaii Five-0. Description above from the Wikipedia article Joe Dante, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Movie Credits
Beverly Hills Cop III
1994-05-24
When his boss is killed, Detroit cop Axel Foley finds evidence that the murderer had ties to a Calif
She's Alive! Creating 'The Bride of Frankenstein'
1999-01-01
Documentary about the making of 1935's "The Bride of Frankenstein."
The Silence of the Hams
1994-03-11
The federal agent Joe Dee Foster is currently investigating a serial killer, helped by doctor Animal
In Search of Darkness: Part III
2022-11-25
The conclusion to the ‘In Search of Darkness’ '80s trilogy. In this epic final chapter, our focus tu
Making a Monster Movie: Inside 'the Howling'
1981-01-01
Making-of featurette for 'The Howling' (1981)
Cannonball
1976-07-06
Coy "Cannonball" Buckman and his blazing red Pontiac enter the Trans-America Grand Prix, an undergro
Hollywood Rated 'R'
1997-06-19
A roller-coaster ride through the history of American exploitation films, ranging from Roger Corman'
Blood, Guts and Sunshine: The History of Horror Made in Florida
2021-11-08
Explore the independent horror film scene that Florida has been vigorously pumping out since the inv
Piranha
1978-08-03
When flesh-eating piranhas are accidentally released into a summer resort's rivers, the guests becom
Blast Vegas
2013-07-18
Thieving Spring Breakers steal an ancient relic that unleashes a disastrous curse upon Las Vegas.
Innerspace
1987-07-01
Test pilot Tuck Pendleton volunteers to test a special vessel for a miniaturization experiment. Acci
Männer im Trenchcoat, Frauen im Pelz
2004-12-19
Film noir, which enjoyed particular success in the 1930s and 1940s, is probably the most profound ge
The Fear is Real
2018-10-16
In this program, directors Larry Cohen (Special Effects) and Joe Dante recall their first experience
Flesh and Blood: The Hammer Heritage of Horror
1994-08-06
Explore the most legendary horror studio of all time with this fascinating, frightening journey host
The Wolf Man: From Ancient Curse to Modern Myth
2010-02-02
A documentary produced for Universal about their early Wolf Man film(s)
Hollywood Boulevard
1976-04-25
A Midwestern ingenue arrives in Hollywood to try her luck as an actress. An incompetent agent hooks
Nightmares in Red, White and Blue
2009-08-06
An exploration of the appeal of horror films, with interviews of many legendary directors in the gen
Shadows in the Dark: The Val Lewton Legacy
2005-10-04
Documentary about the great 1940s horror movie producer Val Lewton, featured on the 2005 DVD release
Fantastic Flesh: The Art of Make-Up EFX
2008-10-07
This documentary delves into the art of make-up effects with industry legends Dick Smith, Rob Bottin
We Come In Pieces: The Rebirth of the Horror Anthology Film
2014-06-03
A Short Doc About the Short Form & Anthologies
American Grindhouse
2011-02-04
This documentary explores the hidden history of the American Exploitation Film. The movie digs deep
Bugs Bunny's 80th What's Up, Doc-umentary!
2020-12-01
Narrated by Billy Crystal, the documentary examines the history of the character over the decades, i
The Butterfly Room
2012-08-04
A reclusive and butterfly-obsessed elderly lady suffering from bipolar disorder develops a disturbin
Roger Corman, the Pope of Pop Cinema
2021-01-19
Documentary on the life of legendary filmmaker Roger Corman, often referred to as the "Pope of Pop C
Sharksploitation
2024-10-12
The ultimate deep dive into the world of shark cinema: filmmakers, critics, scholars and conservatio
Trailer War
2012-11-17
Unleashed from the vaults of the Alamo Drafthouse, a meticulous selection of the best, strangest and
24×36
2016-03-05
A documentary exploring the birth, death and resurrection of illustrated movie poster art. Through i
Gremlins 2: The New Batch
1990-06-15
Young sweethearts Billy and Kate move to the Big Apple, land jobs in a high-tech office park and soo
The Magical World of Chuck Jones
1992-10-23
Documentary on animator Chuck Jones.
Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon
2006-11-14
A short documentary about Robby the Robot.
Monsterland
2009-03-29
A journey through time and history of diverse monster types, from the latex monster in devastated po
Razzennest
2022-09-29
South African enfant terrible filmmaker and artiste-cineaste Manus Oosthuizen meets with Rotten Toma
Cinerama Adventure
2002-08-30
A nostalgic and compelling look into the legendary three camera, three projector process that revolu
The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee
2024-08-09
Aristocratic Italian roots, a close family connection to James Bond novelist Ian Fleming, wartime ex
The Creeps
2025-12-11
When a mysterious gateway between dimensions unleashes a horde of nasty little creatures into Vuokat
Clawing! A Journey Through the Spanish Horror
2014-06-20
In the late sixties, Spanish cinema began to produce a huge amount of horror genre films: internatio
Roger Corman: Hollywood's Wild Angel
1978-04-06
Documentary examining the life and career of producer/director Roger Corman. Clips from his films an
42nd Street Memories: The Rise and Fall of America's Most Notorious Street
2015-07-15
The story behind the rise and fall of New York's 42nd Street. The cinemas, the films, the people, th
It Conquered Hollywood! The Story of American International Pictures
2001-05-01
A 60-minute salute to American International Pictures. Entertainment lawyer Samuel Z. Arkoff founded
That Guy Dick Miller
2014-03-07
Documentary about veteran character actor Dick Miller, whose career in and outside of Hollywood has
Pure in Heart: The Life and Legacy of Lon Chaney, Jr.
2010-02-02
A short documentary about the classic Universal Monster actor, Lon Chaney, Jr.
Direct Your Own Damn Movie!
2009-05-19
Legendary director Lloyd Kaufman, President of Troma Entertainment and Creator of the Toxic Avenger,
Famous Monster: Forrest J Ackerman
2007-05-16
Famous Monster takes a fast-paced, colorful look at the life of science fiction's greatest fan - For
Edgar G. Ulmer: The Man Off-Screen
2004-09-04
Documentary on the life and work of B-movie filmmaker Edgar G. Ulmer, spanning from his early life t
Mary Woronov: Cult Queen
The documentary explores the enigma of actress and artist Mary Woronov and chronicles her colorful c
Out of Print
2014-08-23
A documentary exploring the importance of revival cinema and 35mm exhibition - seen through the lens
There Goes the Neighborhood: The Making of The 'Burbs
2014-09-15
An in depth look at the making of The 'Burbs, from High Rising Productions. This feature-length docu
The Birds: Hitchcock's Monster Movie
2012-11-06
This documentary short explores the origins of the monster movie and how Alfred Hitchcock's "The Bir
Hitchcocked!
2006-08-11
A tribute to the work of Alfred Hitchcock, featuring contemporary filmmakers, writers, performers, a
Flying Saucers Over Hollywood: The 'Plan 9' Companion
1992-01-01
A documentary detailing the making of the cult favorite "Plan 9 from Outer Space," featuring intervi
Soylent Green and Red Alert: When Reality Catches Up with Fiction
2022-09-28
The story of the making of Soylent Green, a masterpiece of social science fiction, released in 1973.
Boris Karloff: The Rest of the Story
2022-10-18
Boris Karloff: The Rest of the Story takes a deeper look at the life and career of Boris Karloff, fr
Ray Harryhausen: Working with Dinosaurs
1999-12-25
A tribute to stopmotion supremo and special effects genius extraordinaire Ray Harryhausen, the man b
Tales of Halloween
2015-10-16
Ten stories from horror's top directors. Ghosts, ghouls, monsters, and the devil delight in terroriz
Making The Earth Stand Still
2001-06-30
A documentary about the 1951 sci-fi film "The Day the Earth Stood Still," featuring clips from the f
The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal
1986-07-31
Among the legends of Hollywood, George Pal takes his place as a true visionary, an innovator and a s
Monstres, l'ennemi de l'intérieur
2017-05-12
The Return of the Living Dead: The Decade of Darkness
2007-07-11
A look at the horror movies of the 1980's.
A Night at the Movies: Merry Christmas!
2011-12-06
A Night at the Movies: Merry Christmas! is a tinsel-filled journey through the most iconic holiday f
Creature Designers: The Frankenstein Complex
2015-11-18
The Frankenstein Complex takes a historical as well as a creative perspective, with a mix of fascina
The Flesh and the Fury: X-posing Twins of Evil
2012-07-10
The shocking true story behind the making of Hammer Films notorious vampire saga.
Hammer: Heroes, Legends and Monsters
2024-10-31
A look at Hammer’s progression from a back office in London’s Regent Street to its iconic status wit
Mario Bava: Maestro of the Macabre
2000-10-01
Director Garry S. Grant’s insightful documentary celebrates the work and legacy of auteur filmmaker
Long Live the King
2016-10-01
A feature documentary about the enduring appeal of the character King Kong, and how he has inspired
Unspeakable Horrors: The Plan 9 Conspiracy
2016-01-01
An in-depth look at the hidden meanings and blistering truth buried within Ed Wood's PLAN 9 FROM OUT
Corman's World
2011-12-16
A chronicle of the long career of American filmmaker Roger Corman, the most tenacious and ingenious
King Cohen: The Wild World of Filmmaker Larry Cohen
2018-07-07
A feature-length documentary focusing on the acclaimed work and eclectic career of maverick filmmake
Spider Stravinsky: The Cinema Sounds of Ronald Stein
2007-10-17
The composer of ‘The Terror’ and ‘Attack of the 50 Foot Woman’ among others is remembered by Harlene
The Hatching of Spider Baby
2007-01-01
Documentary focusing on Jack Hill's classic film, Spider Baby. Featured on the new Special Edition D
Eating Raoul
1982-03-24
A prudish married couple feel put upon by the swingers living in their apartment building. One night
Welcome to Werewolfland
2004-03-23
Documentary about the making of "The Howling".
Mario Bava: Operazione paura
2004-04-30
Mario Bava Operazione Paura", hosted by Joe Dante, is an hommage of the Master of the Terror, the it
Hammer Horror: The Warner Bros. Years
2018-02-13
The untold story of Hammer at Warner Bros, and the relationship that produced some of the British co
Machete Maidens Unleashed!
2010-10-15
In the final decades of the 20th century, the Philippines was a country where low-budget exploitatio
Fulci in the House: The Italian Master of Splatter
2009-06-01
Lucio Fulci documentary
The Man Who Saw Frankenstein Cry
2010-10-07
King of Horror, legendary actor, scriptwriter and director, Paul Naschy is regarded as the Spanish L
Sad Hill Unearthed
2018-10-19
Province of Burgos, northern Spain, October 2015. A group of fans undertake the titanic task of rest
To Be... A Film Favorite
2012-01-01
In this video piece, director Joe Dante discusses To Be or Not to Be, the era it was made in, and it
In Search of Darkness
2019-05-01
An exploration of '80s horror movies through the perspective of the actors, directors, producers and
Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story
2007-11-08
Chronicles the last great American showman, filmmaker William Castle, a master of ballyhoo who becam
In Search of Tomorrow
2022-02-19
A nostalgic journey through ’80s Sci-Fi-films, exploring their impact and relevance today, told by t
Mark of The Beast: The Legacy of the Universal Werewolf
2019-10-28
A newly produced, feature-length documentary by filmmaker Daniel Griffith, featuring interviews with
Phil Tippett: Mad Dreams and Monsters
2019-09-14
An in-depth, sad, and beautiful documentary about the stop motion and VFX artist Phil Tippett, a man
Sleepwalkers
1992-04-10
Charles Brady and his mother, Mary, are the last of a dying breed whose needs are not of this world.
Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan
2012-09-29
There’s only one person who so accurately personifies movie magic in the history of film, and that m
Class of '79: 40 Years of Rock 'N' Roll High School
2019-11-19
Retrospective documentary about Rock 'N' Roll High School.
A Century of Cinema
1994-01-01
A look back at the first 100 years of the movies.
Love, Antosha
2019-08-02
From a prolific career in film and television, Anton Yelchin left an indelible legacy as an actor. T
Making Apes: The Artists Who Changed Film
2019-01-30
Fifty years after its release, the special effects makeup team behind Planet of the Apes reflect on
House of Wax: Unlike Anything You've Seen Before!
2013-10-01
Documentary on the making and impact of "House of Wax".
Oscar
1991-04-26
Angelo "Snaps" Provolone made his dying father a promise on his deathbed: he would leave the world o
Chuck Jones: Extremes and In-Betweens - A Life in Animation
2000-11-08
This biography, shown on American television as part of the PBS "Great Performances" series, examine
A Fuller Life
2013-08-28
Friends and admirers of iconoclastic film director Sam Fuller read from his memoirs in this unconven
Time Warp Vol. 1: Midnight Madness
2020-04-21
From "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" to "The Big Lebowski" and everything in between, this fascinati
Time Warp Vol. 2: Horror and Sci-Fi
2020-05-19
The greatest cult horror and science fiction films of all-time are studied in vivid detail in the se
Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies
2020-08-18
The definitive documentary on the history of nudity in feature films from the early silent days to t
Time Warp Vol. 3: Comedy and Camp
2020-06-23
The final volume of Time Warp digs deep into what makes us laugh over and over again as we reveal th
Behind the Tunes: Tish Tash - The Animated World of Frank Tashlin
2005-10-25
A documentary about Frank Tashlin's cartoons.
In Search of Darkness: Part II
2020-10-06
The ultimate ‘80s Horror retrospective just got BIGGER. In Search of Darkness: Part II is a four-hou
Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet
2006-11-14
A documentary about the making of, and legacy of, the Forbidden Planet movie.
Unleashing the Beast: Making ‘The Howling’
2003-01-01
Documentary featuring director Joe Dante, screenwriter John Sayles, producer Mike Finnell, stars Dee
The Perfect Scary Movie
2005-10-29
A documentary looking at the various conventions and scare techniques of the horror genre.
Tales of the Uncanny
2020-10-31
A detailed look at the history of horror anthology films.
From Gizmo to Gremlins: Creating the Creatures
2014-09-30
Chris Walas and Howie Mandel, the voice of Gizmo, describe the laborious development of Gizmo and th
Cute. Clever. Mischievous. Intelligent. Dangerous: Making Gremlins
2014-09-30
This new retrospective features new interviews with director Joe Dante, star Zach Galligan, writer C
Behind the Tunes: Looney Tunes Go to War!
2005-10-25
A Documentary about the Looney Tunes war cartoons
Karloff: The Gentle Monster
2006-04-30
Film historians, and producer Richard Gordon, talk about the horror movie career of cult star Boris
Lugosi: The Dark Prince
2006-09-26
Film historians, and producer Richard Gordon, talk about the horror movie career of cult star Bela L
Coming Attractions: The History of the Movie Trailer
2009-01-01
A 100 year history of the development of movie marketing, reflecting technical improvements, audienc
Produce Your Own Damn Movie!
2011-09-13
When it comes to producing, no one speaks with more authority than Lloyd Kaufman creator of The Toxi
Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster
2021-09-17
Beginning just before his debut as Frankenstein’s creation, this documentary compellingly explores t
Behind the Tunes: Bosko, Buddy and the Best of Black and White
2005-10-25
Documentary short about the black & white Looney Tunes cartoons
Ishiro Honda: Memoirs of a Film Director
2024-10-04
A documentary film that delves into the life and cinematic career of one of Japan's most prolific di
The Future of Fear
2011-11-25
Join some of the most talented legends of the Horror Film genre for discussion of what scared us bef
Eaten Alive! The Rise and Fall of the Italian Cannibal Film
2015-05-26
A High Rising Productions documentary on the short-lived craze of Italian cannibal films in the '70s
Tidal Wave
1975-05-28
Two hundred million years ago, Earth had a single continent. As the millennia progressed, the single
The Bloodiest Show on Earth: Making Vampire Circus
2010-12-14
A series of interviews about the history behind the 1972 Hammer Films production "Vampire Circus".
RKO Production 601: The Making of “Kong, the Eighth Wonder of the World”
2008-10-11
The astonishing story of the genesis, production, worldwide success, and legacy of King Kong (1933),
RKO, A Story made in Hollywood
2010-05-06
The history of RKO - one of the legendary "Big Five" studios of the Hollywood’s Golden Age, from its
The AckerMonster Chronicles!
Nudism. Esperanto. KING KONG. Sci-Fi. What do all of these things have in common? Simple: Forrest J
Boorman and the Devil
2025-09-05
Featuring commentary from surviving participants, as well as other filmmakers and critics, this docu
The Vincent Price Legacy
2025-10-09
The Legacy of Vincent Price, the first feature-length documentary about the Master of Menace, explor
Gravity: Looking to the Stars - The Evolution of Space Films
2015-03-31
Documentary that begins with 1902's A Trip to the Moon, rockets toward 2001 and Star Wars (among man
Ray Harryhausen: The Early Years Collection
2005-01-17
For over a half century, Ray Harryhausen has amazed and inspired countless filmmakers and fans aroun
The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing
2004-10-12
Documentary about the art of film editing. Clips are shown from many groundbreaking films with innov