A long rumored extended version of Gremlins has surfaced and was recently screened in Los Angeles, confirming years of speculation among fans and film insiders.
A title card shown before the screening stated the footage came from a 1983 first assembly VHS. It described the cut as a raw version of the film that includes deleted scenes, alternate takes, and early creative decisions that did not make the final release.
Insane private screening tonight at @Vervetla. #Gremlins #JoeDante pic.twitter.com/xVOZxi0Xkh
— Micheline Norman (@michelinepitt) May 1, 2026
The Hollywood Reporter confirmed the screening in a weekend report by Borys Kit. He wrote that the cut runs more than two and a half hours and had not been seen publicly since 1983. The report made clear that many believed the footage no longer existed. The version shown was presented at a private event attended by a small group of filmmakers and fans. The footage also came directly from director Joe Dante’s personal archive. Ian Grant of The Gremlins Museum handled the restoration and digitization using Dante’s VHS copy.
According to the report, the structure of the film is noticeably different. The first Gremlin does not appear until nearly an hour into the story. Once introduced, the creatures take up more screen time, including an extended bar sequence that runs over 10 minutes. Some familiar elements are missing, including the well known Christmas speech by Phoebe Cates.
Actor Zach Galligan, who starred in Gremlins, discussed the cut during a recent Instagram Q & A. He called it a striking experience and said it includes close to an hour of additional footage. Galligan said some scenes were completely unfamiliar to him, despite being part of the original production.
According to Bloody Disgusting, the added material includes longer sequences in the department store and bank, along with deeper character development. Galligan said his character Billy Peltzer comes across as more assertive in this version. He also pointed to expanded storylines, including more detail around Mrs. Deagle, played by the late Polly Holliday. In this cut, her efforts to foreclose on multiple homes form a clearer subplot.
Galligan also described an early scene where Billy rescues one of Mrs. Deagle’s cats and returns it, a moment that was removed from the theatrical version. He said these additions help give the story more context and weight.
It remains unclear whether this ‘assembly cut’ will ever see a wider release. For now, the footage exists in restored form, and The Gremlins Museum has taken steps to preserve it. That raises new questions about how studios handle archival material and whether more unreleased cuts of major films could still be sitting in private collections.
***
English (US) · 