The Best Joe Dante Movies, Ranked
88 credits from 1968 to 2026, ranked by the Movie Echo Score — a blend of critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact. Nightmare Cinema (2019) comes out on top with a score of 66. The biggest box office hit is Gremlins (1984) with $165M worldwide. Below: the best films by genre and by decade, the most awarded and the newest releases.
Biggest Joe Dante Box Office Hits
Joe Dante's films have made $445M worldwide in total. Gremlins (1984) is the biggest hit at $165M, ahead of Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003) ($68.5M). Lifetime grosses, with each film's domestic share.
- 1
Gremlins 1984 · Fantasy $165M $154M dom. - 2
Looney Tunes: Back in Action 2003 · Adventure $68.5M $21M dom. - 3
Small Soldiers 1998 · Adventure $54.7M $54.7M dom. - 4
The 'Burbs 1989 · Mystery $49.1M $36.6M dom. - 5
Gremlins 2: The New Batch 1990 · Fantasy $41.5M $41.5M dom. - 6
Twilight Zone: The Movie 1983 · Sci-Fi $29.5M $29.5M dom. - 7
Innerspace 1987 · Action $25.9M $25.9M dom. - 8
Explorers 1985 · Adventure $9.87M $9.87M dom. - 9
Burying the Ex 2015 · Horror $669K - 10
Nightmare Cinema 2019 · Horror $127K
The Best Joe Dante Movie in Every Genre
The best-rated film in each genre Joe Dante has worked in, the genres with the most films first. Horror leads with 6 films, and Nightmare Cinema (2019) is the pick of them.
- Horror 6 films Nightmare Cinema 2019 · Director Movie Echo Score: 66
- Adventure 4 films Looney Tunes: Back in Action 2003 · Director
- Mystery 2 films The 'Burbs 1989 · Director
- Fantasy 2 films Gremlins 1984 · Director
- Sci-Fi 2 films Twilight Zone: The Movie 1983 · Director
- Action 1 film Innerspace 1987 · Director
The Best Joe Dante Movie of Each Decade
One pick per decade of Joe Dante's career, newest decade first: the best-rated film of each ten years, from 1970s to 2010s.
Most Awarded Joe Dante Movies
Joe Dante's films with wins at the Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA and the other ceremonies in the awards database, the most decorated first. Gremlins (1984) leads with 3 wins from 7 nominations.
The Latest Joe Dante Movies
The most recent films Joe Dante is credited on, newest first — starting with Nightmare Cinema (2019). Open any of them for the cast, ratings, box office and where to watch.
- Nightmare Cinema 2019 · Director
- Burying the Ex 2015 · Director
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Eaten Alive! The Rise and Fall of the Italian Cannibal Film 2015 · Horror -
The Hole 2012 · Director -
The Flesh and the Fury: X-posing Twins of Evil 2012 · Horror -
The Butterfly Room 2012 · Cab Driver -
Splatter 2009 · Director -
The Screwfly Solution 2006 · Director - Looney Tunes: Back in Action 2003 · Director
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Haunted Lighthouse 4-D 2003 · Director - Small Soldiers 1998 · Director
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The Second Civil War 1997 · Director
The Best Joe Dante Movies: Questions & Answers
The best-rated, highest-grossing, most awarded and newest Joe Dante films, answered from the rankings on this page.
What is the best Joe Dante movie?
Nightmare Cinema (2019) is the best-rated Joe Dante film, with a Movie Echo Score of 66. The Movie Echo Score blends critic reviews, audience ratings and how well a film has lasted.
Nightmare Cinema: cast, ratings & box office What is the highest-grossing Joe Dante movie?
Gremlins (1984) made the most at the box office, with $165M worldwide, followed by Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003) with $68.5M. Together, Joe Dante's films with box office figures have made $445M.
Which Joe Dante movie won the most awards?
Gremlins (1984) is the most decorated Joe Dante film, with 3 wins from 7 nominations across the Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA and the other ceremonies in the awards database.
What is the best Joe Dante horror movie?
Nightmare Cinema (2019) is the best-rated of Joe Dante's horror films, with a score of 66. In other genres: Looney Tunes: Back in Action (adventure), The 'Burbs (mystery) and Gremlins (fantasy).
What is the newest Joe Dante movie?
The newest film on Joe Dante's filmography is Boorman and the Devil (2026), with Joe Dante as Self.
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