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Joe Dante
★ Directing

Joe Dante

IMDb TMDB
Born 1946 · Morristown, New Jersey, USA · Active 1968–2026

Joe Dante, born in 1946, is a key figure in cult cinema, known for his innovative direction in Piranha (1978) and The Howling (1981). His films often blend horror with dark comedy, reflecting a unique sensibility that resonates within the genre. Dante also appears as an actor in Eating Raoul (1982) and American Grindhouse (2010), showcasing his versatility in the industry. His ability to merge the outrageous with the absurd makes his work essential viewing for fans of exploitation and grindhouse cinema.

▶ Watch on SassyFlix 4 films available
American Grindhouse

American Grindhouse

2011 ★ 6.8
as Himself

This documentary explores the hidden history of the American Exploitation Film. The movie digs deep into this often overlooked category of U.S. cinema and unearths the shameless and occasionally shocking origins of this popular entertainment.

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Piranha (1978) Movie Poster - SassyFlix
Piranha
1978 · ★5.9
Eating Raoul (1982) Movie Poster - SassyFlix
Eating Raoul
1982 · ★6.6
The Howling (1981) Movie Poster - SassyFlix
The Howling
1981 · ★6.4
Career Highlights Top 6 by popularity · TMDB
Gremlins (1984)
Gremlins
1984
Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)
Gremlins 2: The New Batch
1990
DC's Legends of Tomorrow (2016)
DC's Legends of Tomorrow
2016
Small Soldiers (1998)
Small Soldiers
1998
Beverly Hills Cop III (1994)
Beverly Hills Cop III
1994
Hawaii Five-0 (2010)
Hawaii Five-0
2010

Filmography

201 credits
2020s 27 credits
2026
Shrinkage: The Making of Innerspace as Self
Movie
2026
Dernsie: The Amazing Life of Bruce Dern
Movie
2025
The Creeps as Uncle John
Movie ★ 4.7
2025
Boorman and the Devil as Self
Movie
2025
The Vincent Price Legacy as Himself
Movie ★ 9.0
2024
Sharksploitation as Self
Movie ★ 7.0
2024
The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee as Self
Movie ★ 7.6
2024
Hammer: Heroes, Legends and Monsters as Self
Movie ★ 8.2
2024
Ishiro Honda: Memoirs of a Film Director as Himself
Movie ★ 7.5
2022
In Search of Darkness: Part III as Self
Movie ★ 7.5
2022
Razzennest as Joe Dante
Movie ★ 5.8
2022
Soylent Green and Red Alert: When Reality Catches Up with Fiction as Self
Movie ★ 7.2
2022
Boris Karloff: The Rest of the Story as Self - Interviewee
Movie ★ 10.0
2022
In Search of Tomorrow as Self - Interviewee
Movie ★ 6.6
2022
The 101 Scariest Horror Movie Moments of All Time as Self
TV ★ 7.1
2022
Charles Band’s Full Moon Freakshow
TV ★ 7.0
2021
Blood, Guts and Sunshine: The History of Horror Made in Florida as Self [archival]
Movie ★ 7.0
2021
Roger Corman, the Pope of Pop Cinema as Self
Movie ★ 6.0
2021
Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster as Self
Movie ★ 7.0
2020
Bugs Bunny's 80th What's Up, Doc-umentary! as Self (archive footage)
Movie ★ 8.0
2020
Time Warp Vol. 1: Midnight Madness as Host
Movie ★ 6.8
2020
Time Warp Vol. 2: Horror and Sci-Fi as Host
Movie ★ 6.4
2020
Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies as Self
Movie ★ 6.5
2020
Time Warp Vol. 3: Comedy and Camp as Host
Movie ★ 6.8
2020
In Search of Darkness: Part II as Self
Movie ★ 7.7
2020
Tales of the Uncanny as Self
Movie ★ 7.0
2020
Time Warp: The Greatest Cult Films of All Time as Self - Host
TV ★ 7.2
2010s 47 credits
2019
In Search of Darkness as Self
Movie ★ 7.5
2019
Mark of The Beast: The Legacy of the Universal Werewolf as Self
Movie
2019
Phil Tippett: Mad Dreams and Monsters as Self
Movie ★ 7.5
2019
Class of '79: 40 Years of Rock 'N' Roll High School
Movie
2019
Love, Antosha as Self
Movie ★ 7.4
2019
Making Apes: The Artists Who Changed Film as Self
Movie ★ 6.8
2018
The Fear Is Real as Self
Movie
2018
King Cohen: The Wild World of Filmmaker Larry Cohen as Self
Movie ★ 6.4
2018
Hammer Horror: The Warner Bros. Years as Self
Movie ★ 7.3
2018
Sad Hill Unearthed as Self - Filmmaker
Movie ★ 6.9
2018
Eli Roth's History of Horror as Self
TV ★ 6.4
2017
Monstres, l'ennemi de l'intérieur as Self
Movie
2016
24×36 as Self
Movie ★ 6.8
2016
Long Live the King as himself
Movie ★ 5.2
2016
Unspeakable Horrors: The Plan 9 Conspiracy as Himself
Movie
2015
42nd Street Memories: The Rise and Fall of America's Most Notorious Street as Self
Movie ★ 7.8
2015
Tales of Halloween as Prof. Milo Gottlieb
Movie ★ 5.7
2015
Creature Designers: The Frankenstein Complex as Self
Movie ★ 7.2
2015
Eaten Alive! The Rise and Fall of the Italian Cannibal Film
Movie ★ 7.3
2014
We Come In Pieces: The Rebirth of the Horror Anthology Film as Self
Movie
2014
Clawing! A Journey Through the Spanish Horror as Self - Director
Movie ★ 6.0
2014
That Guy Dick Miller as Self
Movie ★ 7.0
2014
Out of Print as Self
Movie ★ 5.7
2014
There Goes the Neighborhood: The Making of The 'Burbs as Self
Movie ★ 4.1
2014
From Gizmo to Gremlins: Creating the Creatures as Self
Movie ★ 7.0
2014
Cute. Clever. Mischievous. Intelligent. Dangerous: Making Gremlins as Self
Movie ★ 7.0
2014
The Real History of Science Fiction as Himself
TV ★ 7.0
2013
Blast Vegas as Salesman #2
Movie ★ 3.4
2013
House of Wax: Unlike Anything You've Seen Before! as Self
Movie
2013
A Fuller Life as Self - Reader (segment "Sicily Black and Blue")
Movie ★ 6.6
2012
The Butterfly Room as Cab Driver
Movie ★ 5.7
2012
Trailer War as Himself
Movie ★ 7.2
2012
The Birds: Hitchcock's Monster Movie as Self
Movie
2012
The Flesh and the Fury: X-posing Twins of Evil
Movie ★ 3.8
2012
To Be... A Film Favorite
Movie
2012
Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan as Self
Movie ★ 7.4
2011
American Grindhouse● as Himself
Movie ★ 6.8
2011
A Night at the Movies: Merry Christmas! as Self - Interviewee
Movie ★ 8.1
2011
Corman's World as Self - Filmmaker
Movie ★ 7.1
2011
Produce Your Own Damn Movie! as Self
Movie
2011
The Future of Fear as Self
Movie
2010
The Wolf Man: From Ancient Curse to Modern Myth as Self
Movie ★ 7.0
2010
Pure in Heart: The Life and Legacy of Lon Chaney, Jr. as Self
Movie ★ 7.0
2010
Machete Maidens Unleashed! as Self
Movie ★ 6.6
2010
The Man Who Saw Frankenstein Cry as Self
Movie ★ 6.0
2010
The Bloodiest Show on Earth: Making Vampire Circus as Self
Movie
2010
RKO, A Story made in Hollywood as Himself
Movie
2000s 37 credits
2009
Nightmares in Red, White and Blue as Self
Movie ★ 6.6
2009
Monsterland as Self
Movie ★ 6.5
2009
Direct Your Own Damn Movie! as Self
Movie ★ 5.0
2009
Fulci in the House: The Italian Master of Splatter as Self
Movie
2009
Coming Attractions: The History of the Movie Trailer as Self
Movie ★ 6.5
2008
Fantastic Flesh: The Art of Make-Up EFX as Self
Movie ★ 6.6
2008
RKO Production 601: The Making of “Kong, the Eighth Wonder of the World” as Self
Movie ★ 8.0
2007
Famous Monster: Forrest J Ackerman as Self
Movie ★ 9.0
2007
The Return of the Living Dead: The Decade of Darkness as Self
Movie ★ 6.0
2007
Spider Stravinsky: The Cinema Sounds of Ronald Stein as Himself
Movie ★ 9.5
2007
The Hatching of Spider Baby as Himself
Movie ★ 7.0
2007
Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story as Self
Movie ★ 7.8
2006
Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon as Self
Movie ★ 7.0
2006
Hitchcocked! as Self
Movie ★ 6.0
2006
Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet as Self
Movie ★ 4.5
2006
Karloff: The Gentle Monster as Self
Movie ★ 7.6
2006
Lugosi: The Dark Prince as Self
Movie ★ 7.6
2005
Shadows in the Dark: The Val Lewton Legacy
Movie ★ 9.4
2005
Behind the Tunes: Tish Tash - The Animated World of Frank Tashlin as Himself
Movie
2005
The Perfect Scary Movie as Self
Movie ★ 7.7
2005
Behind the Tunes: Looney Tunes Go to War! as Himself
Movie ★ 7.0
2005
Behind the Tunes: Bosko, Buddy and the Best of Black and White as Himself
Movie ★ 7.0
2005
Ray Harryhausen: The Early Years Collection as Self
Movie ★ 8.0
2004
Männer im Trenchcoat, Frauen im Pelz as Self
Movie ★ 9.0
2004
Edgar G. Ulmer: The Man Off-Screen as Self
Movie ★ 6.5
2004
Welcome to Werewolfland
Movie ★ 9.0
2004
Mario Bava: Operazione paura as Self / Host
Movie ★ 6.5
2004
The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing as Self
Movie ★ 7.0
2004
The Art of Crime as Himself
Movie ★ 8.0
2004
100 Scariest Movie Moments as Self
TV ★ 7.9
2004
Leçon de Cinéma as Self
TV ★ 7.0
2003
Unleashing the Beast: Making ‘The Howling’
Movie ★ 7.0
2002
Cinerama Adventure as Self
Movie ★ 7.7
2001
It Conquered Hollywood! The Story of American International Pictures as Self
Movie ★ 7.4
2001
Making The Earth Stand Still as Self
Movie ★ 8.0
2000
Mario Bava: Maestro of the Macabre as Self
Movie ★ 6.1
2000
Chuck Jones: Extremes and In-Betweens - A Life in Animation as Self
Movie ★ 7.0
1990s 14 credits
1999
She's Alive! Creating 'The Bride of Frankenstein' as Self / Host
Movie ★ 7.8
1999
Ray Harryhausen: Working with Dinosaurs as Self
Movie ★ 8.5
1997
Hollywood Rated 'R' as Self
Movie ★ 5.3
1994
Beverly Hills Cop III as Jailer
Movie ★ 5.9
1994
The Silence of the Hams as Dying Man
Movie ★ 4.9
1994
Flesh and Blood: The Hammer Heritage of Horror as Self
Movie ★ 7.3
1994
A Century of Cinema as Self
Movie ★ 8.3
1992
The Magical World of Chuck Jones as Self
Movie ★ 8.0
1992
Flying Saucers Over Hollywood: The 'Plan 9' Companion as Himself
Movie ★ 7.2
1992
Sleepwalkers as Lab Assistant
Movie ★ 6.1
1991
Oscar as Face on the Cutting Room Floor
Movie ★ 6.4
1991
The Horror Hall of Fame II as Self
Movie
1991
Eerie, Indiana as Director
TV ★ 7.6
1990
Gremlins 2: The New Batch as Grandpa Fred Director (uncredited)
Movie ★ 6.5
1980s 5 credits
1987
Innerspace as Vectorscope Employee (uncredited)
Movie ★ 6.8
1986
The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal as Self
Movie ★ 7.3
1984
Gremlins as Mogwai / Gremlins (voice) (uncredited)
Movie ★ 7.1
1982
Eating Raoul● as Busboy (uncredited)
Movie ★ 6.5
1981
Making a Monster Movie: Inside 'the Howling' as Self
Movie ★ 9.0
1970s 7 credits
1979
The Orson Welles Show as Member of Studio Audience
Movie ★ 8.0
1978
Piranha● as Scuba Diver #2 (uncredited)
Movie ★ 6.0
1978
Roger Corman: Hollywood's Wild Angel as Self
Movie ★ 7.7
1976
Cannonball as Kid
Movie ★ 5.6
1976
Hollywood Boulevard as Party Waiter (uncredited)
Movie ★ 5.5
1975
Tidal Wave
Movie
1971
Great Performances as Self
TV ★ 6.1
s 3 credits
—
Mary Woronov: Cult Queen as Self
Movie
—
The AckerMonster Chronicles!
Movie ★ 1.0
—
Mamie Exposed! The Life and Loves of the Last Blonde Bombshell
Movie
Crew Credits
2020s 1 credit
2023
Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai Consulting Producer
TV ★ 8.4
2010s 11 credits
2018
Nightmare Cinema Director
Movie ★ 5.8
2018
Camp Cold Brook Executive Producer
Movie ★ 4.7
2017
Trafficked Executive Producer
Movie ★ 6.6
2016
MacGyver Director
TV ★ 7.3
2016
DC's Legends of Tomorrow Director
TV ★ 7.3
2014
Burying the Ex Director
Movie ★ 5.6
2013
Witches of East End Director
TV ★ 7.3
2011
Trail of Blood Producer
Movie ★ 4.0
2011
Corman's World Thanks
Movie ★ 7.1
2010
Embryo Thanks
Movie ★ 2.3
2010
Hawaii Five-0 Director
TV ★ 7.7
2000s 11 credits
2009
The Hole Director
Movie ★ 5.8
2009
Splatter Director
Movie ★ 2.9
2009
Splatter Director
TV ★ 4.3
2006
Trapped Ashes Director
Movie ★ 5.1
2006
The Screwfly Solution Director
Movie ★ 5.6
2005
Homecoming Director
Movie ★ 5.8
2005
Masters of Horror Director
TV ★ 7.1
2004
CSI: NY Director
TV ★ 7.3
2003
Looney Tunes: Back in Action Director
Movie ★ 6.4
2003
Haunted Lighthouse 4-D Director
Movie ★ 6.3
2001
Night Visions Director
TV ★ 7.1
1990s 14 credits
1998
Small Soldiers Director
Movie ★ 6.6
1997
The Second Civil War Director
Movie ★ 6.1
1996
The Warlord: Battle for the Galaxy Producer
Movie ★ 5.4
1996
The Warlord: Battle for the Galaxy Director
Movie ★ 5.4
1995
Picture Windows: Lightning Director
Movie ★ 2.0
1995
Picture Windows Director
TV ★ 10.0
1994
Runaway Daughters Director
Movie ★ 6.0
1994
Flesh and Blood: The Hammer Heritage of Horror Associate Producer
Movie ★ 7.3
1994
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror - Preshow Director
Movie ★ 9.5
1994
Rebel Highway Director
TV ★ 8.0
1993
Matinee Director
Movie ★ 6.7
1991
Rock 'n' Roll High School Forever Characters
Movie ★ 4.7
1991
Eerie, Indiana Director
TV ★ 7.6
1990
Gremlins 2: The New Batch Director
Movie ★ 6.5
1980s 11 credits
1989
The 'Burbs Director
Movie ★ 6.8
1987
Innerspace Director
Movie ★ 6.8
1987
Amazon Women on the Moon Director
Movie ★ 5.9
1985
Explorers Director
Movie ★ 6.3
1985
The Twilight Zone Director
TV ★ 7.7
1985
Amazing Stories Director
TV ★ 7.5
1984
Gremlins Director
Movie ★ 7.1
1983
Twilight Zone: The Movie Director
Movie ★ 6.5
1982
Police Squad! Director
TV ★ 7.9
1981
The Howling● Director
Movie ★ 6.6
1981
The Howling● Editor
Movie ★ 6.6
1970s 7 credits
1979
Rock 'n' Roll High School Story
Movie ★ 6.3
1978
Piranha● Editor
Movie ★ 6.0
1978
Piranha● Director
Movie ★ 6.0
1977
Grand Theft Auto Editor
Movie ★ 5.2
1976
Hollywood Boulevard Editor
Movie ★ 5.5
1976
Hollywood Boulevard Director
Movie ★ 5.5
1974
The Arena Editor
Movie ★ 5.4
1960s 2 credits
1968
The Movie Orgy Director
Movie ★ 6.6
1968
The Movie Orgy Editor
Movie ★ 6.6
s 4 credits
—
Labrintus Director
Movie
—
Fear Paris Director
Movie
—
The Man with Kaleidoscope Eyes Producer
Movie
—
The Man with Kaleidoscope Eyes Director
Movie