10 Awesome Ways Movies Got Back At Critics

10. Leonard Maltin Got Killed By Gremlins After Giving The First Movie A Bad Review - Gremlins 2: The New Batch

Joe Dante's ludicrously entertaining meta-sequel to Gremlins features an hilarious cameo from film critic Leonard Maltin, who famously panned the original film, and gamely showed up in the sequel only to be murdered by a gang of the mischievous titular critters.

The scene sees Maltin reviewing Gremlins on VHS, where he says he'd "rather spend two hours having root canal work done", prompting the Gremlins to strangle him to death with a roll of film while he desperately shouts, "It's a 10! It's a 10!"

In recent years Maltin has discussed the cameo, noting that he's old friends with Joe Dante and felt bad about giving Gremlins a negative review. As such, when Dante floated the idea of him appearing in the sequel, Maltin felt like he "owed" his friend to do it.

The result was not only a deliciously self-aware movie moment clearly taken in good humour by both parties, but Maltin actually ended up giving the film three stars. And all was well.