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The Toxic Avenger

  • 1984
  • R
  • 1h 22m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
36K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,488
1,745
Mitch Cohen in The Toxic Avenger (1984)
Home Video Trailer from Troma
Play trailer3:11
4 Videos
99+ Photos
B-ActionB-HorrorBody HorrorDark ComedyMonster HorrorSatireSplatter HorrorSuperheroActionComedy

Tromaville has a monstrous new hero. The Toxic Avenger is born when meek mop boy Melvin falls into a vat of toxic waste. Now evildoers will have a lot to lose.Tromaville has a monstrous new hero. The Toxic Avenger is born when meek mop boy Melvin falls into a vat of toxic waste. Now evildoers will have a lot to lose.Tromaville has a monstrous new hero. The Toxic Avenger is born when meek mop boy Melvin falls into a vat of toxic waste. Now evildoers will have a lot to lose.

  • Directors
    • Michael Herz
    • Lloyd Kaufman
  • Writers
    • Joe Ritter
    • Lloyd Kaufman
    • Gay Partington Terry
  • Stars
    • Andree Maranda
    • Mitch Cohen
    • Jennifer Babtist
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.2/10
    36K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    2,488
    1,745
    • Directors
      • Michael Herz
      • Lloyd Kaufman
    • Writers
      • Joe Ritter
      • Lloyd Kaufman
      • Gay Partington Terry
    • Stars
      • Andree Maranda
      • Mitch Cohen
      • Jennifer Babtist
    • 202User reviews
    • 147Critic reviews
    • 42Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos4

    The Toxic Avenger
    Trailer 3:11
    The Toxic Avenger
    Why Peter Dinklage Is a Perfect Toxic Avenger
    Clip 4:44
    Why Peter Dinklage Is a Perfect Toxic Avenger
    Why Peter Dinklage Is a Perfect Toxic Avenger
    Clip 4:44
    Why Peter Dinklage Is a Perfect Toxic Avenger
    Cowboys! Detectives! Giant Bugs! B-Movie History!
    Clip 5:23
    Cowboys! Detectives! Giant Bugs! B-Movie History!
    After "The Boys," Watch These Supes Next
    Clip 2:13
    After "The Boys," Watch These Supes Next

    Photos156

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    Top cast91

    Edit
    Andree Maranda
    • Sara
    Mitch Cohen
    Mitch Cohen
    • The Toxic Avenger
    • (as Mitchell Cohen)
    Jennifer Babtist
    Jennifer Babtist
    • Wanda
    • (as Jennifer Baptist)
    Cindy Manion
    Cindy Manion
    • Julie
    Robert Prichard
    • Slug
    Gary Schneider
    • Bozo
    Pat Ryan
    Pat Ryan
    • Mayor Peter Belgoody
    • (as Pat Ryan Jr.)
    Mark Torgl
    Mark Torgl
    • Melvin
    Dick Martinsen
    • Officer O'Clancy
    Chris Liano
    • Walter Harris
    David Weiss
    • Chief of Police
    Dan Snow
    • Cigar Face
    Doug Isbecque
    Doug Isbecque
    • Knuckles
    Charles Lee Jr.
    • Nipples
    Patrick Kilpatrick
    Patrick Kilpatrick
    • Leroy
    • (as Pat Kilpatrick)
    Larry Sulton
    • Frank
    Michael Russo
    • Rico
    • (as Mike Russo)
    Norma Pratt
    • Mrs. Haskell
    • Directors
      • Michael Herz
      • Lloyd Kaufman
    • Writers
      • Joe Ritter
      • Lloyd Kaufman
      • Gay Partington Terry
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews202

    6.235.6K
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    Featured reviews

    6mattymatt4ever

    Undeniably fun

    You always have to take Troma films with a grain of salt, and that's exactly what I did. I enjoyed this film quite a bit. Though it's a typical B-movie, the premise is creative and I actually felt sympathy for the character of Melvin before his mutation. I know what it's like to be the underdog, so I was able to somewhat relate to him. So while some may have laughed at his quirky antics, I was too busy feeling sympathy for pool little Melvin.

    The film is filled with quirky, low-brow humor, which often works. I just felt that the premise wore thin after a while, and that's when the film seemed to simply go through the motions.

    Despite that, I had a good time and can understand why this is the film that put Troma on the map. So if you're in the mood for a funny, low-budget, low-brow horror-comedy, then please check out "The Toxic Avenger."

    My score: 6 (out of 10)
    9glenmatisse

    The Best Kind of Trash

    The king of trash movies. It's so effortlessly entertaining that things that should be offensive are easily laughed off. It's the only movie I can think of that can make a young child getting run over by a car side splittingly hilarious.
    8Abyss47

    Has to be seen to be believed.

    One of the craziest, most over-the-top, and bizarre films I've ever seen. Still feels surprisingly fresh and puts the majority of today's superhero films to shame, including recent hits such as "Avengers Assemble" and "The Dark Knight Rises" (Coincidentally, the latter stole a line from this film). Why? Because not only does this not take itself even remotely seriously, it's hilarious to the point where the comedic timing rivals that of some of the most beloved comedies out there. The pacing is also practically perfect, ensuring there's not a single dull moment during the entire runtime. The only time where I started to feel the length was during the finale, but that's only because I was watching it late at night. Herz and Kaufman proved here that they knew exactly what it took to make an entertaining camp trash classic. It also has some rather well implemented social commentary, but never preaches to the viewer or makes them feel as if they're watching a "message movie" in disguise. "The Toxic Avenger" is certainly not for everyone, and the average person is likely to automatically label it as juvenile garbage with no redeeming values, but for those with an open mind and a strong stomach for pretty much anything, it's simply an absolute blast from start-to-finish, and if any of Troma's other films are even half as entertaining, I have a feeling I'm going to quickly become a huge fan.
    6atinder

    This movie falls in to that the movie is SO bad it's good for a Laugh

    Well you know what your going get when you head first in troma movie.

    As soon as the movie started, I could not stop laughing and these bunch of Adults in there early to mid 30's acting like teens in this, the acting in this movie was So bad it was laughable.

    The movies keep going on, I loved the plot the movie, was really clever, Horror fans never really had their own monster superhero

    Well that kind of original Idea in 80's, this movie as some decent amount of Bloody deaths.

    But I do think they spent bit to long death scenes just kill them already.

    Well acting didn't really bother movie after first 10 minutes, I think it's improved just tiny bit, with rest of the over the top movie.

    This movie falls in to that the movie is SO bad it's good for a Laugh.

    6 out of 10
    6Tweetienator

    The Toxic Avenger Still Rocks

    The Toxic Avenger is one of those Troma horror flicks you should have watched at least once in your lifetime befor entering the next level - if you love horror comedies, of course. What you get is perfect cheesy horror 80s style with a lot of humor, overacting, some naked boobs, weird stuff happening scene after scene, fueld with crazy characters, and last but not least, some gory moments and violence. Still great fun for the connoisseur of sleazy 'n' trash. Don't forget: there are a couple of sequels, quality ranging from okay to solid.

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    Related interests

    Mathew Karedas in Samurai Cop (1991)
    B-Action
    Bridget Hoffman in The Evil Dead (1981)
    B-Horror
    Jeff Goldblum in The Fly (1986)
    Body Horror
    Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Sian Clifford in Fleabag (2016)
    Dark Comedy
    Bill Skarsgård in It (2017)
    Monster Horror
    Peter Sellers in Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
    Satire
    Shawnee Smith in Saw (2004)
    Splatter Horror
    Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo, and Chris Hemsworth
    Superhero
    Bruce Willis in Die Hard (1988)
    Action
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby (1968)
    Horror
    James Earl Jones and David Prowse in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
    Sci-Fi

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The head-crushing scene was based on a time when Lloyd Kaufman was backing a car out of his garage and accidentally hit his younger sister. Nobody was harmed, but the memory haunted him for years.
    • Goofs
      During the love montage there is a scene where Toxie jokingly puts a pylon on his head and Sara laughs, Sara's character is blind.
    • Quotes

      The Toxic Avenger: You fat slob. Let's see if you've got any guts.

      [Toxie then punches the mayor in the stomach and rips out his guts]

      The Toxic Avenger: Officer O'Clancy, take care of this toxic waste.

    • Alternate versions
      The Norwegian DVD titled Unrated Director's Cut runs 91 minutes. It includes the smashing of the head of the biker boy, and also includes the scene where the female leads are shown as survivors at the police station. This version also has some strange montages with résumés from earlier in the movie with the soundtrack looping.
    • Connections
      Featured in Stephen King's World of Horror (1986)
    • Soundtracks
      Basement Chase Transformation
      Composed and Performed by Christopher Burke

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    FAQ18

    • How long is The Toxic Avenger?Powered by Alexa
    • Is it true that there's an Unrated Director's Cut and an Unrated Extended Cut available?
    • What are the differences between the censored British BBFC 18 Version and the Uncensored Version?
    • Does Marisa Tomei appear in the Theatrical version, or the Directors Cut?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 1985 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Officially sanctioned Toxic Avenger fan site
      • Troma
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • El vengador tóxico
    • Filming locations
      • Rutherford, New Jersey, USA
    • Production company
      • Troma Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $475,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 22m(82 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono

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