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Return of the Killer Tomatoes!

  • 1988
  • PG
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
5.3/10
8K
YOUR RATING
Return of the Killer Tomatoes! (1988)
Trailer for Return of the Killer Tomatoes
Play trailer2:15
1 Video
47 Photos
ParodyComedyHorrorSci-Fi

Crazy old Professor Gangreen has developed a way to make tomatoes look human for a second invasion.Crazy old Professor Gangreen has developed a way to make tomatoes look human for a second invasion.Crazy old Professor Gangreen has developed a way to make tomatoes look human for a second invasion.

  • Director
    • John De Bello
  • Writers
    • John De Bello
    • Costa Dillon
    • J. Stephen Peace
  • Stars
    • Anthony Starke
    • George Clooney
    • Karen M. Waldron
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.3/10
    8K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John De Bello
    • Writers
      • John De Bello
      • Costa Dillon
      • J. Stephen Peace
    • Stars
      • Anthony Starke
      • George Clooney
      • Karen M. Waldron
    • 65User reviews
    • 53Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Return of the Killer Tomatoes
    Trailer 2:15
    Return of the Killer Tomatoes

    Photos47

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    Top cast50

    Edit
    Anthony Starke
    Anthony Starke
    • Chad Finletter
    George Clooney
    George Clooney
    • Matt Stevens
    Karen M. Waldron
    Karen M. Waldron
    • Tara Boumdeay
    • (as Karen Mistal)
    Steve Lundquist
    • Igor
    John Astin
    John Astin
    • Professor Gangreen
    Charlie Jones
    Charlie Jones
    • TV Sportscaster
    J. Stephen Peace
    • Wilbur Finletter
    • (as Rock Peace)
    Michael Villani
    Michael Villani
    • Bob Downs
    • (as Mike Villani)
    Frank Davis
    • Sam Smith
    Harvey Weber
    • Sid
    John De Bello
    John De Bello
    • Charles White…
    Ian Hutton
    • Greg Colburn
    Gordon Howard
    • Pizza Customer
    Rick Rockwell
    • Jim Richardson…
    Costa Dillon
    Costa Dillon
    • Prison Guard
    • (as C.J. 'Clark' Dillon)
    • …
    Mark Wenzel
    • Mime
    Spike Sorrentino
    • Store Owner
    Devlin
    • Shopper
    • Director
      • John De Bello
    • Writers
      • John De Bello
      • Costa Dillon
      • J. Stephen Peace
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews65

    5.37.9K
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    Featured reviews

    10iainsmith

    A truly excellent comedic spoof.

    If you expect a serious movie you'll be massively disappointed. If, however you're expecting a comedic spoof that doesn't take itself (or it's prequel) seriously then you're in for a wild ride. It's almost worth watching just so you can admire George Clooney's 80's mullet. There's little plot, but instead there is a series of imaginative scenes which can really make you laugh (so long as you don't try and take the movie seriously). Heartily recommended.
    DarthBill

    Made me laugh so much I had a side stitch

    Picking up a couple of years after the original, tomatoes are now banned - which has ruined the pizza industry - and the unseen mad scientist who chalked up those giant killer tomatoes in the first film, Dr. Gangreen (John Astin) is up to his old tricks again, only this time he's using music to make tomatoes into people, and depending on the type of music being played, that determines who/what the tomato becomes. Playing sexy jazz music produces sexy blond tomato women, playing Salsa music produces Carmen Miranda, playing Church music produces the Pope, playing pop produces either a pre-white Michael Jackson look-a-like or a Don Johnson look-a-like, or if you play rock music, you get big, burly military tomato men.

    As Charlton Heston's character from "Soylent Green" would say: "The killer tomatoes are PEOPLE!"

    Our hero, Chad Finletter(Anthony B. Starke) falls for the attractive one time tomato Tara (Karen Mistal). Unfortunately, Tara can be changed back into a tomato whenever she hears a certain musical chord.

    Full of gags (like the aforementioned multiple musical interpretations of a tomato) that include a prison dividing its cells between "Really bad guys" and "former political aids", the mime stalking Chad & Tara during their musical montage dating sequence, pot shots at how films have to feature tons of marketing in order to have a budget to get made, pot shots at bad movie marathon hosts and game shows, and let's not forget MY personal favorite, the talking teddy bear that calls out for help when Rock Peace tries to smother it. Film also features a more coherent "plot" (as it were) and served as the blue print for the animated series that later aired on Fox Kids.

    Keep an eye out for it. George Clooney makes his film debut as Chad's friend and pizza co-worker Matt.
    snesgirl

    Funnier than it has any right to be..

    I had fond memories of the cartoon, but realised that I'd never actually seen the movie.

    This is a perfecly silly, intentionally cheesy, 80's classic. The premis is so silly and everyone involved (especially Clooney) is so obviously just having FUN making it that the humour is just utterly infections.

    The knowing looks at the camera. The exaggerated dramatics. The tomoato transformation effects. FT!!!!

    I LOVE this movie and heartily recommend it as a classic "B" movie.

    You cannot beat this film for a silly giggle. All those po faced people who claim its not amusing need a humour transplant.

    all together now.. (sings) "When Big breastd giiiiiiirllllllllS, go down to tthe beach....!"
    10overkill-6

    Cult Classic Continues...

    ...excuse the excessive alliteration. A sequel (of sorts, though they change the entire plot) to the original "Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes," this film absolutely screams "80's"...the music especially. That said, sure, it's silly, it's plot-deficient, it's over-acted...but it's SUPPOSED to be! The movie constantly makes fun of itself as it runs. ("Hey, has there been a chase scene in this movie yet?")

    A young, big-haired George Clooney delivers dozens of one-liners perfectly [this is not a big surprise, actually], the visual jokes are a riot (the overdone "product placement" is brilliant, especially considering its juxtaposition with the completely silly "fight scene" featuring cowboys, ninjas, bikers, and a really bad impersonation of Muamar Ghadafi), John Astin's totally-over-the-top "evil doctor" character is so deliberately bad it's good, the little sideline parodies are excellent (Oliver North Federal Prison? Full Contact America's Cup Yachting?)...good stuff all around.

    Oh yes, and it's also one of the very few films to feature the gorgeous Karen Mistal. (I've spent some time trying to figure out what she supposedly did with a lawnchair, six milk bottles, and a tuning fork...)

    It also features a quick cameo by lingerie-clad Teri Weigel, who went on to star in quite a few other movies...though most of them aren't exactly rated "PG," if you catch my drift.
    ashspicefilms

    Funny, but where's the tomatoes?

    Being a huge b-movie fan, I had to see this movie. It is VERY funny and entertaining and still a b-movie even with a larger budget, but the only footage of tomatoes moving and attacking people (the best part of the original) is taken from the original "attack" film. Here instead we got tomatoes that look exactly like people. But when you buy an "attack of the killer tomatoes" movie that shows a giant killer tomato attacking on the cover, you expect to see a giant killer tomato attacking in the movie! John Astin as Gangreen was funny, but I like the original movie's reason for tomato attacks. In the original, man altered tomatoes to make them better but accidently gave them the ability to grow and attack people.

    In this movie that is all ignored and now the killer tomatoes were made by a evil professor in his basement.

    I think the original plot AND movie are much better, but this films is still very funny in it's own way. And I am surprised it got away with many of the raunchy jokes while staying PG.

    Recommended if you want to laugh.

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    Related interests

    Bill Pullman, John Candy, Joan Rivers, Daphne Zuniga, and Lorene Yarnell Jansson in Spaceballs (1987)
    Parody
    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
      Teri Weigel plays the part of a playmate. She was actually Playboy's Playmate of April 1986.
    • Goofs
      As Chad talks to the Fuzzy Tomato, the clock says 1:52 am. The scene cuts to a close-up of the Fuzzy Tomato, and the clock says 2:10 am. When the camera moves back to Chad, the clock says 1:53 am. The very end of the scene, the clock says 2:13 am.
    • Quotes

      Tara: They are gardeners and carpenters, they are not tomato men.

    • Crazy credits
      Near the end of the end credits, Bob Downs and Sid talk about what a crummy movie it was, then a voice says "All right, who let the carrots on the stage?" Bob says "Hey! You carrots can't be here..." and is cut off by gunshots and screaming. The credits end and Bob and Sid are lying dead. Two carrots holding machine guns and dressed as Rambo step out and say "There is no movie tomorrow." Then Prof. Gangreene starts laughing and says "See you in France!"
    • Connections
      Edited from Attack of the Killer Tomatoes! (1978)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 22, 1988 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • KT Entertainment
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • El regreso de los tomates asesinos
    • Filming locations
      • National City, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Four Square Productions
      • Tomatos II
      • Tomatos II
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $5,000,000
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 38m(98 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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