The journey to bring the revamped “The Toxic Avenger” to theaters has been a lengthy and slippery one. It’s been quite some time since fans first got a glimpse of him, but he’s finally making his way back to the big screen. If you’re curious about Toxie’s gory past, the video above will give you an overview of his origin, demise, and resurgence.

The original film tells the story of Melvin Ferd (portrayed by Mark Torgl), a nerd who faces relentless torment from bullies and jocks at the gym where he works. After being shoved into a barrel of toxic sludge, he transforms into the Toxic Avenger (played by Mitch Cohen, voiced by Kenneth Kessler). He soon finds romance with a blind woman named Sara (Andree Maranda) while dedicating himself to fighting crime and taking revenge on the bullies who changed him into a monster.

“The Toxic Avenger” epitomizes a cult classic. Released by Troma Entertainment in 1984, the film made just $140,000 during its debut weekend but developed a cult following in video stores. Its popularity was enough to spawn three sequels, a beloved Fox animated series, and even a stage musical. Critics embraced Toxie, with the original boasting a 70% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The remake looks like it will follow suit.

The 2025 “Toxic Avenger” reboot ventures into new territory compared to the original. Our tiny but tenacious hero is now Winston Gooze (portrayed by Peter Dinklage, who also provides Toxie’s voice after his transformation, with Luisa Guerreiro in the suit). As a janitor, just like Melvin, Winston also grapples with a strained relationship with his son, Wade (played by Jacob Tremblay). After his ordeal with toxic sludge, Mr. Gooze becomes a vigilante hero, but can he regain his son’s esteem while taking on a bunch of corrupt CEOs and other villains?

So far, reviews for the reboot are exceptionally positive: currently, it holds a 92% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes, bolstered by an enthusiastic reception at several genre festivals. To learn more about Tromaville and its quirky residents, don’t forget to check out the video above for a comprehensive breakdown. Also featuring Kevin Bacon, Elijah Wood, and Taylour Paige, “The Toxic Avenger” will premiere, uncensored and in its full splendor (having once surprisingly received an R rating), on August 29.