The Toxic Avenger is a 1984 American superhero horror comedy film directed by Michael Herz and Lloyd Kaufman (credited as Samuel Weil) and written by Kaufman and Joe Ritter. The film was released by Troma Entertainment, known for producing low budget B-movies with campy concepts and gruesome violence. Virtually ignored upon its first release, The Toxic Avenger caught on with filmgoers after a long and successful midnight movie engagement at the famed Bleecker Street Cinemas in New York City in late 1985. It now is regarded as a cult classic.

The film has generated three film sequels, a stage musical production and a children's TV cartoon. Two less successful sequels, The Toxic Avenger Part II and The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie, were filmed as one. Director Lloyd Kaufman realized that he had shot far too much footage for one film and re-edited it into two. A third independent sequel was also released, titled Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV.

The Plot:

This parody has developed a cult following. It is set in Tromaville, New Jersey, the "Toxic Capitol of the World." This is a town where everyone seems to be beautiful except poor Melvin Furd the scrawny town nerd. Everybody picks on the little health club janitor until someone throws him into a barrel of toxic sludge and he turns into a hideous looking, but incredibly strong super hero, the Toxic Avenger, who takes off to save New Jersey from the wicked. This film is very, very violent