One of the first without Corman was the movie Airplane!, in which he was listed in the end credits as "generally in charge of a lot of things". Working with Dante, Finnell then produced the modest hit The Howling in 1981 and the blockbuster Gremlins in 1984.
Airplane! was one of Corman's first roles without him. Listed only as "generally in charge of a lot of things" at the end credits, Finnell collaborated with Dante to produce The Howling in 1981 and Gremlins in 1984.