S.S. Wilson said that he got the idea for the film while he was working for the U.S. Navy in the California desert. While resting on a rock, he imagined what it might be like if something underground kept him from getting off the rock.
Kevin Bacon originally resented being in Tremors, only agreeing to do it because he needed money for his new marriage and upcoming newborn child. When the film was not financially successful, Bacon feared his career was over, and in following years would refuse to acknowledge the film's existence and even called it the "worst thing I ever did." However, Bacon would eventually come around to Tremors, calling the filming of Tremors to be "the single most fun time I've ever had making a movie in my entire career" in 2012, and later admitting in a 2020 interview "When I was making Tremors, I was very depressed and at a low-point in my life, and I kinda blamed Tremors for all that. I was bitter against it, I thought it was a career-killer...I never watch my movies more than once, some of my movies I've never even seen before and have no desire to, but I've watched Tremors a dozen times. I love it so much, and I spent years trying to capture the same energy we had on the set of Tremors. It's one of my favorite films of all time."
Although "Tremors" was not a big hit during its theatrical run, the film became a runaway smash in the home video market, and ultimately tripled its original box-office gross with VHS sales and rentals.
One idea by the special effects crew was for the worms to have an outer shell. When above the dirt, the shell would retract to reveal a slimier 'inner worm'. However, many production members started to giggle at the 'phallic' resemblance it had with a foreskin, so this was changed to the big worm sprouting several smaller worms from its mouth.
For the scene in which Rhonda had to get out of her jeans to escape the Graboid about to eat her, Finn Carter intentionally didn't rehearse the scene. That way the response she gives to having to undress in front of Kevin Bacon in less than five seconds was authentic.