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September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Screen & Stage • Film

Gremlins

Gremlins is a 1984 American comedy horror film directed by Joe Dante and written by Chris Columbus.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Gremlins is a 1984 American comedy horror film directed by Joe Dante and written by Chris Columbus. It follows a young man whose pet mogwai multiplies after its care rules are broken, unleashing destructive creatures on his town during Christmas Eve.

What it is

The film centres on Billy Peltzer, who receives a mogwai named Gizmo as a pet. When the creature gets wet, is fed after midnight, or is exposed to bright light, it spawns hostile gremlins that cause chaos in the fictional town of Kingston Falls.

Why it matters

Gremlins draws on folklore about mischievous creatures blamed for mechanical failures, notably in the British Royal Air Force during World War II. The film launched a franchise that includes a sequel, video games, merchandise, and an animated prequel series, making it a lasting pop-culture fixture.

Key details

Directed by Joe Dante and written by Chris Columbus, Gremlins was released in 1984 by Warner Bros. and Amblin Entertainment. Starring Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, and Hoyt Axton, with Howie Mandel voicing Gizmo, it became the first entry in the Gremlins franchise.

In short

  • Released in 1984 as the first film in the Gremlins franchise.
  • Story follows Billy Peltzer and his pet mogwai Gizmo after care rules are broken.
  • Titular creatures inspired by folklore gremlins linked to machinery malfunctions.
  • Directed by Joe Dante and written by Chris Columbus.
Canadian angle

Gremlins is widely known in Canada as a major Hollywood holiday film and part of a long-running American franchise.

Quick questions

What is Gremlins about?
It is about a young man whose pet mogwai multiplies into dangerous creatures after the pet-care rules are broken.
Who directed Gremlins?
Joe Dante directed Gremlins.
What inspired the creatures in Gremlins?
The film draws on folklore about mischievous gremlins said to cause malfunctions, especially in aircraft.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gremlins
    Supports: 1984 release, director, writer, cast, plot summary, and the film's folkloric inspiration.
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6191390/
    Supports: A different film titled Gremlin (2017), useful for disambiguation from Gremlins.
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gremlins_(franchise)
    Supports: Franchise overview, sequel, and later adaptations including an animated prequel series.
  4. Amblin — https://amblin.com/movie/gremlins/
    Supports: Studio synopsis of the film's premise and Christmas setting.