It's been over four decades since a mischievous Mogwai first hit the big screen, but Gremlins is proving it still has plenty of bite. The 1984 cult classic has surged onto HBO Max's worldwide Top 10, currently holding the No. 3 spot—a testament to its enduring appeal and the buzz surrounding the franchise's upcoming third installment.
Directed by Joe Dante and written by Chris Columbus—who would later helm Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone—the film follows Billy (Zach Galligan) as he receives a furry creature named Gizmo for Christmas. But caring for a Mogwai comes with strict rules: no bright light, no water, and absolutely no feeding after midnight. When those rules are broken, chaos erupts as the town is overrun by scaly, mischievous Gremlins.
The movie was a box office phenomenon, grossing over $212.9 million worldwide, and it quickly became a holiday staple. Critics and audiences alike embraced its blend of horror and comedy, earning it an 86% critics score and a 78% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Its success spawned a sequel, Gremlins 2: The New Batch, and an animated prequel series, Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai, which explores Gizmo's early adventures with a young Sam Wing.
Now, with a third film officially in the works, fans are flocking back to the original. The sequel, which Columbus is set to write and direct, has been in development limbo for years, but 2025 brought the long-awaited confirmation. While plot details remain under wraps, Columbus has teased that the new Gremlins will be practical effects, not CGI—a nod to the original's beloved puppetry.
The project has also shifted its release date, moving from 2027 to October 6, 2028. No cast has been announced yet, but screenwriters Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein are attached. The anticipation is palpable, and the streaming resurgence is a clear sign that audiences are ready to revisit the chaos.
For those new to the franchise, Gremlins is a perfect entry point into the world of '80s creature features. Its blend of holiday cheer and dark humor has made it a timeless classic, and its recent streaming success is a reminder of its lasting legacy. As the release of the third film approaches, expect the Gremlins to keep popping up in your feed—and on your watchlist.
If you're in the mood for more classic horror-adjacent cinema, check out our ranking of film noir classics or dive into sci-fi blueprints that shaped the genre. And for fans of Columbus's other work, the Harry Potter series continues to expand its universe.
