Critters (franchise)
A franchise about carnivorous extraterrestrials that eat and breed.
The *Critters* franchise is an American series blending science fiction, comedy, and horror. It includes five feature films and one television series. The story revolves around the Krites, also called Critters, which are evil, meat-eating aliens. They can curl into spiky balls like hedgehogs and combine into a giant rolling sphere. The first movie came out in 1986 and received a mixed or negative review from critics Siskel and Ebert, with Ebert giving it 2 stars and Siskel a thumbs down.
Many people think the series was made to profit from the success of *Gremlins*, but director Stephen Herek has denied this. He explained that Domonic Muir wrote the first *Critters* script long before *Gremlins* began production, and later rewrites were done to lessen the similarities between the two films.
The Krites are small, furry, and spiky, with large mouths full of sharp teeth. They eat anything they find, including humans. Their back spikes can be shot as projectiles that knock victims unconscious or cause injury. The creatures come in black, brown, and navy blue. In the first film, they could grow much larger, but this ability was dropped in later movies. The Krites exist only to eat and breed, while the human characters try to survive and defeat them.
The first two films take place in a small American town, where alien bounty hunters chase the Krites. The third movie is set in a city, and the fourth occurs on a space station. The Chiodo Brothers handled the creature effects and later made *Killer Klowns from Outer Space*. Terrence Mann appears in the first three films as Ug, an interstellar bounty hunter, but is absent from the fourth film. Don Keith Opper plays Charlie, an alcoholic who steps up to defend humanity. Leonardo DiCaprio appears in *Critters 3*, while Dee Wallace-Stone and Billy Zane are in the first film. Scott Grimes stars in the first two movies as Bradley Brown.
The films are: *Critters* (1986), *Critters 2: The Main Course* (1988), *Critters 3* (1991), *Critters 4* (1992), and *Critters Attack!* (2019). The television series is *Critters: A New Binge* (2019). It was shot in Canada in mid-2018, with filming wrapping in Vancouver. Serving as a sequel/continuation set after the films, the series shows the creatures returning to Earth on a secret mission, chased by intergalactic bounty hunters. It premiered on Shudder on March 21, 2019.
Quick Facts
- Based On
- Characters created by / Domonic Muir
- Distributor
- Warner Bros. / (New Line Cinema)
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Critters franchise began with the 1986 film, which was widely believed to have been made to cash in on the success of Gremlins, though director Stephen Herek refuted this, noting that the first script was written by Domonic Muir before Gremlins went into production and underwent rewrites to reduce similarities. The series follows Krites, extraterrestrials that can roll into balls like hedgehogs and form a giant sphere. They have sharp teeth, launch projectile quills from their backs that can knock victims unconscious or cause injury, and come in black, brown, and navy blue. In the first film, they could grow larger, but this ability was dropped later.
The storyline for the first two films involves alien bounty hunters pursuing Krites in a small American town.
Reader's Guide
The Critters franchise holds significance as a cult series within the science fiction comedy-horror genre, often compared to Gremlins but with its own distinct lore. The Krites, with their unique abilities like rolling into balls and launching poisonous barbs, have become recognizable creatures in 1980s and 1990s horror-comedy. The franchise's legacy includes a consistent cast, with Terrence Mann and Don Keith Opper appearing across all four original films, and early appearances by actors like Leonardo DiCaprio. The creature effects by The Chiodo Brothers contributed to the series' visual identity. The 2019 reboot, Critters: A New Binge, attempted to revive the franchise for a new audience. The series' themes of survival against relentless, breeding extraterrestrials have kept it a niche favorite among fans of B-movie horror.
Did You Know?
- The original film received 'two thumbs up' from Siskel and Ebert.
- Director Stephen Herek refuted claims that Critters was made to cash in on Gremlins, noting the script was written before Gremlins went into production.
- The creature effects were done by The Chiodo Brothers, who later made Killer Klowns from Outer Space.
- Leonardo DiCaprio appeared in Critters 3.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Critters franchise?
Critters is an American series that mixes science fiction, comedy, and horror around a group of carnivorous extraterrestrial creatures. The franchise consists of five feature films and one television series, kicking off with the original 1986 movie.
What special abilities do the Critters have?
The alien creatures can curl their bodies into spiky, hedgehog-like balls for defense or attack. They can also merge together to form a massive rolling sphere, and they reproduce by consuming prey and breeding.
Who designed the Critters creature effects?
The practical creature effects throughout the franchise were crafted by the Chiodo Brothers, who were responsible for bringing the spiky alien designs to life on screen.
Was Critters created as a Gremlins knockoff?
Although many viewers assume the 1986 film was produced simply to capitalize on Gremlins' box-office success, director Stephen Herek has pushed back against that narrative. The project actually stands independently from the Gremlins phenomenon.
Which actors have appeared across multiple Critters entries?
Terrence Mann and Don Keith Opper are the two performers who recur throughout the franchise. Notable one-off cast members include Leonardo DiCaprio, Dee Wallace-Stone, Billy Zane, and Scott Grimes.
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