Critters

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Critters

PG-13

1986

1h 24m

Horror

Sci-Fi

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

52%

Tomatometer

52 Reviews

45%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

When strange fuzzy creatures from outer space arrive on a farm, the Brown family -- Jay (Billy Green Bush), Helen (Dee Wallace-Stone), their daughter, April (Nadine Van Der Velde), and their son, Brad (Scott Grimes) -- must fend off the malevolent little aliens. Two bounty hunters with superhuman abilities follow the aggressive beasts from beyond, but the warriors aren't terribly effective, leaving the Brown family to battle the fur balls and rescue April from their clutches all by themselves.

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Critics Consensus

While Critters ekes out some fun from a game cast and screwball tone, the titular monsters fail to deliver the credible menace that makes a creature feature satisfying.

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Kim Newman

Empire Magazine

The lead monsters are sort of endearingly nasty and the movie has fun with its small town setting, but the film is perhaps a little too derivative to pass muster with the best of retro-chic [science fiction].

Rated: 3/5

Oct 28, 2021

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Variety Staff

Variety

Critters resemble oversize hairballs and roll like tumbleweeds when prodded into action, the perfect menace for this irritatingly insipid and lightweight film which unfolds with plodding predictability and leaves few cliches unturned.

Oct 28, 2021

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Alexander Walker

London Evening Standard

It's so pitifully plain that the budget won't stretch to showing bigger Critters that the pathetic effect becomes laughable.

Oct 27, 2021

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...a mostly misguided disaster.

Rated: 1.5/4

Oct 2, 2025

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David Day

Horror Movie Talk

It’s not going to blow you away or even make you feel scared. But it’s not really supposed to make you scared. It’s supposed to be a somewhat risque and fun film for you to sit down with your youngsters on a Friday night and munch on some popcorn over.

Rated: 7/10

Sep 23, 2025

Full Review

Joe Lipsett

Horror Queers Podcast

More than a ripoff of Gremlins, Critters is a fun, Amblin-esque family adventure with plenty of amusing sequences and extremely memorable titular creature design, though at times the events at the farm and in the town feel disconnected

Rated: 3.5/5

Sep 4, 2024

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Farah R

I didn't expect to have such a great time watching Critters. My sisters and I kept bursting out with laughter at the screwball comedy and hilarious one-liners. Critters expertly combines sci-fi horror elements with lighthearted, dark humor, offering pure popcorn fun and entertainment without demanding serious attention.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/28/25

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Michael A.

One word comes to mind whenever I watch this film..Fun. Its a movie made for that reason and that reason alone. And sure maybe it tries to jump on the Gremlins fame, yet it tries to be its own thing at the same time. Interesting enough this film was written before Gremlins, yet was made after. In the end, that doesn't really matter, cause this film is a great tribute to the monster movies of the 50s and 60s, with 80s charm. Its funny, entertaining, thrilling, and most of all a great time. Like I said Fun is truly the best word to describe this sci-fi horror campfest.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/12/25

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Andy's E

great sci fi monster movie, been watching this since the 80's, also has great humour particularly when one of the critters drops the f-bomb this came out of now where and shown in subs, great cast, writting is good also, also not to long so the pacing is good and not over stuff

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/03/25

Full Review

xpig332 B

Mediocre 1980’s B movie, one time watch!

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

10/19/25

Full Review

Aaron G.

W movie all the way

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/09/25

Full Review

Ben M

so i watched this on tubi and i gotta say its not bad for a kinda sort of ripoff movie. as this came out in the 80s i will not be judgeing the graphics or fx because there were some limitations to technogly. it was kinda confusing but yet again limitations. it was kinda weird and strange but the action defiently fixed it. also i do not like how the two teens were kissing on the ground in the hay i hated that part. and also they actullay defend themselves yet again they didnt call the police like most horror movies but yeah they did defend. kinda cursed in a way not the scariest movie. but besides that this is a good movie. definitely recommend it

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/29/25

Full Review

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Stephen Herek

Director

Dee Wallace

Helen Brown

M. Emmet Walsh

Harv

Terrence Mann

Johnny Steele

Billy Green Bush

Jay Brown

Scott Grimes

Brad Brown

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Synopsis

When strange fuzzy creatures from outer space arrive on a farm, the Brown family -- Jay (Billy Green Bush), Helen (Dee Wallace-Stone), their daughter, April (Nadine Van Der Velde), and their son, Brad (Scott Grimes) -- must fend off the malevolent little aliens. Two bounty hunters with superhuman abilities follow the aggressive beasts from beyond, but the warriors aren't terribly effective, leaving the Brown family to battle the fur balls and rescue April from their clutches all by themselves.

Director: Stephen Herek
Producer: Rupert Harvey, Barry Opper
Screenwriter: Domonic Muir, Stephen Herek
Production Co: New Line Cinema, Sho Films, Smart Egg Pictures
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 1, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $11.3M
Runtime: 1h 24m

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