The Critters franchise may not have the same level of notoriety as some of the larger slasher films, but the creature feature horror series has spawned a number of movies that have made an undeniable mark on the horror genre and are still being explored.
The ‘80s and ‘90s were a very experimental and reckless time for the horror genre, and many movie franchises both died and came to be during these years. A growing problem is that many of the movies from the late 1980s are just derivative of earlier horror without bringing anything new to the genre. Granted, Critters is very much a response to Gremlins, but it builds its own mythology that’s been able to sustain four films throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s. Recently, it received a modern entry that tried to revive the property. Critters has been able to stay in the picture while other imitations have slowly disappeared.
The Critters franchise begins as a fun take on the alien sub-genre that’s able to grab audiences' attention thanks to the wonderful character design that’s used for these tiny, but deadly alien Krites. The quality across the series of films definitely fluctuates, but most of the movies feature at least one impressive set piece that’s typically driven by the strong work that’s been put into the Critters themselves. With it looking like the Critters franchise is far from dead, it’s a good time to revisit how the existing five movies stack up.
5. Critters 4 (1992)
Many different horror franchises, from Friday the 13th to Hellraiser, had movies set in space during the ‘90s, but with Critters, this definitely feels like the lowest impact. The franchise also gains the least from sending the characters and the Krites to outer space. As the Krites are already from space, it’s kind of inconsequential to try and get stakes out of this sequel pivot. That aside, the biggest sin of Critters 4 is that the film takes itself incredibly serious, whereas most space entries are about having fun with this outlandish concept. There’s also a small body count, which is another fundamental detail in these films. It intentionally rips off Alien in a lot of ways, none of which really work. Brad Dourif and Angela Bassett are both featured in the cast, which makes the way in which Critters 4 wastes its talent even more egregious.
4. Critters Attack! (2019)
2019’s attempt to resurrect Critters is a mixed bag because it is a very fitting tribute to the series that operates as a strange sequel. It also feels like a reboot, but reflects how these movies worked a lot better in the ‘80s and ‘90s. The plot doesn’t go overboard; it depicts a normal family under siege from the Krites and brings back Dee Wallace. Critters Attack! cranks up the body count and is considerably more violent than the original movies. The film also introduces some new concepts to the Krite race that facilitate a larger onslaught of furry enemies as well as a “good” Krite. Critters Attack! tries its best to build on the magic of the original movies—it’s a step in the right direction.
3. Critters 3 (1991)
Critters 3 sees Charlie, the series' protagonist, follow the Krites into a metropolitan city when a rundown apartment complex becomes the aliens’ targets. Critters 3 is having fun, which is fundamental to these movies, but it pushes the humor a little too far and sometimes prioritizes laughs over scares. A sub-par budget also makes Critters 3 a big disappointment after Critters 2, so in that respect, the movie also feels like a step backwards. Critters 3 also marks Leonardo DiCaprio’s first role in a feature film. While he’s very much just a kid here and the role doesn’t require any heavy lifting, it’s still a fun extra element to enjoy in the imperfect sequel.
2. Critters (1986)
The original Critters is a wonderful landmark of the 1980s, and while it helps establish a lot of things for the films like the Krites and alien bounty hunters, it surprisingly is sparse with the Krites and their carnage. Critters instead devotes a lot more time to the family in peril, and goes a long way in terms of caring about these characters; those that just want chaos will likely be disappointed. The film is rightfully viewed as one of the strongest entries in the series and what helped kick off the franchise in the first place, but it’s still held back by its efforts to perfect the Krite puppetry, mechanics, and the franchise is still finding its footing.
1. Critters 2: The Main Course (1988)
Critters 2: The Main Course is exactly what fans want from a sequel. It takes everything that the original movie does so well and pushes it all to even more extreme places, with the giant destructive ball of Krites being the best example. It also finds its rhythm with the creatures. The fact that Critters 2 is also an Easter movie makes this sequel even better; the idea to have children painting Krite eggs like they’re Easter eggs and an Easter bunny massacre is as delightfully weird as a Critters movie should be.