Gremlins(1984)
1984 · Joe Dante · 106 min
After receiving an exotic small animal as a Christmas gift, a young man inadvertently breaks three important rules concerning his new pet, which unleashes a horde of malevolently mischievous creatures on a small town.
Fantasy · Horror · Comedy
7.17.1k votes
TMDB score
1/5
Intensity
1/5
Gore
1/5
Stays with you
How Gremlins scares
You get a mix of cozy Christmas charm and mischievous monster chaos, so it feels more like a fun creature romp than a real horror movie. The scares are mostly quick jolts and gross-out gags rather than anything that builds dread, and the tone stays playful and cartoonish even when things get destructive. There's some dark humor and a few surprisingly wicked moments, but it never feels mean-spirited or heavy. Great for families or anyone who wants monster mayhem without nightmares afterward.
On The Horror Database's 0–5 scare profile, Gremlins rates psychological 1/5, visceral 2/5, gore 1/5, lingering effect 1/5, and overall intensity 1/5.
- Psychological: 1 of 5
- Visceral: 2 of 5
- Gore: 1 of 5
- Lingering: 1 of 5
- Intensity: 1 of 5
Slow burn vs Jump scares: 55 of 100 — balanced
Supernatural vs Real-world: 30 of 100 — leans Supernatural
Fun-scary vs Disturbing: 10 of 100 — leans Fun-scary
Intensity over runtime
Shape only — no eventsReveal pacing shapeHide pacing shapeHidden by default — shows where the tension peaks and lets up.
A cozy, comic start slowly tips into mischief before building to a wild, chaotic middle stretch that eases off for a lighter finish.
Intensity across the runtime, 0 to 100: 0, 0, 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 3, 2.
How scary is Gremlins?
On The Horror Database's 0–5 intensity scale, Gremlins rates 1/5 — gentle by horror standards, balancing creeping dread with well-placed shocks. It works on both fronts, unsettling the mind while going for the body. Expect it to be restrained with gore and fun-first. The dread fades once the credits roll.
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