Critters
Voracious alien furballs overrun a Kansas town, forcing one family, a sheriff, and bizarre intergalactic hunters into a scrappy comic-horror defense.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Moderate
- screwball
- mischievous
- energetic
- late night genre marathon
- 1980s movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film amusing and charming in its screwball low-budget style, while viewing its monster menace and suspense as underdeveloped and derivative.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The furry Crites combine voracious attacks with a screwball, playful presentation that keeps the horror light.
The alien creatures attack a small Midwestern town, especially the Brown family home and nearby farm spaces.
The film combines alien spacecraft, intergalactic hunters, and Crites with comic horror set pieces.
Helen, Jay, Brad, and April Brown respond collectively as the creatures invade their domestic space.
Films like Critters, and why
Gremlins
Shared small-town creature feature premise, practical monster effects, and comic horror tone.
The Blob
Shared extraterrestrial invasion, suburban family peril, practical effects, and playful science fiction humor.
They Live
Shared low-budget alien menace, eccentric bounty hunters, and comic science fiction adventure.
Ghoulies
Shared 1980s creature-feature energy, family-centered survival, and mischievous practical monsters.
Movie Details
- Director
- Stephen Herek
- Release Date
- 1986-04-11
- Runtime
- 86 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (1150)
Cast
- Dee Wallace
- M. Emmet Walsh
- Billy Green Bush
- Scott Grimes
- Nadine Van der Velde
- Don Keith Opper
- Lin Shaye
- Billy Zane
- Ethan Phillips
- Terrence Mann
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Howdy Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Critters about?
- Voracious alien furballs overrun a Kansas town, forcing one family, a sheriff, and bizarre intergalactic hunters into a scrappy comic-horror defense.
- What is Critters like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Critters as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Critters violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Critters as moderate.
- What did critics think of Critters?
- Critics broadly found the film amusing and charming in its screwball low-budget style, while viewing its monster menace and suspense as underdeveloped and derivative.
- Which films are like Critters?
- Films with a similar feel include Gremlins, The Blob, They Live, and Ghoulies.
- How long is Critters?
- Critters runs 86 minutes.
- Where can I watch Critters?
- In United States, Critters streams on Howdy Amazon Channel.
