Critters (1986): Small Terrors, Big Fun!

Sometimes, the scariest things come in the smallest, furriest packages. If you’re a fan of creature features with a healthy dose of dark humor and a touch of suburban chaos, then prepare to have your socks… or perhaps your entire house… metaphorically nibbled away. We’re diving back into the delightfully monstrous world of Critters (1986), a classic that proved even the most unassuming farm can become the epicenter of an extraterrestrial invasion.

This isn’t your typical alien invasion flick. Forget sleek spaceships and intellectual conquerors. In Critters (1986): Small Terrors, Big Fun!, the invaders are round, hairy, ravenous balls of teeth and fury, capable of rolling at high speeds and spewing corrosive goo. They crash-land in the seemingly idyllic Kansas farmlands, and it’s up to a brave, albeit unprepared, family and a couple of quirky bounty hunters to save the day. Get ready for some gooey, toothy action!

Plot Synopsis

In Critters (1986), chaos begins when the Kopek—an outlawed race of small, furry, carnivorous aliens—stage a daring escape from an interstellar prison transport. These creatures, known across the galaxy for their destructive appetites and uncanny ability to multiply, hijack a ship and set a course for the nearest unsuspecting planet: Earth. Their landing site couldn’t be more unassuming—a quiet, isolated farm in rural Kansas.

But the moment the Critters (or “Crites,” as they’re officially classified) scuttle out of their crashed vessel, it becomes clear that this peaceful farmland is about to become ground zero for a full‑blown extraterrestrial feeding frenzy. Led by a ruthless alpha Crite, the creatures waste no time sinking their needle‑sharp teeth into livestock, machinery, and anything else unfortunate enough to cross their path. Their hunger is limitless, their methods chaotic, and their presence impossible to ignore

The Brown family—Jay, Helen, their teenage daughter April, and their young son Charlie—are the first humans to encounter the escalating threat. Life on the farm has always been predictable, but the arrival of the Critters shatters that sense of normalcy in an instant. Jay tries to make sense of the bizarre attacks on his animals, while Helen attempts to keep the family calm as strange noises echo across the fields.

April, caught between teenage romance and sudden alien danger, finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time more than once. And then there’s Charlie, whose odd behavior and nervous energy suddenly make a lot more sense. He’s been aware of the Critters’ existence longer than anyone realizes, having picked up strange signals and sightings he couldn’t explain—or didn’t think anyone would believe.

Just when the Browns think things can’t get any stranger, two shape‑shifting intergalactic bounty hunters arrive on Earth. Ug and Shar, armed with high‑tech weaponry and a mission to recapture or eliminate the escaped Critters, crash into the situation with more enthusiasm than competence. Their ability to mimic human forms is impressive, but their understanding of Earth customs is… lacking. Their attempts to track the Critters often result in collateral damage, confusion, and a growing sense that the aliens they’re hunting may actually be smarter than they are.

As night falls, the Critters grow bolder, multiplying rapidly and turning the Brown farm into a battleground. The family, forced into survival mode, must rely on their wits, their courage, and even their loyal farm dogs to fend off the relentless creatures. With the bounty hunters causing as many problems as they solve, the Browns find themselves at the center of an intergalactic conflict they never asked for. What follows is a tense, darkly comedic fight for survival as humans, aliens, and would‑be heroes collide in a showdown that tests the limits of bravery, family bonds, and rural resourcefulness.

In the end, Critters blends sci‑fi horror with mischievous humor, delivering a story where ordinary people face extraordinary threats—and discover that sometimes the most unlikely defenders can rise to the occasion.

Cast and Characters

• Dee Wallace as Helen Brown
• M. Emmet Walsh as Harv
• Billy “Green” Bush as Jay Brown
• Scott Grimes as Brad Brown
• Nadine van der Velde as April Brown
• Don Keith Opper as Charlie McFadden
• Billy Zane as Steve Elliot
• Ethan Phillips as Jeff Barnes
• Terrence Mann as Ug/Johnny Steele
• Jeremy Lawrence as Reverend Miller/Preacher
• Lin Shaye as Sally
• Corey Burton as the voice of the Crites/Critters
• Adele Malis-Morey as Woman #1
• Patrick McAreavy as Dr. Critter

Release Date and Details

• Critters (1986) was released in the United States on January 10, 1986.
• Directed by Stephen Herek and written by Josepha DeJesus and Stephen Herek.
• Genre: Horror, Comedy, Sci-Fi
• Runtime: Approximately 82 minutes.

Franchise

The Critters franchise spans five films (1986–2019) plus a TV series (Critters: A New Binge). Throughout its run, the movies featured quirky on-set stories, celebrity debuts, and fun Easter eggs referencing sci-fi and horror classics.

📀 Franchise Breakdown

1. Critters (1986) – Small‑town invasion, Dee Wallace stars.
2. Critters 2: The Main Course (1988) – Easter setting, bigger budget, more Critters.
3. Critters 3 (1991) – Urban setting, Leonardo DiCaprio’s debut.
4. Critters 4 (1992) – Sci‑fi horror in space.
5. Critters Attack! (2019) – Modern reboot with Dee Wallace returning.
6. Critters: A New Binge (2019)

🎥 On‑Set Happenings

• Original Nightmare: Director Stephen Herek based the first film on a childhood nightmare of small creatures invading his home.
• Puppet Chaos: The Critters were puppets designed by the Chiodo Brothers (also behind Killer Klowns from Outer Space). Operating them required multiple puppeteers hidden in haylofts or under sets to coordinate the movements of the eyes, stomach, and mouth.
• Language Creation: Voice actor Corey Burton invented the Critters’ language, blending French and Japanese influences.
• Design Inspiration: The Critters were modeled after the Looney Tunes character Tasmanian Devil, giving them their manic energy.

🧩 Easter Eggs & Trivia

• Celebrity Debuts:
  • Critters (1986) featured Billy Zane in an early role.
  • Critters 3 (1991) marked Leonardo DiCaprio’s film debut.
• Lin Shaye Cameo: She appears in the original film, years before becoming famous in Insidious.
• Sci‑Fi References: The films include nods to E.T., Star Wars, Star Trek, Ghostbusters, and even John Travolta.
• Recurring Character: Charlie McFadden (Don Keith Opper) appears in all four original films, evolving from comic relief to reluctant hero.
• Critters Reproduction Oddities: Inconsistent lore about egg incubation — Critters 3 shows eggs hatching in hours, while Critters 4 claims six months.

Trailer

Critters may be a creature feature from the 80s, but its blend of genuine scares, practical effects that still hold up, and laugh-out-loud moments of dark humor has cemented its status as a cult classic. It’s a film that doesn’t take itself too seriously, yet delivers on thrilling chase sequences and memorable monster designs. If you’re looking for a fun, slightly gory, and entirely entertaining ride, round up your friends, lock your doors, and prepare for the arrival of the Critters!

Where to Watch