Steven Spielberg’s 2-Part Horror Franchise Officially Returns Amid Sequel Talks
Steven Spielberg's Gremlins franchise has arrived on HBO Max, reviving interest in the horror-adjacent films just as talk of a long-awaited third instalment gathers pace. Spielberg, whose own directing style leans towards adventure rather than horror, has nonetheless produced several genre entries over the decades, with Gremlins standing as his most successful contribution to the field.
Gremlins began as a spec script by then-unknown writer Chris Columbus, which Spielberg optioned for his Amblin Entertainment banner before handing directing duties to Joe Dante; the 1984 film followed teenager Billy and his creature Gizmo, whose mishandling unleashes destructive gremlins on Christmas. Its success led to 1990's Gremlins 2: The New Batch. Both films are now streaming on HBO Max, and Columbus is reportedly writing and attached to direct Gremlins 3, with Spielberg producing, targeting a tentative release date of 19 November 2027; it remains unclear whether Dante or the original cast will be involved.
- Gremlins and Gremlins 2 are now streaming on HBO Max.
- Gremlins 3 is reportedly in development, written and directed by Chris Columbus.
- Tentative release date is 19 November 2027, with Spielberg producing.
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Gremlins is a film series that mixes comedy, fantasy and horror. The first film, released in 1984, follows teenager Billy and Gizmo, a small creature whose care comes with rules; when they are broken, the creatures multiply and cause chaos. Joe Dante directed the film from a script by Chris Columbus, with Steven Spielberg producing.
The film’s success led to Gremlins 2: The New Batch in 1990. Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment backed the original, and he is associated with the series as a producer rather than its director. The films’ return to streaming has renewed attention on the franchise and the prospect of another instalment.