7. Critters (1986)
Original: Gremlins (1984) This is an entry that has all the hallmarks of just being plane unfortunate for the filmmakers of the chronologically inferior Critters, still the similarities are there, so lets not give them the benefit of the doubt just yet. Time has been kind to Gremlins and there are a number of reasons why. Directed by horror guru Joe Dante (Pirhana, The Howling), Gremlins covers a lot of bases. Its a horror film thats also funny, it features iconic monsters with an infamous set of rules (which must be obeyed at all times!), its gets away with being a family film AND its set at Christmas meaning its on television EVERY year, oh and its also very good. It even has the good fortune of having Steven Spielberg on board as producer, so when the film was criticized for occasionally being too violent, instead of changing the film Spielberg suggest the ratings were changed and guess what, they were. When the original Critters film, directed by Stephen Herek was released two years later, comparisons were inevitable. Gremlins had the eponymous Gremlins, yet they started out as cute little fluffy Mogwai, whereas Critters has The Crites, falling somewhere in between furry, yet more menacing than youre average Gizmo.
Differing in back story (Gremlins origins seemingly an oriental bric-a-brac store, whilst The Crites came from outer space), the respective creatures endgame was seemingly to cause chaos and destruction in small town USA - apply your metaphors here Critters co-writer and director Herek has always maintained that Critters was written before Gremlins was released. Even suggesting that rewrites took place in order to placate potential allegations of plagiarism from the get-go. Unfortunately for him, the rewrites didnt stop critics and audiences alike making comparisons between the movies once youve seen one hairy critter youve seen em all and Critters never really strayed too far from Gremlins shadow.