First Appearance: Critters (1986)
Portrayed by: Puppetry by the Chiodo Brothers
Kill Count: 40+ (across all films)
Tier: Third Class
What Are the Critters?
Known as Crites, the Critters are ravenous alien predators — rolling furballs with razor-sharp teeth, a gluttonous appetite, and a sadistic sense of fun. Originally prisoners on an asteroid penal colony, these carnivorous creatures escape confinement and head to Earth, leaving trails of blood, half-eaten livestock, and destroyed homes in their wake.
Though small in size, they’re deadly in numbers. They can roll into balls, swarm their prey, and launch poison-tipped quills to incapacitate targets. They even grow in size after feeding — sometimes transforming into giant versions of themselves.
The Crites communicate in high-pitched alien gibberish, often subtitled with crude jokes or insults. While undeniably monstrous, they have a personality — laughing, arguing, and sometimes panicking when the tables turn.
They’re cute… until they eat you alive.
Critters (1986)
Directed by Stephen Herek, the original Critters was marketed during the height of Gremlins fever, but the two films were developed independently. Critters has a distinctly sci-fi edge, with bounty hunters, spaceships, and alien prisons shaping the lore.
After escaping Galactic confinement, eight Crites crash-land on Earth, targeting a rural Kansas farm. They begin devouring cattle, attacking the Brown family, and hiding throughout the property. Meanwhile, two shape-shifting bounty hunters are sent to capture or destroy them.
The Crites:
- Eat chickens, cows, and people.
- Speak with each other using subtitles (“Where’s the ship?” — “Shut up and eat!”).
- Are tough to kill — bullets barely faze them.
The film mixes horror, sci-fi, and dark comedy in equal parts. While the Crites are undeniably dangerous, they’re also hilarious, poking fun at humans and even each other.
Critters 2: The Main Course (1988)
Set two years later, the Crites return — this time with eggs left behind that hatch into dozens of baby Critters. The chaos hits Grover’s Bend, where a grown-up Brad Brown returns to warn the town.
In this sequel:
- The Crites swarm in larger numbers.
- A Critter eats through a guy’s stomach from the inside.
- One bounty hunter transforms into a Playboy centerfold.
- A giant Critter ball crushes and devours anything in its path.
The tone leans more comedic and cartoonish, but the practical effects by the Chiodo Brothers elevate the carnage. It’s one of the most beloved entries for fans.
Critters 3 (1991)
Set in an urban apartment building, this straight-to-video sequel follows a group of tenants fighting for survival when the Crites infest their complex.
It’s notable for one thing: Leonardo DiCaprio’s film debut.
Lower budget, fewer kills, but still loaded with Critter personality and cheesy charm.
Critters 4 (1992)
This time, the Critters are in space — fully embracing sci-fi horror. The film is darker and more serious, with less humor and minimal Crite screen time.
Set aboard a space station, the film focuses on cloning, experiments, and corporate greed. The Crites still kill, but their presence is toned down compared to earlier entries.
Critters: Attack! (2019)
A reboot/sequel with updated gore and a new generation of characters. The Crites crash-land again and begin picking off locals. The twist? There’s a female Critter, a white-furred creature who’s fighting against her own kind.
It’s more violent than some of the earlier entries and brings back Dee Wallace from the original film — possibly as her same character.
Personality & Traits
- Highly Aggressive: Attack in packs, devour flesh within seconds.
- Smart & Evolving: Understand space tech, pilot ships, and lay traps.
- Sadistic Humor: Laugh during kills, insult each other, mock victims.
- Tactical: Retreat when needed, adapt to new threats.
- Weaponry: Teeth, poison quills, and acidic saliva in later entries.
Legacy & Trivia
- Often Compared to Gremlins, but more sci-fi focused and graphically violent.
- Created by the Chiodo Brothers, also known for Killer Klowns from Outer Space.
- Merch: Figures, masks, plush toys, T-shirts, enamel pins, and even Critter balls.
- TV Series: Critters: A New Binge (2019), a short-lived streaming comedy series that leaned heavily into parody.
Other Appearances
- Featured in fan games and 8-bit horror mashups.
- Referenced in Robot Chicken, Family Guy, and horror retrospectives.
- Frequently requested for Dead by Daylight and NECA figure lines.
League Placement
Third Class
They crash. They bite. They multiply.
And they’re always hungry.
They’re not housebroken — they’re Crites.