The Mogwai are making a comeback, with a release date set for the upcoming Gremlins 3.
In an investor call on Thursday, November 6, 2025 Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav announced that the mischievous little creatures known as “gremlins” are heading back to the box office. Gremlins 3 has a release date set of November 19, 2027. It will be directed by Chris Columbus, who penned the original 1984 Gremlins script.
“Gremlins 3” will open in theaters November 19, 2027.
Chris Columbus returns as director with Steven Spielberg executive producing. https://t.co/tPRz9HwPMX pic.twitter.com/T3RGT9KQl3
— Variety (@Variety) November 6, 2025
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Variety posted the announcement on X with one notable mistake that called for a “community note.”
Variety’s X post reads: “‘Gremlins 3’ will open in theaters November 19, 2027. Chris Columbus returns as director with Steven Spielberg executive producing.”
X users were quick to point out in the comments that in fact Joe Dante was the Director for both Gremlins, and Gremlins 2: The New Batch.
While Chris Columbus wrote the screenplay for the original Gremlins, he did not direct the 1984 release. He also had no involvement in the 1990 sequel.
Big Names For Gremlins 3
Several of Hollywood’s heavy hitters are already attached to Gremlins 3. Steven Spielberg is set to executive produce the film. As we’ve already mentioned, Chris Columbus (who notably directed the first two Harry Potter movies) is set to Direct Gremlins 3.
A screenshot from Gremlins – Warner Bros. Entertainment
The screenplay is to be co-written by Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein (known for their work on Final Destination: Bloodlines and “Freaks”).
From Amblin Entertainment, Kristie Macosko Krieger and Holly Bario will produce the film, along with Michael Barnathan and Mark Radcliffe of 26th Street Pictures. In addition to his directorial duties, Chris Columbus will also help produce the film.
The Original Gremlins – The Christmas / Horror Classic That Birthed The PG-13 Rating
The original 1984 Gremlins has become a strange Christmas classic, as it combines elements of a traditional holiday movie with horror.
The story follows a teenager named Billy, who receives as a gift a cute, furry, mysterious pet called a “Mogwai” who he names “Gizmo”.
After breaking the rules associated with caring for the creature, “Gizmo” spawns a host of lizard-like, mischievous versions of the Mogwai who wreak havoc on the town. While set at Christmas time and beginning with a very holiday feel, the story quickly devolves into horror, as the gremlins commit violent atrocities.
Stephen Spielberg explaining his career – YouTube, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
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When Gremlins released in July of 1984 with a PG rating, the only other available ratings at the time were “G”, “R”, and “X”. However, the scenes of graphic violence spawned outrage among parents who felt the content was inappropriate for young children, whom the movie was heavily marketed to for toy related merchandise sales.
In response to the outrage, Steven Spielberg pushed for a new rating that would warn parents of content that – while not warranting an ‘R’ rating, might be objectionable for younger viewers. Out of this, the PG-13 Rating was born, with 1984’s Red Dawn being the first movie to receive the rating.
Why Is Gremlins Returning Now?
In a statement given to Variety, Warner Bros. Pictures’ president of development and production Jesse Ehrman said, “Few titles are as beloved and iconic as Gremlins, and we’re beyond excited to bring it back for both lifelong fans and a whole new generation. It’s a privilege to be working alongside Steven [Spielberg], Chris [Columbus], and the entire creative team, and we look forward to audiences experiencing the next installment of the magic, mayhem, and heart of Gremlins on the big screen in 2027.”
Revived franchises from the 1980’s tend to be hit or miss. While the recent entry in the Tron franchise, Tron Ares completely missed the mark, Cobra Kai was a massive hit that revived interest in the Karate Kid story.
A screenshot from Gremlins – Warner Bros. Entertainment
The Sci-fi/Horror Netflix series Stranger Things has become a world wide phenomenon, striking a chord with it’s nostalgic 1980s setting and supernatural tales. These same attributes that have made Stranger Things a massive global hit are also found in the original Gremlins.
Given it’s cult following and “Christmas / Horror Classic” status, Gremlins 3 if done right could prove to be a big win for Warner Bros.
What do you think about this Gremlins 3 release date? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
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