History YMMV / Gremlins

* AngstWhatAngst: When Rand reunites with Billy and Kate at the tail end of the movie's climax, he doesn't react to the fact his son is clearly ''bleeding and heavily injured'' at all -- his role in the scene ''literally'' plays out as if Billy is physically fine. Whilst seeing a gremlin for the first time (while it's melting to death no less) ''is'' a pretty eye-catching thing, it's a bit of a stretch for it to override the [[PapaWolf paternal instincts]] of a decent middle-class father whose son is visibly injured for reasons he doesn't yet know, nevermind that Rand's lack of reaction persists ''after'' the gremline's [[spoiler:(Stripe's)]] body has fallen out of sight into the fountain.

* AccidentalAesop: Think about the responsibility before you get a pet.

** The question is, which is better? The original [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBEYCbamxIQ Gremlin Rag]] or the more up-tempo [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0PbjKZGYxg Gremlin Theme]] from the sequel?

** Some cultural commentators have accused the gremlins of being racist caricatures of African-Americans, usually singling a quick sequence where one gremlin breakdances as evidence (presumably these critics are unfamiliar with ''Film/{{Flashdance}}'', which is the clear object of parody in that scene).

* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotPolitical: Of course, this was not intentional, but some people still see this film as a satire on the YellowPeril and Americans' stereotypes about Asia, especially [[MadeInCountryX cheap Japanese imports]]. This is especially invoked when, at the beginning of the film, one of the veterans tells the main character a popular legend about GripingAboutGremlins.

** On that note - "fed after midnight" has attained some popularity as a colorful descriptor of something quickly multiplying, often [[FollowTheLeader new series following a popular bandwagon]].

* ViewerNameConfusion: See MandeleEffect example. For the record, the main gremlin's name is "Stripe," not "Spike", and the lead gremlin in the sequel is officially named Mohawk (though WordOfGod suggests that they are indeed the same character, reincarnated).

* ViewerNameConfusion: For the record, the main gremlin's name is "Stripe," not "Spike", and the lead gremlin in the sequel is officially named Mohawk (though WordOfGod suggests that they are indeed the same character, reincarnated).

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: The whole "Santa Claus" speech comes out of nowhere, and isn't mentioned again afterward, leaving it completely without any resolution. It has absolutely no reason to be in the movie [[NightmareFuel other than to be disturbing]]. The sequel had some fun with this when it turns out Christmas isn’t the only holiday she has traumatic memories about, but this time no one cares.
* CreepyAwesome: Stripe. He's the vile, nightmarish, sadistic leader of the Gremlin horde, but is so manically cunning and has such commanding personality he's a very enjoyable villain to watch

** Creator/ChrisColumbus wrote the script years before he'd direct ''Film/HarryPotterAndTheSorcerersStone''.

* {{Applicability}}: The film has been interpreted as a metaphor for everything from puberty to white suburbia's fear of minorities.

** Chris Columbus wrote the script years before he'd direct Film/HarryPotterAndTheSorcerersStone.

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: Billy and Stripe's final confrontation takes place inside a Montgomery Ward store. Montgomery Ward wet out of business in 1999.

* CultClassic: For many reasons, but primarily due to [[TheEighties '80s]] nostalgia and the inherent charm of the series.

* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation:
** When Gizmo refused a chicken leg from an unsuspecting Billy after midnight, was it because he knew it was after midnight or because he wasn't hungry? Furthermore, was Gizmo's noticeable reaction to seeing Stripe and his gang eat because Gizmo knew what would happen next or because he was merely disgusted at their manners?
** Were Stripe's and the other first-batch mogwai's malevolent acts (stringing up Barney in the cold, tormenting Gizmo and attacking Billy) purely down to the malevolence they seemed to have from birth; or was it also fueled by a sense of jealousy because Billy, though he still catered to the other mogwai's needs, clearly favored and paid more attention to Gizmo.

* CultClassic: For many reasons, but above all because of the nostalgia for the '80s and the very strong charm of the series. As an example, this film is considered a nostalgic classics, even in Eastern Europe or Asia.

* MemeticMutation: Thanks to this film, the word "gremlins" was primarily associated with its characters.[[note]]It was first invented by World War II pilots, who would joke that they were responsible for any mechanical failures in the aircraft.[[/note]] And the official theme, so much that many now remember it more than the film itself.

* ViewerNameConfusion: For the record, the main gremlin's name is "Stripe" not "Spike", and the lead gremlin in the sequel is officially named Mohawk (though WordOfGod suggests that they are indeed the same character, reincarnated).

* IAmNotShazam: For the record, the main gremlin's name is "Stripe" not "Spike", and the lead gremlin in the sequel is officially named Mohawk (though WordOfGod suggests that they are indeed the same character, reincarnated).

* RetroactiveRecogniton: Creator/JonathanBanks is Deputy Brent.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter: The first movie bothers to properly introduce several residents of Kingston Falls, even giving them detailed personalities and backstories. Most of them disappear in the second act or end up quick victims of the Gremlims' rampage. It's especially glaring with Gerald (played by Judge Reinhold) who is set up as a jerk deserving of some comeuppance -- and is then never seen again after his second scene in the tavern (though he is terrorised in a deleted scene). The sequel seems to go out of it's way to avoid the same mistake, even bringing back a handful of the original cast to be utilised more fully.