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It's been 42 years since the first Gremlins movie scared audiences silly, but it looks like those pesky little monsters just won't die as Gremlins 3 is officially on the way. That's right, after all of the rumors and delays, Joe Dante's comedy horror is coming back to life to haunt a whole new generation in 2027.
Although we don't really know where the third movie will take us after Gremlins 2 was set in New York, we have our theories on what might happen. However, the threequel is in safe hands, with OG producer Steven Spielberg returning, as well as writer Chris Columbus, who this time is taking the directing reins. Plus, the writers behind Final Destination are penning the script, so there should be no shortage of scares
Below, we have gathered everything you need to know about the Gremlins 3 release date, confirmed cast members, plot speculation, and more. After, check out our guides to the best '80s movies, and keep up with our list of all the other upcoming movies on their way.
Gremlins 3 release date
Gremlins 3 will hit theaters on November 19, 2027. The date was recently revealed by the president of Warner Bros. Discovery, David Zaslav, on an investor call and was later added to Warner Bros.' upcoming film slate.
Zaslav went on to confirm that Steven Spielberg is returning to executive produce, and Chris Columbus, who penned the first two movies, is set to direct and produce. Warner Bros. has yet to reveal when Gremlins 3 might start filming, but with the release date 2 years away, we expect cameras to start rolling at the end of 2026.
Gremlins 3 plot speculation
No official plot details have been released for Gremlins 3 yet. However, with over three decades to crack the code on the story, we are expecting big things. In an interview with GamesRadar+ in August 2025, Columbus said that although he had a "bunch of scripts" for the third movie, "there has to be a reason for doing it." Adding that the reason has to be more than just money. So, with that, it sounds as though Columbus and Spielberg may have finally found that something special they were looking for.
Thanks to earlier reports, we know that Gremlins 3 will act as a proper third installment, rather than a reboot. Gremlins 1984 follows Billy (Zach Galligan), who gets cute pet named Gizmo for Christmas but is not allowed to expose him to sunlight, water, or food after midnight. When those rules are broken, Gizmo forms spawns furless, scary, and evil imp-like monsters who break out and wreak havoc on the town.
Gremlins 2: The New Batch revisits Billy years later in New York, where he and his wife Kate soon find out that the gremlins have spawned once again and have taken over a new skyscraper in the city. The sequel ends with Billy, Kate, and Gizmo defeating the gremlins, but one female gremlin named Greta survives and forces the owner of the skyscraper to marry her.
So, what will Gremlins 3 entail? Well, in a public Q&A (H/T Entertainment.ie) Galligan said that Gremlins 3 will be "something along the lines of Jurassic World, where it will be 30 years later." Jurassic World revisits the land of the dinos decades later and shows how the creatures are living in the modern world and all that comes with it. Who knows, in Gremlins 3 we may find out just what the Gremlins are capable of when they get their hands on some major technology.
With so much time passed, the story could really go anywhere. Billy will surely be about 60 years old at this point and might have children or even grandchildren of his own. This means that the threequel could allow a new family member to take the lead and face the gremlins with the OG characters taking a backseat, just like with the Jurassic franchise.
As for Gizmo, we are not so sure how long gremlins live for, but we hope nothing has happened to that little guy. And the gremlins? Movie prosthetics have come a long way since the first film hit screens, so the slimy little beasts may undergo a bit of a makeover. But rest assured, in 2020, Columbus told Comic Book that they would not be using CGI for the gremlins but rather traditional puppets and animatronics.
Gremlins 3 cast speculation
As of now, no casting official announcements have been made. However, we think we know who could be returning. At the end of the second film, lead characters Billy Peltzer, played by Zach Galligan, and Kate Beringer, played by Phoebe Cates, manage to survive.
Galligan seems to be in the know about what's going on behind the scenes and has given updates on the movie's progress through the years. When Gremlins 3 was confirmed, Galligan shared the news on Twitter with the eyes emoji, suggesting he may be involved after all.
As for the wider cast, the trilogy could really go anywhere. We expect many actors to want to be a part of such an iconic franchise. In March 2025, Wednesday star Jenna Ortega said she'd love to be part of the Gremlins franchise, telling IMDb, "Would love… Gremlins 3? 4? Call me."
Is there a Gremlins 3 trailer yet?
Gremlins 3 has not yet started filming, meaning that there is no trailer on the horizon just yet. However, as the sequel is set to hit screens in November 2027, we expect to see the first teaser sometime around mid-2027.
In the meantime, you can watch the original Gremlins movie on HBO Max in the US, and if you are in the UK, you can head over to Now TV.
For more, check out our list of the best horror movies and keep up with the biggest movie release dates.
