Movies like Gremlin (2017)
The best movies like Gremlin (2017) are Puppetmaster (1989), Dead Silence (2007) and Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich (2018). If Gremlin hooked you with its horror, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedM3GAN (2022)7.0/10 from 5,100 votes
- NewestThe Last House (2026)Released 2026
Puppetmaster (1989)
After being contacted by their mysterious former colleague, four psychics arrive at a secluded hotel where they are stalked by a group of murderous puppets.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both horror
SnoozefestMovies like thisDead Silence (2007)
Jamie returns to his hometown in search of answers to his wife's murder, which occurred after receiving a weird package containing a ventriloquist dummy named Billy, which may be linked to the legend of ventriloquist Mary Shaw. Destined to find out the truth, Jamie goes to the town of Raven's Fair, where Shaw used to perform and is buried. But Jamie is in for more than he expected.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both horror
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisPuppet Master: The Littlest Reich (2018)
A recently divorced young man discovers a mint condition Blade doll in his deceased brother's closet and plans to sell the toy at a convention in Oregon celebrating the 30th anniversary of the infamous Toulon Murders. All hell breaks loose during the auction when a strange force animates all of the puppets throughout the convention, setting them on a bloody killing spree.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both horror
SnoozefestMovies like thisDon't Be Afraid of the Dark (2010)
A young girl sent to live with her father and his new girlfriend discovers creatures in her new home who want to claim her as one of their own.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both horror
SnoozefestMovies like thisFrankenweenie (1984)
When young Victor's pet dog Sparky (who stars in Victor's homemade monster movies) is hit by a car, Victor decides to bring him back to life the only way he knows how. But when the bolt-necked "monster" wreaks havoc and terror in the hearts of Victor's neighbors, he has to convince them (and his parents) that despite his appearance, Sparky's still the good loyal friend he's always been.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both horror
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisChild's Play (1988)
After being shot in a toy store, a serial killer transfers his soul into a Good Guy doll. A mother then gifts it to her six-year-old son Andy, which unleashes terror upon the city.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both horror
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisPuppet Master III: Toulon's Revenge (1992)
After hearing that mystical toymaker Andre Toulon has managed to create a troupe of sentient, living puppets, Nazi underling Dr. Hess sets his sights on exploiting Toulon's powers for the glory of the Reich.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both horror
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisHoward Lovecraft & the Frozen Kingdom (2016)
After visiting his father in Arkham Sanitarium, young Howard Lovecraft accidentally uses the legendary Necronomicon to open a portal to a strange frozen world filled with horrifying creatures and a great adventure.
Why it matches: Fans watch both
SnoozefestMovies like thisRumpelstiltskin (1995)
In the 1400s, Rumpelstiltskin is imprisoned inside a small jade figurine. In modern-day Los Angeles, the recently widowed wife of a police officer, with baby in tow, finds her way into a witch's shop and purchases a certain figurine, resulting in the cackling beast being freed and demanding possession of the baby.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both horror
SnoozefestMovies like thisR.L. Stine's Pumpkinhead (2025)
When his brother disappears and everyone forgets he existed, Sam must unravel the mystery before Finn is gone forever.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both horror
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisOculus (2014)
A woman tries to exonerate her brother's murder conviction by proving that the crime was committed by a supernatural phenomenon.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both horror
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisCome Play (2020)
Oliver, a lonely autistic boy, seeks solace and refuge in his ever-present cell phone and tablet. When a mysterious creature uses the boy's devices against him, his parents must fight to save their son from the monster beyond the screen.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both horror
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisLittle Monsters (1989)
A young boy is scared of the monster under his bed. He asks his 6th grade brother to swap rooms for the night as a bet that the monster really exists. Soon the brother becomes friends with the monster and discovers a whole new world of fun and games under his bed where pulling pranks on kids and other monsters is the main attraction.
Why it matches: Fans watch both
SnoozefestMovies like thisLullaby (2022)
A new mother discovers a lullaby in an ancient book and soon regards the song as a blessing. But her world transforms into a nightmare when the lullaby brings forth the ancient demon Lilith.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both horror
SnoozefestMovies like thisMonkey’s Magic Merry Go Round (2026)
After a mysterious bout of amnesia, a beloved children’s television host struggles to piece together his fractured memories, only to find his once-cheerful puppet co-stars behaving with sinister intent. As reality unravels, the line between performance and nightmare begins to blur.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both horror
Worth the HypeMovies like thisMonster House (2006)
Monsters under the bed are scary enough, but what happens when an entire house is out to get you? Three teens aim to find out when they go up against a decrepit neighboring home and unlock its frightening secrets.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both horror
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisNecromancy (1972)
After Lori suffers a stillbirth, her husband Frank obtains a job with a northern California toy company. Frank's new boss, the mysterious Mr. Cato, explains that Frank's position will involve magic. Cato, who seemingly holds enormous influence over the town, pursues the power of necromancy and believes that Lori holds the key that will help him resurrect his own dead son.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both horror
Annabelle: Creation (2017)
Several years after the tragic death of their little girl, a doll maker and his wife welcome a nun and several girls from a shuttered orphanage into their home, soon becoming the target of the doll maker's possessed creation—Annabelle.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both horror
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Gate (1987)
Three young children accidentally release a horde of nasty, pint-sized demons from a hole in a suburban backyard. What follows is a classic battle between good and evil as the three kids struggle to overcome a nightmarish hell that is literally taking over the Earth.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both horror
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisMonster Trucks (2016)
Tripp is a high school senior with a knack for building trucks who makes an incredible discovery - a gas-guzzling creature named Creech. To protect his mischievous new friend, Tripp hides Creech under the hood of his latest creation, turning it into a real-life super-powered Monster Truck. Together, this unlikely duo with a shared taste for speed team up on a wild and unforgettable journey to reunite Creech with his family.
Why it matches: Fans watch both
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisGremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)
Young sweethearts Billy and Kate move to the Big Apple, land jobs in a high-tech office park and soon reunite with the friendly and lovable Gizmo. But a series of accidents creates a whole new generation of Gremlins. The situation worsens when the devilish green creatures invade a top-secret laboratory and develop genetically altered powers, making them even harder to destroy!
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both horror
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisM3GAN (2022)
A brilliant toy company roboticist uses artificial intelligence to develop M3GAN, a life-like doll programmed to emotionally bond with her newly orphaned niece. But when the doll's programming works too well, she becomes overprotective of her new friend with terrifying results.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both horror
Worth the HypeMovies like thisTroll (1986)
When a family moves into a San Francisco apartment, an opportunistic troll decides to make his move and take possession of little Wendy, thereby paving the way for new troll recruits, the first in his army that will take eventual control of the planet. We soon discover Torok is the ex-husband of Eunice St. Clair, a resident in the building who was married to Torok.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both horror
SnoozefestMovies like thisDolls (1987)
A precocious girl, her nasty parents, two punk-rock losers and a weak-kneed salesman inadvertently become the guests of two ghoulish senior citizens in their dark, haunted mansion.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both horror
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Last House (2026)
A family suddenly sealed inside their home must work together to survive against dwindling resources and the ominous threat keeping them trapped.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both horror
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisSilver Bullet (1985)
The small city of Tarker's Mills is startled by a series of sadistic murders. The population fears the work of a maniac, but sightings of a mysterious, hairy creature soon spread. People lock themselves up at night, but there's one boy who's still outside…
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both horror
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisIt's Alive (1974)
The Davises are expecting a baby, which turns out to be a monster with a nasty habit of killing people whenever scared. And it's easily scared.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both horror
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Horror of Frankenstein (1970)
Brilliant but arrogant scientist Victor Frankenstein builds a man from spare body parts, only for the monster to come alive and wreak havoc.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both horror
SnoozefestMovies like thisThe Cellar (2022)
When Keira Woods' daughter mysteriously vanishes in the cellar of their new house in the country, she soon discovers there is an ancient and powerful entity controlling their home that she will have to face or risk losing her family's souls forever.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both horror
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisGood Boy (2025)
A loyal dog moves to a rural family home with his owner Todd, only to discover supernatural forces lurking in the shadows. As dark entities threaten his human companion, the brave pup must fight to protect the one he loves most.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both horror
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like Gremlin?
The closest matches to Gremlin are Puppetmaster (1989), Dead Silence (2007) and Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich (2018). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after Gremlin?
People who watched Gremlin most often go on to Puppetmaster (1989), Dead Silence (2007) and Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich (2018).
What is the highest-rated movie like Gremlin?
M3GAN (2022), rated 7.0/10 by 5,100 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like Gremlin?
The Last House (2026) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there English movies like Gremlin?
Yes: Puppetmaster (1989), Dead Silence (2007) and Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich (2018).
How are movies similar to Gremlin chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Gremlin, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.