Summary
- Not every Ghoulies movie is a cinematic masterpiece, but the franchise has a cult following due to its charmingly bizarre and campy elements.
- Ghoulies IV was the only sequel that returned to the original premise, but it failed to capture the essence of the original film and cheapened the iconic Ghoulies design.
- Ghoulies II is considered the best film in the franchise, as it successfully combines scares and silly fun while giving the Ghoulies a more prominent role.
Not every Ghoulies movie claims the title of top-tier cinema; some are notably better than others. These pint-sized creatures, with their campy and at times outright absurd antics, occupy a distinctive niche in pop culture, particularly enjoyed by enthusiasts of the charmingly bizarre world of '80s horror. The franchise's enduring appeal and cult status stand unrivaled, despite not all the films being cinematic masterpieces. While certain films adeptly embraced the campy elements, not every installment in the series reached the same heights. This illustrates the challenges of maintaining relevance in the realm of creature features and highlights why specific movies and plot lines outshone the rest.
Created by Charles Band, the Ghoulies franchise has found its own little spot in classic 1980s horror. Spanning a decade (1984-1994), the Ghoulies appeared in four films, all completely unique and twisted in their own way, despite having the basic premise of satanic ritual gone wrong. The absurdity and charm found in similar films like, Gremlins, Critters, and Munchies that Ghoulies clearly was inspired by, is present with the franchise trying to also find its own unique take. With definite misses and debatable hits, the Ghoulies movies can most definitely be enjoyed, but there are a couple that didn't quite find their footing.
4 Ghoulies IV (1994)
Despite Ghoulies IV being the only sequel to return to its original recipe of satanic rituals, as well as a return of the original protagonist, Jonathan Graves, played by Peter Liapis, this sequel offers no resemblance of the original film. Also, due to a lower budget compared to the other films of the franchise, the Ghoulies played a very minimal part in the film, almost acting as sidekicks, as opposed to titular characters. The classic Ghoulies design was changed as the original puppets could not be restored and reused. Therefore, they were portrayed by dwarf actors Arturo Gil and Tony Cox in troll-like costumes, cheapening the campy and expressive aesthetic found in earlier films. While this made them more expressive, it removed much of the novelty that fans of the franchise came to know and love.
3 Ghoulies Go To College (1991)
In the third installment of the franchise, Ghoulies Go To College adds a more juvenile element with the shenanigans taking place on a college campus. Instead of being killer creatures as seen in the films before it, the Ghoulies take on a more prankster role. This film is also the first where the Ghoulies speak, making the story a bit awkward at times. While this was probably done to make the films more in alignment with the Gremlins films, it missed the mark by overdoing the absurdity element of the movie. While entertaining at times, it lacks the quirky attitude of its predecessors.
The Original Gremlins Movie Was Almost Darker (& Had Bigger Deaths)
Joe Dante's Gremlins is a dark movie, but the original Gremlins script had some incredibly gory deaths that were cut from the final film.
2 Ghoulies (1985)
Despite being the first of the franchise, it slightly misses the mark on being considered the best. While the creepy characters aren’t the main stars of this film, it still offers classic 1980s charm. The design of the Ghoulies is creative and iconic in its own right and adds a layer of influence in horror history. While this flagship film laid the blueprint for its best sequel, it focused more on black magic and hijinks, as opposed to the Ghoulies themselves. This film serves as a fun, nostalgic journey into creative 1980s horror. Even though the titular characters are mainly side characters, they still provide a fun sense of entertainment that make the original Ghoulies an enjoyable watch.
1 Ghoulies II (1987)
Undoubtedly the best film of the franchise, Ghoulies II succeeds in becoming what the first film tried to be when it created the formula for the franchise in 1985. Because it sticks to a single location for the majority of the film, special effects are more pronounced and the Ghoulies’ design is better represented. For the first time, their presence is felt throughout the film, finally allowing the tiny, creepy creatures to take center stage. Taking place at a carnival, this film gives audiences a great mix of scares and silly fun. While still maintaining the silly and campy charm this franchise is known for, Ghoulies II delivers a more cohesive and classic take on what can happen when demonic creatures run amok among mere mortals, giving it the title of the best in the Ghoulies franchise.
