Gremlins 3 has slipped to 2028, but the director of Home Alone is making it
Christopher Columbus directs and produces, with Steven Spielberg back as executive producer. The title, cast and plot are all still unannounced.
Just when you think the Gremlins can’t possibly get into more trouble, Warner Bros. has decided to keep us all waiting for their latest antics. If you’re keen on the return of these furry chaos-makers, brace yourself for a longer wait—because Gremlins 3 isn’t showing up as soon as promised.
Gremlins 3 will now hit UK cinemas on 6 October 2028, moving from its original November 2027 slot.
The Wait Gets Longer
Warner Bros. made it official in late September 2026: Gremlins 3 is getting shuffled back in the calendar, now set to unleash the mayhem in October 2028. That’s a nearly year-long setback for anyone who’s been counting down since its first whisperings at a 2025 investor call. (Chalk this one up under "How to make fans both nostalgic and mildly annoyed.") The delay comes bundled with other changes to Warner’s slate, including DC’s Dynamic Duo, now also postponed—so it’s not an isolated bit of foot-dragging.
Who’s Returning (and Who Isn’t, Yet)
If you’re anxious about who’s piloting the ship, here’s the rundown: Steven Spielberg is back as executive producer (probably the safest pair of hands you could hope for in Blockbuster Land), working alongside Eleanor Columbus, whose Maiden Voyage outfit is onboard. Christopher Columbus—yes, that one; the bloke behind Home Alone and the first two Harry Potter films—is not just directing, but also producing, so expect a heavy hit of the original ’80s spirit.
The script situation’s had more hands than a gremlin in a pick ‘n’ mix. Hannah Marks is credited for the current draft, but Columbus, Zach Lipovsky, and Adam Stein apparently took earlier cracks. Producing alongside the main lot are Kristie Macosko Krieger and Holly Bario from Amblin, plus Michael Barnathan and Mark Radcliffe flying the 26th Street Pictures flag. If you were hoping for casting or plot details, don’t bother scouring the internet yet—the studio’s keeping all of that tightly under wraps, including the actual title. No one’s slipped and leaked anything, shockingly.
A Quick Reminder: Why Gremlins Still Matters
The original Gremlins (1984, directed by Joe Dante) set the scene for every 'adorable creature becomes pint-sized tearaway' movie that followed. Billy—standard American lad—ignores simple instructions about his new Mogwai pet (no water, no snacks after midnight… so, basically every rule a child will immediately break) and ends up with a Christmas-plagued town overrun by chaos-loving gremlins. It made a staggering $212 million from just $11 million in the bank. Also worth noting: its gleefully odd mix of horror and comedy helped spawn the dawn of the PG-13 rating.
The 1990 sequel, The New Batch, poked fun at the money machine culture and didn't do nearly as much box office, but somehow came out of its initial reception with cult classic status. Not too shabby for a film that nearly everyone initially shrugged at.
Franchise Life (and Studio Excitement)
If you think it’s just nostalgia fueling this, think again: Warner’s current head of production Jesse Ehrman sounded positively giddy when the new film was announced, saying the franchise still holds a special place both for die-hard fans and newbie audiences alike. The chaos recently spilled over to TV as well, with the 2023 animated prequel Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai, so the little beasts are still finding ways to pop up everywhere except a live-action cinema near you—until 2028, anyway.
- Gremlins 3: Now scheduled for 6 October 2028 (from 19 November 2027)
- Spielberg back as exec producer, with Christopher Columbus directing and producing
- Script handled by Hannah Marks, building on work from Columbus, Lipovsky, and Stein
- Main plot, cast, and even the full title still a mystery
- 2023 saw the animated prequel Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai air
- Original 1984 Gremlins: $212 million global gross from $11 million budget
- Sequel Gremlins 2 (1990): $41 million, now a cult favourite