IMDb - Gremlins / Gremlins 2 - Goblin-like Mayhem

The Gremlins films (1984, 1990) feature creatures whose name derives from an old English folklore term for mischievous goblin-like beings originally blamed for mechanical failures in RAF aircraft during World War I and II. The film's Mogwai—cute, furry creatures that transform into reptilian goblin-like monsters called Gremlins when exposed to water or fed after midnight—are a modern cinematic take on the goblin trickster archetype. In Gremlins 2: The New Batch, the Gremlins mutate into various specialized forms including a bat-Gremlin, a spider-Gremlin, an electric Gremlin, and a 'smart' Gremlin who speaks and wears glasses. Like traditional goblins, Gremlins are chaotic, destructive, and find joy in mayhem. They multiply rapidly, love causing technological disasters, and are ultimately defeated by sunlight—a weakness shared with many goblin traditions. The films tapped into the same folkloric vein as goblin mythology while creating an original American spin on the concept.