Gremlins is an American comedy horror media franchise produced and owned by Warner Bros. and Amblin Entertainment. The franchise centers on a species of creatures known as mogwai, which evolve into the titular imp-like monsters if the three rules regarding their care are violated; in particular, the franchise focuses on the conflict between the friendly Gizmo and the malicious Stripe. The franchise began with the eponymous 1984 film, written by Chris Columbus and directed by Joe Dante; and continued with a sequel, Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990), also directed by Dante, with a third theatrical film being scheduled for release in 2027. The franchise also includes video games, an animated prequel series and related merchandise.