Gremlin

A kind-hearted, curious teenager who bonds with Gizmo and tries to protect his family and friends. He naively shares the mogwai's wonders with others, which sets off a chain reaction of danger. Though brave, he must navigate the chaos caused by the gremlins and help others survive the night.

A small, friendly mogwai who follows the three always-forbidden rules. Gizmo's gentle demeanor charms Billy, but his offspring unleash a cascade of trouble when exposed to water or after midnight. Despite the destruction, Gizmo remains a sympathetic symbol of innocence in peril.

The aggressive, hawk-like leader of the gremlins who manipulates the others into mischief. Stripe embodies the unpredictable danger that emerges when the Mogwai's rules are broken. His escape from the heightened theater culminates in a deadly confrontation.

Billy's former elementary school science teacher who experiments on Gizmo, leading to catastrophic consequences. His arrogance and curiosity mirror the film's broader caution about meddling with unknown life. He is ultimately killed by a gremlin in the ensuing rampage.

Billy's mother, overwhelmed by the chaos but determined to protect her family. She endures fear and danger as the town's nightmare unfolds, and her perspective on the holiday's joy is forever altered by the night's terror.

The wise owner of the Chinatown shop who tries to teach the family a lesson about nature's carelessness. He ultimately demonstrates mercy, acknowledging Billy's readiness to take responsibility for Gizmo in the future.

A widowed, miserly figure whose ruthless behavior makes her a target of the gremlins' havoc. Her death is among the many casualties of the rampage.

Billy's coworker and girlfriend who provides a personal backstory about a missing father and an eerie family history. She becomes a voice of caution and a witness to the town's Christmas trauma.