If you loved
Critters
Stephen Herek · Film · 1986
What hooked you in Critters was the way a quiet, unsuspecting small town setting amplifies the terror of an invading alien threat.
Books on the same thread
Little Critter
Mercer Mayer · Book · 1975
Explores: Childhood, Mischief, Family Life.
While much lighter than Critters, this story captures the same feeling of a family unit facing unexpected, chaotic intrusions during an otherwise mundane day of exploration and adventure.
The Tommyknockers
Stephen King · Book · 2016
Explores: Technological Horror, Mind Control, Alien Artifacts.
If the small-town invasion aspect of Critters kept you glued to the screen, this descent into mass hysteria and alien-driven corruption offers a darker, more expansive look at that trope.
Eaters of the Dead
Michael Crichton · Book · 2006
Explores: Vikings, Monsters, Cultural Clash.
The visceral dread of being hunted by mysterious, lethal creatures in Critters finds a historical parallel here, focusing on the primal survival instincts required when facing unknown, predatory entities.
Series on the same thread
Tales from the Crypt
William M. Gaines · Series · 1989
Explores: Moral Tales, Karma, Irony.
The horror-comedy balance that defined Critters is on full display here, using a dark, ironic sense of humor to frame gruesome encounters and moral tales for the audience.
ALF
Paul Fusco · Series · 1986
Explores: Alien Integration, Culture Clash, Secret Identity.
This series mirrors the alien-in-the-household premise of Critters, trading the carnivorous violence for a comedic exploration of how an extraterrestrial visitor disrupts typical suburban family dynamics and social norms.
FROM
John Griffin · Series · 2022
Explores: Trapped in a mysterious town, Monsters in the woods, Survival horror.
The feeling of being trapped in a small town while under siege by nightmarish monsters is the core of Critters, and this series masterfully sustains that same claustrophobic survival tension.
Stranger Things
Ross Duffer · Series · 2016
Explores: Government Experiments, Telekinesis, Monsters.
This series shares the small-town mystery and coming-of-age spirit found in Critters, blending supernatural threats with a close-knit group of characters forced to confront secrets hidden within their community.
Podcasts on the same thread
Small Town Murder
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: provincial life, tragic irony, forensic breakdown.
If you appreciated how Critters found humor in the middle of a gruesome local tragedy, these investigations offer a similar blend of dark comedy and fascination with small-town horror.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts · Podcast · 2026
Explores: mental health awareness, female friendship, coping mechanisms.
Much like the audience for Critters, you clearly enjoy dark storytelling, and this podcast provides a conversational, community-driven space to explore the macabre events that haunt everyday, ordinary locations.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the plot of Critters?
In the 1986 film Critters, carnivorous aliens land on a Kansas farm. Two intergalactic bounty hunters arrive to track them down and destroy them. The story focuses on the struggle to stop the creatures from consuming the family living on the farm.
Who directed Critters?
Critters was directed by Stephen Herek. The 1986 film features a Kansas family farm being targeted by carnivorous aliens while intergalactic bounty hunters attempt to eliminate the threat from the planet.
Are there bounty hunters in Critters?
Yes, intergalactic bounty hunters are central to the plot of Critters. They arrive at the Kansas farm shortly after the carnivorous aliens land, with the specific mission to blow the creatures off the planet.
Is Critters set on a farm?
Yes, the events of Critters take place at a Kansas family farm. The location becomes the site of an alien invasion where carnivorous creatures arrive and are pursued by intergalactic bounty hunters.