What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedCritters
Stephen Herek · Film · 1986
If you loved Critters, start with Little Critter (Mercer Mayer, 1975) — a book on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Critters across media.
What hooked you in Critters was the way terrifying, otherworldly threats collide with the mundane reality of small-town family life.
Books on the same thread
Little Critter
Mercer Mayer · Book · 1975
Explores: Childhood, Mischief, Family Life.
While Critters leans into horror, you will appreciate this book for the shared focus on the chaotic, everyday hurdles that a family must overcome together to survive.
Christine
Stephen King · Book · 1983
Shares a thread with Critters: Coming of Age.
Much like the farmhouse threat in Critters, this story centers on a seemingly ordinary object that brings a dangerous, obsessive presence into a young person's quiet life.
The Tommyknockers
Stephen King · Book · 2016
Explores: Technological Horror, Mind Control, Alien Artifacts.
If the alien invasion of a rural community in Critters kept you engaged, you will find a similar escalation of terror when this small town unearths buried secrets.
Eaters of the Dead
Michael Crichton · Book · 2006
Explores: Vikings, Monsters, Cultural Clash.
The survivalist tension found in Critters is mirrored here as isolated groups are forced to defend their way of life against persistent, monstrous creatures from the outside.
Series on the same thread
Tales from the Crypt
William M. Gaines · Series · 1989
Explores: Moral Tales, Karma, Irony.
You enjoyed the blend of dark humor and creature-based frights in Critters, and this anthology delivers that same macabre, ironic tone through its classic tales of supernatural peril.
ALF
Paul Fusco · Series · 1986
Explores: Alien Integration, Culture Clash, Secret Identity.
This show takes the alien arrival premise of Critters and pivots to comedy, focusing on the comedic friction that occurs when an extraterrestrial enters a domestic setting.
Stranger Things
Ross Duffer · Series · 2016
Explores: Government Experiments, Telekinesis, Monsters.
The way a small town faces impossible supernatural forces in Critters is central to this series, capturing the same feeling of vulnerable residents fighting back against the unknown.
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Joel Hodgson · Series · 1989
Explores: Friendship, Coping with Boredom, Satire.
If you appreciated the B-movie spirit of Critters, this show offers a perfect companion by celebrating the absurdity of low-budget genre cinema through hilarious, riff-filled commentary.
Podcasts on the same thread
Small Town Murder
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: provincial life, tragic irony, forensic breakdown.
This podcast explores the intersection of tragedy and local life, reflecting the same small-town vulnerability that makes the chaos in Critters feel so impactful and grounded.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts · Podcast · 2026
Explores: mental health awareness, female friendship, coping mechanisms.
The conversational energy here mirrors the camaraderie found in Critters, providing a space where dark subject matter is navigated through a blend of humor and community connection.
Common questions
Is Critters about aliens invading a farm?
Yes, Critters follows carnivorous aliens that arrive unannounced at a Kansas family farm. The plot focuses on the family's struggle for survival against these extraterrestrial threats while intergalactic bounty hunters arrive to track them down and destroy them.
What is the primary conflict in the movie Critters?
The primary conflict in Critters involves carnivorous aliens landing on a Kansas farm and the subsequent arrival of two intergalactic bounty hunters. The bounty hunters are tasked with finding the aliens and blowing them off the planet to stop the threat.
Are there bounty hunters in Critters?
Yes, two intergalactic bounty hunters appear in Critters. They arrive shortly after the carnivorous aliens land on the Kansas farm, and they are fully determined to track down the invaders and blow them off the planet.
Does Critters feature a specific setting for the alien invasion?
The alien invasion in Critters takes place on a family farm located in Kansas. This rural setting serves as the primary location where the carnivorous aliens arrive and are pursued by the intergalactic bounty hunters.