Gremlins are fictional creatures known for their mischievous and destructive behavior, often portrayed as small, impish beings. The concept of gremlins has its roots in British folklore but gained significant popularity during World War II as a sort of superstition among pilots, who believed that these gremlins were responsible for mechanical failures on aircraft.
Gremlins became widely recognized in popular culture through the 1984 horror-comedy film "Gremlins," directed by Joe Dante. In the film, the gremlins are portrayed as cute and harmless creatures, but when they come into contact with water or eat after midnight, they transform into destructive and dangerous monsters. The movie's success led to a sequel, "Gremlins 2: The New Batch," in 1990. Gremlins have since become iconic figures in the realm of creature features and horror-comedy.