Gremlins (1984)

In the fantastical black comedy Gremlins, a father (Hoyt Axton) buys a pet "Mogwai" as a Christmas present for his son (Zach Galligan). The boy is told to keep the cute and furry pet away from water, out of the light, and never to feed it after midnight. Inadvertently, the creature is dampened and almost instantly spawns other creatures who transform into destructive, evil little monsters—which continue to multiply as they turn a small town upside-down. Also starring Phoebe Cates, Corey Feldman, Judge Reinhold and Dick Miller. Written by Chris Columbus (The Goonies) and directed by Joe Dante (The Howling, Innerspace, Small Soldiers, Explorers).