The 'Leprechaun' movies may be the most entertainingly terrible horror franchise — stream them all on Peacock

Jennifer Aniston in Leprechaun (1993) — (Image credit: Alamy)

I realize that in the pantheon of horror characters, the Leprechaun is several steps below icons like Freddy Krueger or Jason Voorhees. I’d never claim that the “Leprechaun” movies are anywhere near the most accomplished or ambitious horror franchise. But there’s something undeniably entertaining about the commitment that actor Warwick Davis puts into the role of the evil Leprechaun, and the gleefully dumb situations that the filmmakers place him in.

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This article is part of Trick or Stream, a seasonal series where Tom's Guide writers share their favorite horror movies and thrillers.

It often takes until the steam has run out of other franchises for them to send their central antagonists into space or to major landmarks around the country, but the Leprechaun is already wandering downtown Los Angeles in his second movie, and traveling the galaxy in his fourth. Producers clearly realized early on that the way to get people to pay attention to these movies was to make them as silly as possible, and the franchise is at its weakest when filmmakers try to take it too seriously.

Viewers should approach the “Leprechaun” movies the same way, ignoring the blatantly incoherent continuity, cheap production values and questionable performances to revel in the unapologetic schlock. With all of the “Leprechaun” movies now streaming on Peacock, this spooky season is the perfect time to put aside your millionth viewing of classics like “Halloween” or “Night of the Living Dead” to embrace the absurdity of the Leprechaun.

The 'Leprechaun' movies are ridiculous(ly stupid)

I’m not going to argue that these are great movies. Even the first film, which was a surprise box office hit in 1993 and one of only two “Leprechaun” movies to be released in theaters, is pretty bad. Writer-director Mark Jones understands the comedic potential of the Leprechaun, but he also attempts to craft a genuine horror movie, with the little guy terrorizing teenager Tory Redding (Jennifer Aniston) at her father’s remote North Dakota farmhouse.

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Yes, a pre-“Friends” Jennifer Aniston stars in the first “Leprechaun” movie, playing a spoiled brat who’s repulsed by dirt and dust and longs to be back in Los Angeles. It’s not her finest hour, but she does her best, giving one of the better performances in the series.

The movie belongs to Davis, though, and while it may not be a successful horror film, it’s a fantastic introduction to a fully formed, instantly memorable villain. The Leprechaun’s exaggerated Irish lilt, rhyming dialogue and mischievous laugh as he tortures and kills his victims are consistently amusing, no matter how terrible the movie around him may be.

There’s essentially no connection among the various movies aside from the presence of the Leprechaun, and while he’s almost always after “me gold,” he’s sometimes fixated on obtaining other items, including a magic flute in “Leprechaun in the Hood” and a bride in both “Leprechaun 2” and “Leprechaun 4: In Space.”

He’s most often vulnerable to four-leaf clovers, but sometimes he can also be hurt by iron and/or trapped by a magic amulet that turns him to stone. Tracking the arbitrary changes is part of the enjoyment of watching the series.

The 'Leprechaun' movies get better as they get crazier

Maybe I’m biased because I live in Las Vegas, but my favorite movie in the series is “Leprechaun 3,” which sends the Leprechaun to Vegas, a seemingly ideal place for a character so fixated on greed. “Leprechaun 3” has some of the best random additions to the mythology, including characters receiving ironic comeuppance after being granted a wish by the Leprechaun’s gold coin, and the protagonist turning into a sort of were-leprechaun after being bitten.

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With its sleazy Hollywood setting and a fun performance by character actor Sandy Baron as an alcoholic con man, “Leprechaun 2” is another highlight, showcasing the Leprechaun’s often disturbing horniness as he attempts to trap an unsuspecting woman as his wife.

While “Leprechaun 4: In Space” isn’t quite as out-there as its title indicates, it does shamelessly rip off franchises like “Alien” on a tiny budget, with a bit of Roger Corman-style charm in its threadbare spaceship set design and rudimentary special effects.

The Leprechaun raps in “Leprechaun in the Hood,” facing off against Ice-T as a pimp turned music mogul, and he gets stoned both in that movie and in the slightly more grounded “Leprechaun: Back 2 Tha Hood.” The second “Hood” movie gets rid of the unfortunate rap music of its predecessor, and star Tangi Miller brings some surprising pathos to her character, a struggling beautician who sees the Leprechaun’s gold as a way out of poverty.

The franchise falters without Warwick Davis

Davis bowed out after 2003’s “Back 2 Tha Hood,” and the franchise returned more than a decade later without its greatest asset. “Leprechaun: Origins” is easily the worst movie in the series, featuring professional wrestler Dylan “Hornswoggle” Postl as an unrecognizable version of the Leprechaun. Covered in prosthetics, Postl snarls and growls but never speaks, making the Leprechaun into a generic monster in the woods.

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The final movie — as of now — brings things back to the beginning, taking a cue from movies like David Gordon Green’s “Halloween” to present a direct sequel to the original.

Jennifer Aniston isn’t back for 2018’s “Leprechaun Returns,” but Taylor Spreitler stars as her character’s daughter, returning to the original farmhouse (now occupied by a sorority) where the Leprechaun (Linden Porco) lies dormant. Porco attempts to capture some of Davis’ charisma, and there are some clever set pieces, but something is still missing even in the deliberate efforts to evoke nostalgia.

Within just the last few months, there have been reports about Lionsgate developing a “Leprechaun” reboot, and it seems like only a matter of time before the character rises again, with or without Davis. I may have groaned my way through every previous “Leprechaun” movie, but I’m still rooting for the homicidal Irish imp to make another comeback.

Where to stream the 'Leprechaun' movies

"Leprechaun" (1993): Peacock
"Leprechaun 2" (1994): Peacock
"Leprechaun 3" (1995): Peacock
"Leprechaun 4: In Space" (1997): Peacock
"Leprechaun in the Hood" (2000): Peacock
"Leprechaun: Back to tha Hood" (2003): Peacock
"Leprechaun: Origins" (2014): Peacock
"Leprechaun Returns" (2018): Rent/buy at Amazon or Apple

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Josh Bell is a freelance writer and movie/TV critic based in Las Vegas. He's the former film editor of Las Vegas Weekly and has written about movies and TV for Vulture, Inverse, CBR, Crooked Marquee and more. With comedian Jason Harris, he co-hosts the podcast Awesome Movie Year.

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