In the 1984 film Gremlins, Billy Peltzer receives a Mogwai named Gizmo.
Gizmo is the small, gentle creature at the center of the story. Billy is given Gizmo as a Christmas present, but the Mogwai comes with strict rules: it must not be exposed to bright light, water, or food after midnight. Breaking those rules causes dangerous creatures to emerge.
Gizmo remains friendly and tries to warn Billy about the consequences. The principal antagonist is Stripe, a different Mogwai distinguished by the white stripe of fur on his head. This distinction is a common source of confusion because both characters belong to the same fictional species.
Gremlins blends Christmas setting, comedy, fantasy, and horror. Joe Dante directed the film from a screenplay by Chris Columbus, with Steven Spielberg serving as executive producer. Its creature effects helped make the film a notable example of practical-effects filmmaking in the 1980s.