Every Leprechaun Movie, Ranked Worst To Best

The Leprechaun movies fit into a special niche in the horror genre where a movie can be both a ridiculous spectacle and a terrifying sight. Even under this consideration, the franchise’s many installments are all over the map in terms of quality. The Leprechaun movies are clearly not trying to do anything innovative or sophisticated, so many of the would-be criticisms seem redundant to point out. They’re all absurd horror films that take a rambunctious fairy tale creature and turn it into a murderous fiend trying to reclaim his gold. Extreme kills and Warwick Davis’ gleeful performance as the bloodthirsty Leprechaun helps the fun movies work far better than they should.

There are many horror films that have capitalized on the appeal of turning an innocent holiday of celebration into the background for a grisly monster movie. The Leprechaun franchise has dominated the St. Patrick’s Day theme since the series debut in the 1990s. None of them were critical hits but nevertheless, there have been eight films in the Leprechaun series with the latest one released in 2018. With a new Leprechaun reboot on the horizon, there is still hope that the franchise will continue to make sequels well into the foreseeable future. Until then, here’s how every Leprechaun movie ranks from worst to best.

8

Leprechaun: Origins (2014)

Directed By Zach Lipovsky

Leprechaun: Origins attempts to reboot the horror franchise and move it away from the more playful style of mischief that Warwick Davis brought to the Leprechaun role. Leprechaun: Origins stars Dylan Postl as the Leprechaun and approaches the creature like a rabid beast rather than a rambunctious character. The 2014 Leprechaun movie dives deep into the lore of Leprechauns and even has a Wicker Man quality in which a town traditionally sacrifices people to the monster. It ultimately misses the mark and feels like any generic monster movie, which is a very disappointing direction for any reboot.

Overall, this Leprechaun movie is often viewed as a misstep, lacking the charm and entertainment value that fans associate with the franchise.​

Leprechaun: Origins stands out as one of the worst Leprechaun movies for its departure from the series’ established blend of horror and humor. The absence of Warwick Davis’s iconic performance is impossible to ignre, and the Origins’ attempt at a serious horror narrative falls flat, failing to capture the quirky essence that endeared the original movies to audiences. The cast, including Stephanie Bennett and Teach Grant, deliver competent performances, but they struggle against a script that offers little in terms of character development or engaging dialogue. Overall, this Leprechaun movie is often viewed as a misstep, lacking the charm and entertainment value that fans associate with the franchise.​

7

Leprechaun In The Hood (2000)

Directed By Rob Spera

Many were unsure where the murderous Leprechaun could go after conquering outer space, but naturally, the answer was the hip-hop recording industry. Leprechaun in the Hood has a bizarre premise that sees a bunch of struggling recording artists stumble upon the Leprechaun and his gold. It’s an idea that shouldn’t work but manages to be surprisingly entertaining, showing that the Leprechaun can rap just as well as he can kill. The tongue-in-cheek early 2000s horror movie is, regrettably, full of outdated stereotypes, but the Leprechaun has a one-liner for every situation.

Despite its shortcomings, Leprechaun in the Hood has garnered a cult following for its sheer audacity and unique setting, standing out as one of the more unconventional Leprechaun movies.​ Leprechaun in the Hood is often seen as a bold but flawed experiment, attempting to rejuvenate the series by embracing a different cultural backdrop. Warwick Davis returns as the leprechaun, delivering his trademark blend of menace and dark humor, which remains a highlight. The cast also features notable appearances by Ice-T as Mack Daddy, a ruthless music producer, and Anthony Montgomery as Postmaster P, one of the protagonists.

6

Leprechaun Returns (2018)

Directed By Steven Kostanski

The 2018 entry in the Leprechaun franchise is a legacy sequel that chooses to ignore all the previous sequels before it, directly continuing the original film’s story 25 years later. Leprechaun Returns centers around the daughter of Jennifer Aniston’s character from the first film, who, along with a group of sorority sisters, inadvertently end up on the Leprechaun’s radar. There’s a level of redemptive joy in Leprechaun Returns to see some familiar faces from the first movie. The Leprechaun at least has his trademark dark sense of humor back although Warwick Davis’ absence is felt throughout.

2018’s Leprechaun Returns is a nostalgic nod to fans of the original 1993 movie, bringing back characters like Ozzie, played by Mark Holton. However, the recasting of the leprechaun, now portrayed by Linden Porco, received mixed reactions. Porco delivers a commendable performance, but the shadow of Davis’s iconic portrayal looms large. The new cast, including Taylor Spreitler as Lila and Pepi Sonuga as Katie, bring fresh energy to the series. The Leprechaun Returns’ practical effects and creative kills are reminiscent of the franchise’s early days, with director Steven Kostanski offering a blend of gore and humor that long-time fans of the franchise mostly appreciate.

5

Leprechaun 2 (1994)

Directed By Rodman Flender

1994’s Leprechaun 2 mixes things up for the franchise as the Leprechaun is out to settle a 1000-year-old vendetta to get a bride. The Leprechaun sequel transplants the conniving killer to Los Angeles. Although there are some wonderfully absurd deaths, it ultimately feels like a step backward. The circumstances behind the Leprechaun’s arrangement for his bride aren’t convincing but the new motivation angle is more compelling than the usual hunt for gold. No characters really stand out beyond the Leprechaun in the direct sequel, but Leprechaun 2 still has a lot of fun with the Leprechaun’s growing powers.

While Leprechaun 2 doesn’t quite capture the charm of its predecessor, it offers enough gore and dark humor to satisfy fans of the franchise, solidifying its place as a staple of ’90s horror sequels.

Compared to the original Leprechaun movie, Leprechaun 2 attempts to broaden the scope of the story but falls short in execution in some ways. Warwick Davis reprises his role, infusing the leprechaun with his signature blend of menace and dark humor, which remains the highlight of the 1994 film. The cast includes Charlie Heath as Cody and Shevonne Durkin as Bridget, the leprechaun’s intended bride. While Leprechaun 2 doesn’t quite capture the charm of its predecessor, it offers enough gore and dark humor to satisfy fans of the franchise, solidifying its place as a staple of ’90s horror sequels.

4

Leprechaun 4: In Space (1996)

Directed By Brian Trenchard-Smith

There was a beloved tradition in the 1990s to move horror franchises into space, like what the Friday the 13th franchise did with Jason X. Even given the trend, Leprechaun 4: In Space is definitely one of the most ridiculous examples. The sequel is by no means good and features a borderline nonsensical plot where the Leprechaun wants to marry a space princess so he can become the king of her planet. However, the film is so bad that it’s actually hard not to enjoy it. The sequel is full of gratuitous parodies of other sci-fi classics and is the only film in the series where the Leprechaun wields a lightsaber.

Compared to earlier Leprechaun movies, Leprechaun 4: In Space takes the series to new, absurd heights, further pushing the boundaries of the franchise. However, while some fans appreciate the outrageous setting, Leprechaun 4 often feels disconnected from the core of the wider franchise. Warwick Davis delivers another memorable performance as the leprechaun, though the space setting and sci-fi elements overshadow his usual charm. The supporting cast includes Jessica Collins as the alien princess and a variety of lesser-known actors as members of the space crew. The 1994 movie’s special effects are laughably dated, but they contribute to its low-budget charm, making it an odd, yet entertaining, entry in the Leprechaun series.

3

Leprechaun: Back 2 Tha’ Hood (2003)

Directed By Steven Ayromlooi

Directed by Steven Ayromlooi, 2003’s Leprechaun: Back 2 Tha’ Hood is an unhinged Leprechaun sequel but somehow manages to be a satisfying morality tale. The film involves the Leprechaun’s gold getting into the hands of a youth center where many of the people use these riches to follow their unfulfilled dreams. The characters in this sequel actually connect very well, making the audience root for them to succeed unlike in other Leprechaun films. Back 2 Tha’ Hood knows exactly what kind of movie it is and has some of the most satisfying and ridiculous deaths in the franchise as a result while also surprisingly expressing a greater message.

Leprechaun: Back 2 Tha’ Hood continues the trend of absurdity and dark comedy established by Leprechaun in the Hood, but it lacks the same level of memorable charm. Warwick Davis returns as the leprechaun, bringing his familiar mix of villainy and comic flair, though the setting and tone feel more recycled than fresh. The 2003 movie stars a relatively unknown cast, including Laz Alonso, Tangi Miller, and Sherrie Jackson. While Davis still delivers his usual performance, the Leprechaun: Back 2 Tha’ Hood suffers from a weaker script, and the setting, while fun, doesn’t feel as inspired as in the previous film. Despite this, Back 2 Tha’ Hood remains an entertaining and campy chapter in the Leprechaun franchise for fans who appreciate its B-movie sensibilities.

2

Leprechaun (1993)

Directed By Mark Jones

The original film that started it all, Leprechaun uses the brilliant idea of taking St. Patrick’s Day and the playful character of a Leprechaun and making it into a slasher star. The first film is more restrained in terms of violence and gore than the others. As a result, the Leprechaun was held back by many established rules. Warwick Davis’ performance is the heart and soul of the film and was an exceptional choice for the part. Leprechaun also featured Jennifer Aniston in her first theatrical role, forever linking her entire acting career to the tiny green menace.

As the first movie in the Leprechaun, Leprechaun set the tone for the bizarre blend of horror and humor that would define the sequels that followed. Warwick Davis’s portrayal of the leprechaun was instantly memorable, with his high-pitched voice, wicked sense of humor, and distinctive look becoming iconic. The supporting cast includes Jennifer Aniston as protagonist Tory, alongside the likes of Ken Olandt and Mark Holton. While the film doesn’t take itself too seriously and is low-budget, it perfectly captures the campy spirit of the genre. It remains one of the best movies in the Leprechaun franchise, striking a balance between scares and laughs that is hard to replicate in later installments.

1

Leprechaun 3 (1995)

Directed By Brian Trenchard-Smith

Leprechaun 3 is the best Leprechaun movie so far. It cuts the Leprechaun loose in the vice-filled Las Vegas where he goes on his most extreme killing spree in the entire series. Leprechaun 3 is exactly the right kind of outrageous in the horror genre. The murder set pieces feature robots, inflating people, and other impressive effects that often feel like scenes from a Nightmare on Elm Street movie. Leprechaun 3 is the most purely enjoyable movie in the Leprechaun series and still manages to be scary throughout. After the third film, the Leprechaun movies started to reach diminishing returns and their quality began to noticeably taper over time.

While Leprechaun 3 doesn’t push the boundaries of horror, it remains a fan favorite Leprechaun movie for its sheer entertainment value, memorable one-liners, and over-the-top kills.

Compared to Leprechaun and Leprechaun 2, 1995’s Leprechaun 3 amps up the comedy and absurdity, making it one of the more entertaining entries in the franchise. Warwick Davis once again delivers a charismatic and menacing performance as the leprechaun, blending his sharp wit and malice into an unforgettable villain. The cast includes John Gatins as Scott, who finds himself caught in the chaos, and Lee Armstrong as Tammy, a casino waitress who becomes one of his allies. The Las Vegas setting of Leprechaun 3 offers a fun and vibrant backdrop, contributing to the bombastic plot. While Leprechaun 3 doesn’t push the boundaries of horror, it remains a fan favorite Leprechaun movie for its sheer entertainment value, memorable one-liners, and over-the-top kills.