Ghoulies

Ghoulies refers primarily to a series of American horror comedy films, beginning with the 1985 film Ghoulies. These films typically feature small, grotesque creatures (the "Ghoulies") that are summoned through occult rituals or emerge from unexpected places like toilets.

The Ghoulies franchise is known for its low-budget production values, practical effects (particularly the Ghoulies themselves), and often campy or humorous tone. The series gained notoriety for its marketing campaign, which featured the tagline "They'll Get You In The End," and images of a Ghoulie emerging from a toilet.

While not critically acclaimed, the Ghoulies films developed a cult following, particularly among fans of B-movies and horror comedies from the 1980s. The franchise spawned several sequels, including Ghoulies II (1988), Ghoulies III: Ghoulies Go to College (1991), and Ghoulies IV (1994). The later films introduced new Ghoulies designs and further emphasized the comedic elements.

Beyond the film franchise, the term "Ghoulies" is sometimes used more generically to refer to similar types of small, mischievous, and often malevolent creatures in other works of fiction. However, the term is most strongly associated with the film series.