Grogu, aka Baby Yoda, is the best thing to happen to "Star Wars" since "Return of the Jedi" . . . which also featured some adorable alien muppet people, now that I think about it. The animatronic baby alien is the real star of "The Mandalorian," and a merchandising powerhouse for the studio. But if you listen to "Gremlins" creator Joe Dante, the glory is ill-gotten.
"Gremlins" is a 1984 horror comedy about a cuddly monster named Gizmo and his trouble-making progeny, the result of feeding him after midnight or accidentally leaving him in the rain. That movie and its 1990 sequel still have a following to this day, which Dante credits to Gizmo.
