Leprechaun Film Ranking and Speed Art
The Leprechaun franchise has somehow amassed 8 films since it's inception, and most of them aren't great, but nonethelesss let's rank them from worst to bad.
8. Leprechaun Origins
And coming in last place is gonna be Leprechaun Origins, what a waste of a reboot that not only doesn't feel tonally consistent with any of the previous films, but it has the audacity to just be plain boring and generic. The main girl was okay, but all her friends were pretty grating, especially her boyfriend. One good thing about the film is I felt the townspeople were well casted and did an effective job at creeping me out, but I just can't forgive them for the weird goblin troll that took the place of my OG Lep.
7. Leprechaun 4: In Space
So when a horror franchise hits space, you know it's gonna be good. So coming in seventh place is Leprechaun 4: In Space. I miss when movies actually numbered sequels, nowadays it seems every sequel is afraid to put in a number, but Lep owned it. Unfortunately, the acting is horrendous – minus Warwick who does the best he can – and the ideas executed were far grander than the budget could convey. The CGI ships are particularly awful and the monster practical effects look like David Cronenberg’s baby tried to redo the Fly. Although it has that special so bad it's hilarious quality and I can't say I was bored like in Origins.
6. Leprechaun In The Hood
So after hitting up space where do you go? The Hood of course, and coming in 6th place is going to be the first Hood movie, Leprechaun In the Hood. This film has the benefit of Ice-T in a major role as well as the three lead actors who all have pretty good chemistry, unfortunately, the film has some weird editing choices and long shots that make the film feel empty and oddly put together. Also, the part where Lep raps at the end, while iconic, it is a little cringe and comes out of nowhere, but I won't lie, I had some fun seeing Lep get up to his antics in an urban setting.
5. Leprechaun 2
Just edging a little above the first Hood movie is Leprechaun 2, this film feels somewhat better put together and adds in some new lore to the Leprechaun, mainly the claiming of his bride, but what brings it down is the lead actress is just awful, she was also in Tammy and T-Rex as a supporting part and she was just awful in that too, she seems to scowl instead of smile and her line delivery is stilted at best. I did like Morty and the main guy’s relationship and liked their hustling antics, but Bridgett really brings this film down. I do like the face-off at the end in Leprechuan's treehouse, even if it gets a little silly with Lep puppeting skeletons.
4. Leprechaun: Back 2 Tha Hood
And coming into 4th place is going to be Leprechaun: Back 2 tha Hood. The 6th entry in the franchise decided to darken the tone up and tackle similar social problems that the first Hood movie aimed to comment on, but this one does it with a little more tack. The acting is also an upgrade when compared to the original Hood movie and the kills, while not really magical in nature are quite gruesome and fun to watch, making this an easier watch than the first one. I also like Lep’s look in this film, somewhat darker, but he retains the Warwick charm that I love.
3. Leprechaun (1993)
And coming in 3rd place, and this may shock some Lep fans, but it's going to be the original Leprechaun movie. Mostly known to the general audience as the first film to star Jennifer Aniston. It's a fun movie that feels a little kiddish in tone, but with some added gruesome kills for the horror lover. Warwick Davis shows a tongue and cheek type attitude, like a more wink, wink Freddy Krueger from the 6th film, but we didn't have to wait through 5 much more superior films, the Leprechaun series went straight at its pedal to the medal, and for that I respect it. The character Ozzie is probably the best part of the human cast, and I was glad to see him involved with the newest entry too.
2. Leprechaun 3 (1995)
Now that your expectations have been subverted – Rian Johnson style – we get to the Top 2, and I'm gonna have to give it to one of the surprisingly rushed sequels that I think has a lot going for it. Coming in second place is Leprechaun 3. It took what I liked about the previous two films in the series, but amped them up, mainly the kills are about as whacky as this franchise has ever gotten and the lead characters I actually find pretty likable. The cast also includes Stretch from Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, and there's also a moment in the film that sort of preludes a #MeToo type moment that actually feels pretty earned, although it's immediately followed with an insane kill scene, but you got to take what you can here. This isn't fine art.
1. Leprechaun Returns
And coming in first place is a film that feels like a modern throwback to the classic first few entries while bringing in pretty great special effects and an ensemble of actors who seem to actually know what they're doing, so obviously it is Leprechaun Returns. Ozzie from the first film returns and the lead girl does a good job too. It's also nice to see some continuation in the series, as the films have a tendency to feel like one-off films, but this one directly connects to the original and is able to blend in modern technology and Eco-friendly kills in a way that doesn't feel forced. The dynamic between the main girls is also a bonus and feels like a natural way young girls may talk and hang out amongst themselves, and the new actor they have for Lep does a formidable job, not quite as good as Warwick but a nice successor to the role. So if you want an easy two-part marathon, toss on the original and with this movie as well.
So that's my ranking of the series, and I can tell from the comments on my animated video that it's a somewhat divisive one, although I think even the mega fans of Lep will agree that the films aren't really that great, but they are fun, and if you're looking for a movie to watch today I highly recommend tossing them on, even if for a laugh.