Horror Facts
Looking for a fun way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year? Why not binge watch one of the most iconic and campy horror franchises of all time – The Leprechaun series! This collection of eight films follows the misadventures of a murderous leprechaun who will stop at nothing to retrieve his stolen pot of gold.
This St. Patrick’s Day weekend, you can stream all eight Leprechaun movies for free on the ad-supported streaming service Tubi. From the original 1993 cult classic to the space trip, every twisted tale is available to watch at no cost.
The Origins of the Leprechaun Franchise
The Leprechaun franchise had humble beginnings as a simple horror comedy when the first film debuted in 1993. Directed by Mark Jones and starring Warwick Davis as the villainous leprechaun, the original movie followed a group of friends who unknowingly awaken the creature after taking his pot of gold.
While it received largely negative reviews from critics, the film developed a cult following thanks to its campy sense of humor and over-the-top kills. The combination of traditional leprechaun folklore with an evil, wisecracking monster provided a unique horror premise that was ripe for sequels.
The Ridiculous Roller Coaster Ride
And sequels are exactly what audiences got – seven more installments spanning from 1994 to 2018. Each film found increasingly ridiculous ways to bring back the leprechaun, putting him in futuristic outer space settings, the inner city, or even the old west. No location was off limits as long as there was an opportunity for the leprechaun to murder people in gruesome but campy fashion.
The Leprechaun films are a true “so bad it’s good” experience, embracing every corny one-liner and absurd plot twist. Warwick Davis in particular seems to relish in the over-the-top nature of the character, chewing every scenery with sadistic glee. His performance and the creatively gory kills are the main reasons audiences kept coming back for more leprechaun mayhem.
Stream Them All for Free on Tubi
For St. Patrick’s Day 2024, you can binge six movies back-to-back on Tubi at no cost. The ad-supported streaming service has the full lineup available starting on March 17th:
- Leprechaun (1993)
- Leprechaun 2 (1994)
- Leprechaun 3 (1995)
- Leprechaun 4: In Space (1997)
- Leprechaun in the Hood (2000)
- Leprechaun: Back 2 tha Hood (2003)
Prepare for a marathon of ridiculous plots, terrible puns, and gruesome leprechaun violence. These films are best enjoyed with friends, plenty of green beer and Irish snacks, and an appreciation for horror movies that are so bad they’re amazing.
Don’t take them too seriously – just sit back and enjoy the mayhem as the evil leprechaun slices, dices, and quips his way through anyone who gets in the way of his gold. It’s a wild and wacky ride that perfectly captures the camp and fun of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
The Leprechaun Legacy
While mainstream audiences may have overlooked them, The Leprechaun films have cemented their place as beloved cult horror classics over the past 30 years. The franchise perfectly encapsulates the very concept of a “B-movie” – shamelessly low-budget, filled with plucky creativity, and always aiming to entertain despite any lack of quality.
Fans have embraced the movies’ silliness and ability to turn traditional folklore into a hard-R slasher franchise. What started as a simple horror comedy concept spawned a ridiculously entertaining series that has persisted for decades. Love them or hate them, The Leprechaun movies have earned their place in the annals of campy horror history.
So get ready to go green this St. Patrick’s Day by streaming all eight films on Tubi. It’s a marathon of low-brow scares, cheesy effects, and an overabundance of leprechaun puns
