When LEGO announced a Gremlins set, I was already halfway to the checkout. Gizmo is pure ’80s joy, and the LEGO Ideas treatment gives him plenty of personality in brick form - those eyes, the fur, the ears (we’ll get to those). This is a nostalgia hit first, clever model second, and a fun evening build all round.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| A fantastic, nostalgic build that hits the feels | Ears are a little flat in profile |
| Smart eye mechanism with expressive range | Switching between sitting/standing requires a partial rebuild |
| Layered "fur" techniques bring Gizmo to life |
The Build Experience
At 1,125 pieces, Gizmo sits in that sweet spot between quick display build and satisfying project. Bags flow logically from core structure to shaping, and the internal frame around the face is especially neat-there’s a eureka moment when the eye mechanism clicks and you start playing with expressions before he even has a full head of hair. The fur layering avoids tedium thanks to varied parts and tidy colour blocking, so the character emerges as you go rather than all at once at the end.
Switching Gizmo from standing to sitting (or vice-versa) is intentional: you rebuild the lower belly and legs to convert between poses. It’s a small trade-off for a cleaner final silhouette, but worth flagging for display tweakers.
Design & Details (a.k.a. Why he’s so darn cute)
On display, Gizmo measures over 20 cm (8 in.) high, 27 cm (10.5 in.) wide and 8 cm (3.5 in.) deep in his standing pose-compact enough for a shelf, big enough to read at a distance. Articulation is generous for a display model: rotating head plus posable ears, arms, hands, fingers and feet. The shaping around the cheeks and brow sells the likeness; the ears, while accurate in outline, are flatter than you might hope from certain angles. Included nods to the film are spot-on: a water splash element that attaches to his back and brick-built 3D glasses for that comic-reading moment.
Posing & Playability
Gizmo’s real magic is expression. The eye assembly gives convincing “curious”, “concerned”, and “please don’t feed me after midnight” looks with small adjustments. Hands and fingers help with micro-poses (cradling the glasses, reaching out), and the ankle/foot joints make small stance tweaks easy. If you like to re-pose models on the shelf now and then, you’ll have fun, just choose your seated/standing commitment before you tidy the spare parts away.
Value (UK)
With an RRP of £89.99 for 1,125 pieces, the set lands well on value, especially for a licensed Ideas display piece. You’re paying for both the build and the character likeness, and it delivers on both. Expect the usual seasonal promos or gift-with-purchase offers to sweeten the deal via LEGO.com, but even at RRP, it feels fair for what you get.
Who It’s For
- Gremlins fans who want a tasteful, characterful display model (no slime, plenty of charm).
- Adults/AFOLs who enjoy creature builds with expressive posing and neat internal mechanisms.
- Gift-givers looking for a nostalgic crowd-pleaser that assembles in an evening.
Final Verdict
Gizmo is a delight. The eye mechanism and layered fur do most of the heavy lifting, the proportions read instantly, and the accessories add just enough scene-setting without clutter. If LEGO had given the ears a touch more depth and made pose-switching tool-less, we’d be flirting with perfection. As it stands, this is one of the year’s most endearing display builds, the kind you catch yourself smiling back at.
