In the original Gremlins movie we’re told that Gizmo is a thing called a Mogwai. When he eats and gets wet after midnight, little monsters pop out of him. Are those then also Mogwai since they came out of one, or are they actually named as being something else?
The Chinese dude who owns him just says “That is mogwai…” in his movie-style broken English speak. All the rest refer to Gizmo as “a” mogwai and the rest of them as “the mogwai”. So, proper or not, Gizmo and his descendants are collectively known as “mogwai”.
Huh. In this early copy of the script (PDF), Gizmo is referred to as “Mogwai” as a proper noun and the rest of them as “the creatures” EXCEPT in a (changed/deleted) scene where they eat the dog and are locked in the attic. There it says “the Mogwai scratch at the door”. After that, they pupate into Gremlins so the trail gets cold.
So I don’t think it was ever really clear. The characters seem to refer to them collectively as “Mogwai” though in their fuzzy state.
I’ve always wanted to know how long after midnight can a Mogwai again be fed? Technically, the entire day is after midnight.
You’re not ever supposed to feed them, you just lock them in little cages and watch them starve to death. 
I always referred to them collectively, both fuzzy and scaly as Mogwai, but people at work wanted to argue.
Ah, for some reason I thought you meant if the fuzzy pop-outs were Mogwai.
I always called the scaley thingies “Gremlins”. I suppose from a zoological standpoint they’d be the same species.
Actually, in the script I linked, look at around Page 53 which has the big “house fight”. They’re still called Mogwai even in scaly Gremlin form.
Note that “mogwai” (or something fairly similar) is the Cantonese word for “monster”. So they would all pretty much count as “mogwai” in that sense.
No kidding, I have a cite. From the original draft of the script. How cool is that?
I always assumed until daybreak.
I wish they’d been more clear. Something like, “Between the hours of midnight and six AM,” or something would have sufficed.
Mr. Wing would say “You get Mogwai wet. What time after midnight the least of your worries.”
And midnight where? Are the Mogwai set to local time and do they automatically adjust for Daylight Savings time?
Good point. I think some of them seem to instinctively know when they can’t eat. The creepy Mogwai/Gremlins asked to be fed after midnight and chewed through the wire so that the clock said it was before midnight (were they trying to become evil?). But when Gizmo was offered some food as well, he refused–was it because he instinctively knew that it would turn him into a Gremlin?
Absolutely. In Gremlins 2, they were troublemakers even in fuzzy form. Gizmo was the only good Mogwai.
If you’re not supposed to get wet, what are they supposed to drink? How can a creature live without water?
GuanoLad–ooh, I must confess, I haven’t seen the sequel, but I’m starting to get inspired to do so now…
Good point. Also, what about the fact that food is comprised of liquids? I mean, water’s an ingredient in tons of things. Is it just that they can’t get it on their fur? What happens when they pee? If their fur gets wet, do they spawn more Mogwai? What if they’re eating something liquidy like soup?
Or Jello! What if they eat jello?
Or cursed frogurt?
I’d pay to see a movie where Mogwai eat cursed frogurt.
Oh, hell, I’d pay to see Mogwai do damn near anything. Mogwai are cute!
Mr. Wing sells it.
You have to see the sequel! It’s brilliant fun! Unnecessary additional exclamation point!!