Vice President Dan Quayle received a "special thanks" credit because his office sped up a working visa for British actor Warwick Davis.
George Lucas received a "special thanks" credit because Warwick Davis was under contract to him, and he gave Davis permission to appear in the movie.
Warwick Davis started to regret making the film, but due to Aniston's later success on television, many people rented this film, and it spawned a lengthy series of sequels. Allegedly, it was one of Warwick's favorite movies.
According to Warwick Davis, there were many conflicts between the production and the distribution company Trimark Pictures. The production wanted to make a horror movie with many gore elements similar to the Friday the 13th saga or A Nightmare on Elm Street, while Trimark wanted something similar to Critters or Gremlins that were horror comedies suitable for all audiences. Through editing and different versions of scenes, a mixed variety of gore and humor were added. The movie was originally planned as a straightforward horror film, but Davis sought to add more comedic elements. Mark Jones agreed with this tonal shift, and they shot it as a horror comedy. Several scenes had to be re-shot after the producers insisted that the film be made gorier to appeal to older audiences.
Warwick Davis has repeatedly accused Jennifer Aniston of denying that the film exists. Aniston replied to Davis that she considered Leprechaun her first film success, but her beginnings as an actress embarrassed her and apologized for "ghosting" the film.