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Adventures in Babysitting

Play trailer Poster for Adventures in Babysitting PG-13 1987 1h 42m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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72% Tomatometer 46 Reviews 70% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
When plans with her boyfriend fall through, high school senior Chris Parker (Elisabeth Shue) ends up babysitting the Anderson kids, Brad (Keith Coogan) and Sara (Maia Brewton). What should be a quiet night in, however, turns into a series of ridiculous exploits, starting when they leave the house to pick up Chris' friend Brenda (Penelope Ann Miller). Soon, Brad's buddy Daryl (Anthony Rapp) is involved, and the group must contend with car thieves, blues musicians and much more.
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Adventures in Babysitting

Adventures in Babysitting

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Critics Consensus

Sweet and spry, Adventures in Babysitting gets by on its amiable tone.

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Critics Reviews

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Sara Michelle Fetters MovieFreak.com Adventures in Babysitting holds up because it is so remarkably progressive in its depiction of its primary female characters. Rated: 3/4 Aug 24, 2022 Full Review Carrie Rickey Philadelphia Inquirer In many ways, Babysitting is interesting for what it is not: namely, a John Hughes selfish-teen movie that asks, "Will the girl from the wrong side of the tracks get invited to the prom by the preppie?" Rated: 3/4 Jun 26, 2021 Full Review Jay Carr Boston Globe Although far from original. "Adventures in Babysitting" is a likable exercise In soft-core juvenile anarchy. Jun 26, 2021 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews ...a larger-than-life premise that’s employed to fun, inventive effect by Columbus... Rated: 3.5/4 Jun 5, 2024 Full Review Joe Lipsett Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr Podcast A romp of a family film that hasn't aged particularly well in its treatment of POC, but features a fun, sexy lead performance by Elizabeth Shue and an escalating number of ridiculous "the city is scary" developments that make for a very entertaining time. Rated: 4.5/5 Jan 25, 2023 Full Review Grant Watson Fiction Machine This kind of teen-oriented movie died out in the 1990s, and today that leaves Babysitting without a comfortable place to sit. Rated: 6/10 Sep 12, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Dale R A Touchstone release about a teen’s babysitting job that goes horribly wrong. Elisabeth Shue stars in the lead and does a fine job, as do her children co-stars. There are a few questionable camera angles and character choices in the writing. The tone felt off as well. I wasn’t sure if this was meant for children as there was plenty of swearing, but the plot felt aimed toward a younger crowd. A serviceable movie that I think is worth your time. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 07/07/24 Full Review Turiyan G Adventures in Babysitting is a Documentary. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/01/24 Full Review Leaburn O The 80s did these teen films better than any era. It's fun, sweet and irreverent. An original plot that wasn't ruined with ridiculous sequels, this is a film that still works and has aged well. Rented this one on Amazon Prime Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/25/24 Full Review Ola G After her boyfriend Mike cancels their anniversary date, 17-year-old Chris Parker (Elisabeth Shue) invites her friend Brenda (Penelope Ann Miller) over to her Oak Park, Illinois, house to cheer her up, but is convinced by her mother to babysit their neighbors' daughter, eight-year-old Sarah Anderson, while they attend a party in downtown Chicago. Sarah's 15-year-old brother Brad is supposed to spend the night at his friend Daryl Coopersmith's house, but he changes his mind when he discovers that Chris is babysitting his younger sister. After receiving a frantic phone call from Brenda, who ran away to a downtown bus station, Chris plans to go alone to pick her up, but is coerced by Brad, Sarah, and Daryl to take them with her... Rotten Tomatoes consensus states: "Sweet and spry, Adventures in Babysitting gets by on its amiable tone." Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave "Adventures in Babysitting" two-and-a-half out of four stars. He cited the blues club sequence as the movie's best scene, but criticized the film for not doing more with its Black characters. He said the movie had "good raw material," but too many "unrealized possibilities." Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune rated the film three out of four stars, calling it "a genial, warm-hearted romp." He praised the performances of the young cast and called Elisabeth Shue "earnestly appealing," but criticized the movie for a lack of "social awareness." Both critics compared the film to Risky Business and Ferris Bueller's Day Off. (Via Wikipedia) This quite silly/juvenile Chris Columbus teen comedy hasn´t all that much to offer to be honest except the lovely Elisabeth Shue in the main role. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 09/18/23 Full Review Joshua W One of my favorite childhood movies and I still love it to this day. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/22/23 Full Review Homer S This is a Fantastic and Adventurous Comedy. From Tow truck Driver to the Club where "Nobody leaves this place without singing the Blues.". This Flick had me laughing from beginning to End. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/17/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Adventures in Babysitting

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Movie Info

Synopsis When plans with her boyfriend fall through, high school senior Chris Parker (Elisabeth Shue) ends up babysitting the Anderson kids, Brad (Keith Coogan) and Sara (Maia Brewton). What should be a quiet night in, however, turns into a series of ridiculous exploits, starting when they leave the house to pick up Chris' friend Brenda (Penelope Ann Miller). Soon, Brad's buddy Daryl (Anthony Rapp) is involved, and the group must contend with car thieves, blues musicians and much more.
Director
Chris Columbus
Producer
Debra Hill, Lynda Obst
Screenwriter
David Simkins
Production Co
Touchstone Pictures
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 10, 2016
Runtime
1h 42m
Sound Mix
Surround
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