Adventures in Babysitting

PG-13

1987

1 hr. 42 min.

Comedy

List

71%

45 Reviews

Tomatometer

70%

100,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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Critics Consensus

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

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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

StephenPaul C

LOL, the funniest 01 hour: and 42 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! However, 2 f-bombs!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/23/23

Full Review

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Chris Columbus

Director

Elisabeth Shue

Chris Parker

Maia Brewton

Sara Anderson

Keith Coogan

Brad Anderson

Anthony Rapp

Daryl Coopersmith

Calvin Levels

Joe Gipp

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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

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

Juan Carlos Coto

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Idiotic plot aside, there are surprisingly funny moments.

Rated: 2.5/4

Aug 19, 2021

Full Review

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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
Screenwriter: David Simkins
Production Co: Touchstone Pictures
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Sound Mix: Surround

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