The Babysitters

R

Released May 9, 2008

1h 30m

Drama

List

35%

Tomatometer

26 Reviews

30%

Audience Score

2,500+ Ratings

Seventeen-year-old Shirley (Katherine Waterston) is a good student who works as a babysitter in order to make money for college. One night Michael (John Leguizamo), a father Shirley works for, confesses he's unhappy with married life. Shirley has a crush on Michael, and seizes this moment to kiss him. Michael is so happy he presents Shirley with a big tip, which gives her an idea. Shirley plans to make extra money by setting up her teenage friends with other unhappy fathers.

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Critics Consensus

Though built on an audacious and controversial premise, Babysitters teeters between exploitation and grossness due to uneven execution.

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Stephen Garrett

Time Out

Rated: 3/5

Nov 16, 2011

Full Review

Ann Hornaday

Washington Post

It's bad enough that writer-director David Ross indulges in the very perverse kind of Lolita-tinged titillation the film pretends to lament, but then he ties everything up with an oh-well shrug.

May 16, 2008

Full Review

Amy Nicholson

I.E. Weekly

Their customers are awkward enough that we're able to believe the girls are in control, or at least aware that they're the highlight of the men's week.

Rated: B

May 15, 2008

Full Review

Prairie Miller

NewsBlaze

A pathetic excuse to trot out a procession of teenage girls in the raw, performing graphic simulated sex acts with your basic suburban family man drooling all over himself.

May 17, 2008

Full Review

Ken Fox

TV Guide

David Ross's stylishly tawdry black comedy fits neatly between Heathers and American Beauty. The Babysitters Club this ain't.

Rated: 2.5/4

May 9, 2008

Full Review

Liz Braun

Jam! Movies

You can see the potential in this off-kilter coming-of-age story, and it's a pity it never quite adds up.

Rated: 2/5

May 9, 2008

Full Review

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Sarah Z

Hollywood shows its gross side again.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

08/12/23

Full Review

Henry K

One of the best and most original movies ever

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I was waiting for the part where the women got revenge, or at the very least, there was some kind of moral of the story. Unfortunately it was all sexist and disturbing.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

08/05/22

Full Review

Audience Member

HOW DO I GIVE THIS ZERO STARS. Absolutely disgusting.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This film at first tries to build erotic sexual tension but fails when overnight the innocent, virgin-like Shirley turns into a money-driven shameless Madam. All of the characters you wish would just get their just reward they are all about as likeable as Jeffrey Dahmer. The plot is ridiculous as well—is it even possible in real life for a group of male married friends to all be pedophiles? Is it possible for the teenagers to recruit so many girls to the most demeaning occupation on earth? This film purports to have feminism—instead it characterizes all teenage girls through the lens of horny males and declares that ALL girls this age are dumb bimbos who will have sex with any greasy, ugly guy for cash. One of the men actually says this. I've seen innumerable movies in my lifetime and this one is at the bottom. There's no tension at all and the end feels like a commercial that was spliced into the film and not part of the film itself. You don't even give a damn about the wives who are, for the most part, flat entities with a pulse.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I can't believe I didn't just shut if off. Just horrible. Unless watching old jews and the lead spic "get lucky" with pre-teen girls. (gross)

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

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David Ross

Director

John Leguizamo

Michael Beltran

Katherine Waterston

Shirley Lyner

Cynthia Nixon

Gail Beltran

Spencer Treat Clark

Scott Miral

Andy Comeau

Jerry Tuchman

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Synopsis

Seventeen-year-old Shirley (Katherine Waterston) is a good student who works as a babysitter in order to make money for college. One night Michael (John Leguizamo), a father Shirley works for, confesses he's unhappy with married life. Shirley has a crush on Michael, and seizes this moment to kiss him. Michael is so happy he presents Shirley with a big tip, which gives her an idea. Shirley plans to make extra money by setting up her teenage friends with other unhappy fathers.

Director: David Ross
Producer: Kathy DeMarco, Jason Dubin, Jennifer Dubin, John Leguizamo, Cora Olson
Screenwriter: David Ross
Distributor: Peace Arch Entertainment Group Inc.
Production Co: Forensic Films, Upload Films
Rating: R (Language|Involving Teens|Disturbing Sexual Content|Some Drug Use)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 9, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 2, 2016
Runtime: 1h 30m

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