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Dennis the Menace

Play trailer Poster for Dennis the Menace PG 1993 1h 36m Kids & Family Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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28% Tomatometer 25 Reviews 39% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
Mischievous Dennis Mitchell (Mason Gamble) makes the life of neighbor George Wilson (Walter Matthau) miserable with his overactive energy and inadvertent troublemaking. Because his parents must leave town for work and can't find a baby sitter for Dennis, they ask George and his wife, Martha (Joan Plowright), to take care of him. But when burglar Switchblade Sam (Christopher Lloyd) breaks in to steal George's gold coin collection, he takes Dennis as a hostage, and crusty George must save the boy.
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Dennis the Menace

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Critics Consensus

Walter Matthau does a nice job as Mr. Wilson, but Dennis the Menace follows the Home Alone formula far too closely.

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Critics Reviews

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Patricia Bibby Associated Press What saves this movie from insipidness is an endearing performance by Walter Matthau as the cantankerous Mr. Wilson. Jun 12, 2018 Full Review Ty Burr Entertainment Weekly Its unholy mixture of peppy sadism and pious, self-righteous sentiment comes straight from Hughes' crabbed cinematic heart. Rated: D Jul 7, 2010 Full Review Todd McCarthy Variety Very young children may find the numskull, by-the-numbers gags here amusing, but teens will consider this kids' stuff and adults will be pained. Jul 22, 2008 Full Review Common Sense Media Editors Common Sense Media Comic strip-based comedy has peril, scary villain. Rated: 2/5 Aug 14, 2019 Full Review Malcolm Johnson Hartford Courant A kid's picture that can delight crabby adults, too. Apr 9, 2018 Full Review Quentin Curtis Independent on Sunday As Dennis, the charmless Mason is a Gamble that hasn't paid off. Dec 7, 2017 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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SS Even as an adult I still find this movie absolutely hilarious. When I watched it as a kid, I remember my dad laughing so hard at the final scene that he was crying. It definitely holds up and is worth a watch. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/11/25 Full Review Daniel F Great family comedy. Very funny. Has a Home Alone/John Hughes flavor to it that I love. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 10/05/25 Full Review Paigen J Dennis the Menace is a funny, family-friendly movie that kids will love. The humor is playful, the story is lighthearted, and the acting is surprisingly strong—especially from the children, who bring so much charm and energy to the film. It’s a great pick for a fun family movie night. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/23/25 Full Review Revyn B It’s a great movie tbh. Even as an adult I still love it Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/08/25 Full Review Cody H Dennis the Menace is a film which shows that not every film needs a 10-10 rating with a brilliant script. The film is simply entertaining on its own. Even the film is a bit more for kids, it has its charms. Especially Mrs Wilson, Mr Wilson and young Mason as Dennis. Christopher Lloyd as the villain, is a great choice, and you can’t just help it that at the end you feel sorry for him, being burned, stuffed with beans, thrown, hit, knifed, and pulleyed by a rope. Meeting Dennis is a different category. Fun family film. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/12/25 Full Review Brian S Highly enjoyable and underrated family film that owes so much to Home Alone! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/29/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Dennis the Menace

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Cast & Crew

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Nick Castle

Director

Walter Matthau

Mr. George Wilson

Mason Gamble

Dennis Mitchell

Joan Plowright

Mrs. Martha Wilson

Christopher Lloyd

Switchblade Sam (Town Robber)

Lea Thompson

Mrs. Alice Mitchell

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Dennis the Menace

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Movie Info

Synopsis Mischievous Dennis Mitchell (Mason Gamble) makes the life of neighbor George Wilson (Walter Matthau) miserable with his overactive energy and inadvertent troublemaking. Because his parents must leave town for work and can't find a baby sitter for Dennis, they ask George and his wife, Martha (Joan Plowright), to take care of him. But when burglar Switchblade Sam (Christopher Lloyd) breaks in to steal George's gold coin collection, he takes Dennis as a hostage, and crusty George must save the boy.
Director
Nick Castle
Producer
Ernest Chambers, John Hughes, Richard Vane
Screenwriter
Hank Ketcham, John Hughes
Distributor
Argentina Video Home, Warner Bros.
Production Co
Warner Brothers
Rating
PG
Genre
Kids & Family, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 24, 1993, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 25, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA)
$50.2M
Runtime
1h 36m
Sound Mix
Surround
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