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Dennis the Menace

Play trailer Poster for Dennis the Menace PG Released Jun 24, 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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Cameron L There's something to watch about, and it's mostly Dennis the Meance and Walter Matthau as Mr. Wilson together. The rest of the acting isn't bad either as well as also I love the neighborhood atmosphere that's constantly welcoming. Issues are the slapstick is pointless, and Switchblade Sam wasn't needed. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/22/25 Full Review Luis Otavio F Nostalgic, brilliant, Dennis the Menace is a delight for children and adults alike, everything about the film fits together. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/19/25 Full Review Michael C This movie is so ICONIC and so AMAZING still one of my FAVORITES !!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/18/25 Full Review Bobby E I do't care . I laugh everytime I watch this movie . Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/17/25 Full Review Cudalbu R I couldn't stop laughing! This movie was sheer genius! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/02/25 Full Review David P Walter Matthau is great in this. The story l guess it is similar to Home Alone but it’s enjoyable for adults and kids to watch together. How its score is so low is beyond me. If you can’t take a movie for what it is and write a fair review don’t even bother. You must be as miserable as Mr Wilson. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/19/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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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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