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Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead

Play trailer Poster for Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead PG-13 1991 1h 45m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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35% Tomatometer 34 Reviews 57% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
Sue Ellen Crandell (Christina Applegate) is a teenager eagerly awaiting her mother's (Concetta Tomei) summer-long absence. While the babysitter (Eda Reiss Merin) looks after her rambunctious younger siblings, Sue Ellen can party and have fun. But then the babysitter abruptly dies, leaving the Crandells short on cash. Sue Ellen finds a sweet job in fashion by lying about her age and experience on her résumé. But, while her siblings run wild, she discovers the downside of adulthood.
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Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead

Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead

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Critics Consensus

It has an amusing enough premise, but Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead will just leave viewers pining for the madcap hijinks promised by the title.

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Critics Reviews

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Tim Pulleine Guardian 03/13/2021
Gilded by personable performances, particularly from [Christina Applegate and Josh Charles], this wish-fulfilling fantasy manages to be wholeheartedly ridiculous in a manner that leaves criticism disarmed. Go to Full Review
Variety Staff Variety 07/25/2007
Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead starts with an enjoyable, if crude, black comedy situation promised by the title, but then it turns into an incredibly dumb teenage girl's fantasy of making it in the business world. Go to Full Review
Time Out 02/11/2006
This is a sassy little comedy of wit and intelligence from the director of Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. Go to Full Review
Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) 12/08/2022
Simply inept. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
Philip French Observer (UK) 03/13/2021
It's not bad, but hardly what you put down money in a cinema to see. Go to Full Review
David Nusair Reel Film Reviews 01/27/2021
2.5/4
...an appealingly larger-than-life premise that is, for the most part, employed to affable effect by Herek... Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Frans B @FransB Dec 9 This will always be one of those true blue 80's movies in my book. Hilarious at times, sometimes downright silly, drama filled and over the top. Love, even if it just for the way Kenny does the dishes 😜 Whole cast excels in character and the cinematography is good. Well worth a watch every once in a while See more Nov 27 It's an amazing movie and the critics reviews show that they get payed to say whatever rotten tomatoes wants them to say. It's plot is unique and for a movie from 1991 is amazing. And the people saying that it's interesting in the beginning but when the girl starts working an office job it turns to be just about that, don't understand the movie. She specifically picks an office job due to the fact that it's a job that makes people a lot of money, and she also doesn't want to get stuck at some random fast food place where she can't make anything for her family. Overall every part of the movie is entertaining, including the cutoff ending and the part where they reveal that the babysitter stole their money, and that it's now gone since they sent the body to a morgue. It's a good movie, and you should definitely try and see if you like it. See more Mike P Oct 11 This is a fun mash up of Adventures in Babysitting, Working Girl and Home Alone. Great cast, funny moments and a delightful dark sensibility highlight this unusual youth appeal caper comedy. See more Kelly B. @Chiefin_k Sep 28 Such an 80s classic! See more Ivette G @Ivettecita Sep 23 This is SUCH a fun 80s movie. Rewatched with my 7yo last night and he also got a kick out of it. See more Nick O May 28 Christina Applegate is so cool, she owns every second she’s on the screen in this smart, sarcastic dark comedy 90’s cable gem. See more Read all reviews
Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead

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Movie Info

Synopsis Sue Ellen Crandell (Christina Applegate) is a teenager eagerly awaiting her mother's (Concetta Tomei) summer-long absence. While the babysitter (Eda Reiss Merin) looks after her rambunctious younger siblings, Sue Ellen can party and have fun. But then the babysitter abruptly dies, leaving the Crandells short on cash. Sue Ellen finds a sweet job in fashion by lying about her age and experience on her résumé. But, while her siblings run wild, she discovers the downside of adulthood.
Director
Stephen Herek
Screenwriter
Neil Landau, Tara Ison
Distributor
Warner Bros.
Production Co
Outlaw Productions, Home Box Office (HBO), Mercury Productions
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 7, 1991, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 17, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$23.0M
Runtime
1h 45m
Sound Mix
Stereo, Surround
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