'

Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead

Play trailer

Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead

PG-13

Released Jun 7, 1991

1h 45m

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

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.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

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.

Read Critics Reviews

Nick O

Christina Applegate is so cool, she owns every second she’s on the screen in this smart, sarcastic dark comedy 90’s cable gem.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/28/25

Full Review

Steve Z

She went to the yarn store. I gotta go, Mom.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/16/25

Full Review

Audience Member

Decently funny movie but some pretty bad acting. Kinda cringy at times but it's my guilty pleasure as I had a crush on Christina Applegate back in the day

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/31/24

Full Review

Candace C

This was one of my favorite movies when I was a kid mostly because I was a fan of Christina Applegate and I always wondered what it would be like to drive a car and have a job before turning 18. It was fun to watch and something that I could relate to.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/20/24

Full Review

Truett M

I loved this movie in 1991 and it still holds up in 2024. Fun movie. Girl Boss movie before Girl Boss was a thing. Christina Applegate at her Christina Applegatest. Highly recommend. 😀

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/02/24

Full Review

Sara H

30 years later this is still a great Movie. One of my all time favorites.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/19/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Stephen Herek

Director

Christina Applegate

Sue Ellen Crandell

Joanna Cassidy

Rose Lindsey

John Getz

Gus

Josh Charles

Bryan

Keith Coogan

Kenny Crandell

Look Who's Talking Too

13%

32%

Look Who's Talking Too

Watchlist

Son-in-Law

33%

59%

Son-in-Law

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Son-in-Law

She-Devil

48%

49%

She-Devil

Watchlist

Life Stinks

25%

46%

Life Stinks

Watchlist

Madhouse

0%

45%

Madhouse

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

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

Most Popular at Home Now