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Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead

PG-13 Released Jun 7, 1991 1h 45m Comedy List
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 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. Mar 13, 2021 Full Review Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly Rated: D+ Sep 7, 2011 Full Review Variety Staff Variety 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. Jul 25, 2007 Full Review Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) Simply inept. [Full review in Spanish] Dec 8, 2022 Full Review Philip French Observer (UK) It's not bad, but hardly what you put down money in a cinema to see. Mar 13, 2021 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews ...an appealingly larger-than-life premise that is, for the most part, employed to affable effect by Herek... Rated: 2.5/4 Jan 27, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (1000+) audience reviews
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 Jess S Sometimes, marketing and expectations really prevent an audience from seeing the point of a particular film. Coming into this primed Home Alone or Fast Times hijinks is understandable, given the era and commercials, and there's a little of that here, but this is actually a fascinating snapshot of what it's like for a group of lower-middle class kids who have to step up when they have never been asked to step up before. On top of being delightfully '90s and giving us Christina Applegate as Junior Mommy, DTMTBD also delivers a surprisingly well-executed lesson in recognizing and living up to one's own potential, and accepting responsibility for your actions. It might not be perfect, thanks to some lackluster tertiary actors and a fairly forgettable soundtrack (despite a couple of jams) but overall, I'd say it's a must watch nostalgia pick. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/29/23 Full Review A K Love this movie! Gives me such a 90s feel watching it for the first time in 2023. Love it! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/08/23 Full Review Stoner J Loved it when it came out in 91'… still love it today. The movie was done very well in every way, great music, directing, producing and acting and not to forget it's an interesting, funny, and surprisingly suspenseful movie. And this movie was PERFECTLY CAST, each character was played by the right actor in al cases. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/13/23 Full Review Demented N Ah the critics again play a blinder in being overly critical .... its a teen comedy drama less comedy though and its from the 90s it ticks all the right boxes. Popular 90s stars, home alone with no parents, having to grow up fast. A teen fashion designer getting a big break. Very likeable characters...... its simple and fun! could of been a bit longer though. To point out all the main and some supporting actors and actresses in this movie went on to win awards for there acting! Somthing the movie did when it was released was a competition and the winner won the babysitters custom gothic car well its definitely an addams family style car. Through out the movie you almost forget about the baby sitter till the mom comes home early and the last line is simply "Where's the babysitter" Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/25/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead

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Cast & Crew

Look Who's Talking Too 13% 32% Look Who's Talking Too Son-in-Law 32% 59% Son-in-Law TRAILER for Son-in-Law She-Devil 48% 49% She-Devil Life Stinks 25% 45% Life Stinks Madhouse 0% 44% Madhouse Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

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
Home Box Office (HBO), Outlaw Productions, 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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