Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead

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Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead

PG-13

Released Jun 7, 1991

1h 45m

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

35%

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34 Reviews

57%

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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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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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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

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Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: D+

Sep 7, 2011

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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

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Simply inept. [Full review in Spanish]

Dec 8, 2022

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Philip French

Observer (UK)

It's not bad, but hardly what you put down money in a cinema to see.

Mar 13, 2021

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Stephen Herek

Director

Christina Applegate

Sue Ellen Crandell

Joanna Cassidy

Rose Lindsey

John Getz

Gus

Josh Charles

Bryan

Keith Coogan

Kenny Crandell

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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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