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Drop Dead Fred

Play trailer 2:08 Poster for Drop Dead Fred PG-13 Released Apr 19, 1991 1h 43m Fantasy Play Trailer Watchlist
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11% Tomatometer 36 Reviews 77% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
An unhappy housewife (Phoebe Cates) gets a lift from the return of her imaginary childhood friend, Drop Dead Fred (Rik Mayall).
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Drop Dead Fred

Drop Dead Fred

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Critics Consensus

Tackling mature themes with an infantile sensibility, Drop Dead Fred is an ill-conceived family comedy that is more likely to stir up a headache than the imagination.

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Critics Reviews

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Michael Wilmington Los Angeles Times Drop Dead Fred is an erratic stab at making madness sensible, a slapstick nightmare that goes too sane, that tries too hard to be both good and rotten. May 5, 2014 Full Review Gene Siskel Chicago Tribune This is easily one of the worst films I've ever seen. Rated: 0/4 May 5, 2014 Full Review Steven Rea Philadelphia Inquirer The episodic flashbacks are cast in an unfunny Freudian light -- domineering mother, helpless hubby, the tragically withdrawn child. What a laugh riot! Rated: 1.5/4 May 5, 2014 Full Review Tony Black Cultural Conversation The crucial problem of course is that for a comedy, it's not really very funny. Rated: 2/5 Feb 16, 2021 Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Fred is a particularly crass, unappealing imaginary friend, going out of his way to stir up trouble more than engaging in fun activities. Rated: 5/10 Sep 11, 2020 Full Review Jorge Loser Espinof A fantastic cult comedy. [Full Review in Spanish] Rated: 3.5/5 Aug 11, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member I loved this movie as a kid when it first came out. This is a movie that I would watch over and over again. Even over 30 years later I still enjoy it as an adult! I think the posh reviewers are dead wrong about this movie! It is great and I highly recommend!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/26/25 Full Review thiago s Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 08/02/25 Full Review Todd B A corky comedy about a childhood make believe imagination that revisits her in her adulthood. A good movie 🎬. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/01/25 Full Review Connie T Sadly, you never quite know what you've got until it's gone, and that goes for Rik. This is such an underrated movie, in which he was brilliant. It is funny, heart warming and subtly deals with trauma and mental health. I watched it when I was much younger and didn't think much of it. 30 odd years later I can appreciate the storyline. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/02/25 Full Review Marlene D GREAT FUNNY FILM, Especially with children but funny as an adult as well. The Fact that it was at 11% Before my rating PROVES THAT ROTTEN TOMATOES IS USED MOSTLY BY PEDOCRATS WITH NO SENSE OF HUMOR! Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 04/01/25 Full Review Audience Member One of a kind. Absolute classic. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/07/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Drop Dead Fred

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Cast & Crew

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Ate de Jong

Director

Phoebe Cates

Elizabeth

Rik Mayall

Drop Dead Fred

Marsha Mason

Polly

Tim Matheson

Charles

Carrie Fisher

Janie

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Drop Dead Fred

Drop Dead Fred: Trailer 1 Drop Dead Fred: Trailer 1 2:08 View more videos
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Drop Dead Fred

Drop Dead Fred (1991) Drop Dead Fred (1991) Drop Dead Fred (1991) Drop Dead Fred (1991) Drop Dead Fred (1991) Drop Dead Fred (1991) Drop Dead Fred (1991) Drop Dead Fred (1991) Drop Dead Fred (1991) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis An unhappy housewife (Phoebe Cates) gets a lift from the return of her imaginary childhood friend, Drop Dead Fred (Rik Mayall).
Director
Ate de Jong
Producer
Paul Webster
Screenwriter
Elizabeth Livingston, Carlos Davis, Anthony Fingleton
Distributor
New Line Cinema
Production Co
New Line Cinema, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Fantasy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 19, 1991, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 23, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$13.9M
Runtime
1h 43m
Sound Mix
Dolby, Surround, Stereo
Aspect Ratio
35mm
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