Drop Dead Fred

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2:08

Drop Dead Fred

PG-13

1991

1h 43m

Fantasy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

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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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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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The episodic flashbacks are cast in an unfunny Freudian light -- domineering mother, helpless hubby, the tragically withdrawn child.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

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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

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Onebeat G

One of the only movies that I loved as a child and still love as an adult. What a difference between the tomatometer score and the real audience score. Just shows you can't pay too much attention to ratings. It's laugh out loud funny thanks to the legendary cast. RIP Rik Mayall.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/12/25

Full Review

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

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Ate de Jong

Director

Phoebe Cates

Elizabeth

Rik Mayall

Drop Dead Fred

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Drop Dead Fred: Trailer 1

2:08

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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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