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Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead

Play trailer Poster for Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead PG-13 1991 1h 45m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
35% Tomatometer 34 Reviews 57% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
Sue Ellen Crandell is a teenager eagerly awaiting her mother's summer-long absence. While the babysitter 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 03/13/2021
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. Go to Full Review
Variety Staff Variety 07/25/2007
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. Go to Full Review
Time Out 02/11/2006
This is a sassy little comedy of wit and intelligence from the director of Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. Go to Full Review
Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) 12/08/2022
Simply inept. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
Philip French Observer (UK) 03/13/2021
It's not bad, but hardly what you put down money in a cinema to see. Go to Full Review
David Nusair Reel Film Reviews 01/27/2021
2.5/4
...an appealingly larger-than-life premise that is, for the most part, employed to affable effect by Herek... Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Noel L @RT15930389 2d Just goes to show you, when push comes to shove, its time to grow up and take charge See more Chris R @christr77 Jul 2 My wife and I watched this movie together back when we were dating in college. More than 30 years later, we still reference it to each other. Lines like "the dishes are done, man" or "well, it needed it..." still get us. It's a truly memorable '90s teen movie that will always have a special place in our hearts. I still put it on around the house from time to time, even if it's just for background noise. When we showed it to our Gen-Z daughter, though, I don't think she got the appeal at all. I think you might have to be Gen-X to really appreciate this one. See more Melissa L @Agent99 Jun 7 Funny movie. I have no idea why people have such poor ratings for it. See more Blake- N @PBSAniDom Jun 6 Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead is an okay comedy that has a few entertaining moments but never fully won me over. The premise is creative, and there are some funny situations throughout, but the overall experience felt average rather than memorable. The cast does a decent job, and the movie has enough energy to keep things moving. Some jokes land better than others, and while the film has a certain charm, it doesn't consistently deliver the laughs needed to stand out among other comedies from its era. Overall, Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead is watchable and occasionally amusing, but it wasn't a film that left a strong impression on me. It's not bad, but it's not something I would consider a favorite either. I'd rate it a 5/10. See more Horror fan 4 @Horrorfan4life Apr 6 A classic movie about kids stuck with a ruthless dictator of a babysitter. When she dies the oldest played by applegate must get a job so they can continue to have a great time while moms on vacation. I absolutely love this movie. It's charm and timely placed comedy makes this fun for most. I love these characters and the fact that a once dysfunctional family comes together and has one hell of a time. Timothy Treakle See more Stephen C @bob25009 Mar 14 The worldwide gross is $25,196,249.00. See more Read all reviews
Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead

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Movie Info

Synopsis Sue Ellen Crandell is a teenager eagerly awaiting her mother's summer-long absence. While the babysitter 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