Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead poster & wallpaper
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Christina Applegate, Joanna Cassidy, John Getz, Josh Charles, Keith Coogan ... see more see more... , David Duchovny , Concetta Tomei , Kimmy Robertson , Jayne Brook , Robert Hy Gorman , Danielle Harris , Christopher Pettiet , Chris Claridge , Jeff Bollow , Michael Kopelow , E.E. Bell , Wendy Brainard , Sarah Buxton , Dan Castellaneta , Kawena Charlot , Kristen Corbett , Frank Dent , Logan Duncan , Marc Epstein , Jim Holmes , Oscar Jordan , Cathy Ladman , Sidney Lassick , Michelle Mais , Eda Reiss Merin , David Shawn Michaels , Laurie Morrison , Randy Pelish , Christopher Plummer , Alejandro Quezada , Steve Ruggles , Carl Tramon , Deborah Tucker , Ethan Wilson , Robert Newmyer , Brian Reilly , Richard Pagano , Sharon Bialy , Bryan Clark , Christopher Morley , Brian M. Reilly

Christina Applegate stars in this convoluted comedy that comes across as a teen fantasy combination of Home Alone and Working Girl. The premise is all in the title -- when the mother (Concetta Tomei) ... read more read more...of a sniveling group of surly kids goes on a much-deserved summer vacation, she leaves her kids under the charge of an elderly distaff granny (Eda Reiss Merin). When granny ups and dies, the kids load her dead body in a trunk and deposit the package on the steps of the local funeral home. The kids are ecstatic thinking that with the big wad of cash Mom has left, they can have a summer of consumer madness. But when they find out that the money has been buried with the baby-sitter, the kids have to fend for themselves to make ends meet. Dream teen Sue Ellen (Christina Applegate) tries working at a fast food restaurant but she can't stand the grease. So, she puts together a false resume and, posing as a twenty-eight-year old, she applies for a job as a receptionist at a garment manufacturing company. The company vice president, Rose (Joanna Cassidy), is so impressed by her resume that she hires her on the spot as her executive assistant. Her deception looks to be working out great -- Sue Ellen manages to hold off the office lady killer Gus (John Getz), avoids exposure by the embittered receptionist, borrows money from the company's petty cash box for household incidentals, and continues her relationship with restaurant employee Bryan (Josh Charles). But suddenly, the clothing firm is set to go under, and Sue Ellen must use her teen fashion sense to save the company and her job . . . and she has to get the rest of the brood involved. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Flixster Users

52% liked it

120,416 ratings

Critics

31% liked it

26 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 45 min.

Directed by: Stephen Herek

Release Date: June 7, 1991

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DVD Release Date: May 1, 2001

Stats: 3,254 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (3,254)

  • cosmo313
    August 28, 2011
    cosmo313
    Once again I'm hit by a wave of nostalgia. I will admit that I'm inflating the grade here, and giving it more props than maybe it's worth, but I can't help it. This film may be typical and predicatble, but I dig it.

    The story concerns a bunch of wild siblings who, after their mo... read morem leaves for an extended overseas trip, are put into the care of a mean and strict babysitter. However, the hell they face with her is nothing compared to the hell they have to endure after she passes away unexpectedly, forcing the kids to grow up and become mature responsible people, which is even more of a drag since it means not spending their summer having all they fun they had planned on.

    This is an unrealistic fantasy, but it's charming and really funny. Plus, I' sure plenty of parents would love to come home someday to see their wild, heavy metal stoner son all cleaned up, straight, and wearing nice clothes like a real gnetleman. The cool thing about this movie though, is that once the characters make changes, you do feel like maybe they really mean it (at least for some of them), and they didn't change totally out of necessity to fit a temporary situation.

    This film is a bit of a mess, implausible, and dated to a degree, but it's fun, so there.
  • SirPant
    September 29, 2009
    SirPant
    Not my cup of tea but then I guess it wasn?t aimed at me!
  • LoughnerWasLucid
    June 17, 2009
    LoughnerWasLucid
    ive probably seen this. whether i have or havent, its nothing special.
  • puffchunk
    October 4, 2007
    puffchunk
    Been a while. First movie I ever saw that had boobs in it (they were on the kids poster on the wall)
  • deano
    August 20, 2007
    deano
    No sooner has Mum popped off to Oz, than the babysitter pops her clogs, leaving the kids to fend for themselves. A great idea is largely wasted, although it gets funnier towards the end. If you've started, you may as well finish.
  • thmtsang
    August 10, 2007
    thmtsang
    Teen movie about five kids who are left with a baby sitter who kicks the bucket.
  • jjnxn
    May 5, 2007
    jjnxn
    Call the police
    Oh right Kenny, what are we going to tell them that Liza Minnelli stole our Buick!
  • sanjurosamurai
    January 9, 2007
    sanjurosamurai
    cool when i was younger, but doesnt hold up
  • superclerk25
    December 27, 2006
    superclerk25
    Funny.
  • dreamfaeries
    November 10, 2006
    dreamfaeries
    Hysterical.

View All Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead Reviews

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff
July 25, 2007
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 ... Full Review

Vincent Canby
May 20, 2003
Vincent Canby, New York Times

Miss Applegate is charming when the screenplay allows her to slow down. Working against her is the director, Stephen Herek, who pushes every gag so hard and fast that he seems to be keeping up with a ... Full Review

Peter Travers
May 12, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Blame the smash of Home Alone for the new herd of kids-on-the-loose movies. Let's hope none are dumber than this one.

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Bummer. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Once the babysitter dies and her body is deposited anonymously on the steps of a funeral home, the movie is free to reveal its real purpose: This is a consumerist, escapist fantasy for teenage girls. Full Review

Hal Hinson
January 1, 2000
Hal Hinson, Washington Post

Don't tell the studio, but its movie's dead. And as we used to say as kids -- rest in pieces. Full Review

Brian Orndorf
June 9, 2011
Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com

A picture with obvious flaws, but one that attempts to subvert the norm with a few curveball jokes here and there. It's not awful. It's not good either. Full Review

July 25, 2007
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Surprisingly entertaining and fun. Full Review

February 11, 2006
Time Out

This is a sassy little comedy of wit and intelligence from the director of Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. Full Review

Ken Hanke
September 4, 2003
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Predictable, but not wholly unlikable.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead Trivia

Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's D... Trivia

  • One one this movie's taglines is: No rules. No curfews. No nagging. No pulse.  Answer »
  • What is the name of the film that stars Christina Applegate in which she has to look after her siblings and provide for them while their mum is away on holiday?  Answer »
  • In the movie "Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead" their was an error in one of the seance. Which one of the following options is a true mistake in the movie.  Answer »
  • After the shotgun blast, Keith Coogan says, "The dishes are done, man." in what 1991 movie?  Answer »
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