Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead (1991)

31% of critics liked it
(26 reviews)
52% of users liked it
(120,416 ratings)

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) of a sniveling group of surly kids goes on a much-deserved summer vacation, she leaves her kids… More 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) 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

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 45 min.
Directed By: Stephen Herek
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Jun 7, 1991 Wide
On DVD: May 1, 2001
Studio: Warner Brothers

Critic Reviews

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.
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 laugh track only he can hear.
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, Washington Post
Bummer.
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.
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.
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.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Surprisingly entertaining and fun.
, Time Out
This is a sassy little comedy of wit and intelligence from the director of Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Predictable, but not wholly unlikable.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, San Francisco Examiner
A would-be black comedy that turns white too early
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Silly and pretty mindless, but still a worthwhile cable-time comedy.

Read all 12 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Chris W

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,… More
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 mom 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.
Anthony L

Not my cup of tea but then I guess it wasn?t aimed at me!
Coxxie M

ive probably seen this. whether i have or havent, its nothing special.
Curtis L

Been a while. First movie I ever saw that had boobs in it (they were on the kids poster on the wall)
Dean M

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.
Candy R

Teen movie about five kids who are left with a baby sitter who kicks the bucket.
jay n

Call the police Oh right Kenny, what are we going to tell them that Liza Minnelli stole our Buick!
danny d

cool when i was younger, but doesnt hold up
Jason S

Funny.
Leigh R

Hysterical.
Dannielle A

Interesting. Sort of kitsch but then also entertaining.
Deb S

Christina Applegate stars as a high school graduate, whose mother leaves for a two-month summer vacation in Australia, putting all five siblings in the care of a strict geriatric babysitter. When the babysitter suddenly dies in her sleep, Applegate (as the eldest) assumes the role as… More
Christina Applegate stars as a high school graduate, whose mother leaves for a two-month summer vacation in Australia, putting all five siblings in the care of a strict geriatric babysitter. When the babysitter suddenly dies in her sleep, Applegate (as the eldest) assumes the role as "head of the household" to enjoy the freedom of having no parents around. She fakes a resume to get a job in the fashion industry and lands herself the enviable position of an "Executive Administrative Assistant? but she soon learns that being an adult is not all that easy." It?s all amusing and one gets to see David Duchovny in an early role.
Leina R

Funny teen film.
Sunil J

Used to watch this on cable when i was a kid. Silly but fun.
Keith M

Still entertaining after all these years. I love HBO for every now and again bringing back the movies I use to watch all the time on HBO when I was a kid, and that was back when there was only one HBO. Now I have 7 HBOs and I love it.
Lee K

another one of my fave flicks of the 90's simple but great and a great story, i show it to my kids now.

Read all 16 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Christina Applegate as Sue Ellen "Swell" Crandell

            Joanna Cassidy as Rose Lindsey

            John Getz as Gus Brandon

            Josh Charles as Bryan

            Keith Coogan as Kenny Crandell

            David Duchovny as Bruce

            Concetta Tomei as Mrs. Crandell

            Kimmy Robertson as Cathy

            Jayne Brook as Carolyn

            Robert Hy Gorman as Walter Crandell

            Danielle Harris as Melissa Crandell

            Christopher Pettiet as Zach Crandell

            Chris Claridge as Lizard

            Jeff Bollow as Mole

            Michael Kopelow as Hellhound

            E.E. Bell as Umpire

            Wendy Brainard as Jill

            Sarah Buxton as Tess

            Dan Castellaneta as Animated Babysitter

            Kawena Charlot as Becky

            Kristen Corbett as Pretty Little Leaguer

            Frank Dent as Mr. Egg

            Logan Duncan as Liza

            Marc Epstein as Lunch Waiter

            Jim Holmes as Dinner Waiter

            Oscar Jordan as Mailroom Clerk

            Cathy Ladman as Pam

            Sidney Lassick as Franklin

            Michelle Mais as Temp

            Eda Reiss Merin as Lil Sturak

            David Shawn Michaels as Dolly

            Laurie Morrison as Katrina

            Randy Pelish as Delivery Man

            Christopher Plummer as Howard

            Alejandro Quezada as Skull

            Steve Ruggles as Officious Clerk

            Carl Tramon
            
            Deborah Tucker as Nicole

            Ethan Wilson as Musician #2

            Robert Newmyer as Mortuary Worker

            Brian Reilly as Mortuary Worker

            Richard Pagano
            
            Sharon Bialy
            
            Bryan Clark as Dr. Permutter

            Christopher Morley as Marilyn

            Brian M. Reilly as Mortuary Worker
See full cast