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

33% of critics liked it
(27 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

Play Trailer

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.
, Time Out
This is a sassy little comedy of wit and intelligence from the director of Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure.
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.
Felix Vasquez Jr., Cinema Crazed
A fun experience for anyone who remembers fawning over Christina Applegate.
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.
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.
Kathleen Maher, Austin Chronicle
The souls of these little monsters are much too black to be redeemed within the confines of an hour and a half film.
Chris Hicks, Deseret News, Salt Lake City
Even the title gag, the dead baby sitter, is virtually forgotten after the first 15 minutes, until it is brought up again for the film's final moments. Along with it, the dark edge also disappears.

Read all 14 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

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

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

Featured Audience Ratings

John H

The movie should be called "Don't Forget the Babysitter's Dead." Because, after the first 20 minutes, you will. The plot, as absurd as it gets, is stupidly fun. However, the characters are far from likable.
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 17 featured audience ratings

Currently unavailable on Flixster

Also available on

Other Retailers

Not Available

Subscription Services

Not Available

Stream Now

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 more (46)

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

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

John H

Chris W

Anthony L

Coxxie M

Curtis L

Dean M

Candy R

jay n

danny d

Jason S

Leigh R

Dannielle A

Deb S

Leina R

Sunil J

Keith M

Lee K

Also available on

Other Retailers

Subscription Services

Cast

Trailers & Clips

More Like This

Watch offline from your computer

Flixster Desktop

Watch on your TV

Google TV

Microsoft XBOX 360

Sony Playstation 3

Watch on your tablet

iPad

Kindle Fire, Kindle Nook

Android tablets

Watch on your phone

iPhone, iPod Touch

Android phones

Are you sure?

Google TV Get the Flixster app , then sign in	Microsoft XBOX 360 Get the Vudu app, connect to UltraViolet. Rentals currently not available. Flixster app coming soon!
Sony Playstation 3 Get the Vudu app, connect to UltraViolet. Rentals currently not available. Flixster app coming soon!

iPad Get the Flixster app , then sign in	Kindle Fire, Kindle Nook Get the Flixster app , then sign in
Android tablets Get the Flixster app , then sign in