Drop Dead Fred (1991)

7% of critics liked it
(14 reviews)
72% of users liked it
(181,039 ratings)

Phoebe Cates stars in this bizarre comedy that wants to be the kind of stylish comic fable the likes of Tim Burton's Beetlejuice and Pee-wee's Big Adventure but ends up looking like a shabby burlesque about schizophrenia. Cates is Elizabeth, who has recently separated from her philandering husband… More Phoebe Cates stars in this bizarre comedy that wants to be the kind of stylish comic fable the likes of Tim Burton's Beetlejuice and Pee-wee's Big Adventure but ends up looking like a shabby burlesque about schizophrenia. Cates is Elizabeth, who has recently separated from her philandering husband Charles (Tim Matheson) and moved back home with her harridan mother Polly (Marsha Mason). Back in her old little-girl haunts, she regresses into childhood and recalls her imaginary childhood friend Drop Dead Fred (Rik Mayall), a nasty, ill-tempered sociopath. As a child, Elizabeth created mayhem with her imaginary pal, but Polly locked him up tight in a jack-in-the-box. But now, Elizabeth mistakenly liberates him from the jack-in-the-box, and the newly freed Drop Dead Fred proceeds to wreak more havoc than the Id Monster from Forbidden Planet -- taking vengeance upon all the people who have made Elizabeth miserable -- and then some. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 43 min.
Directed By: Ate de Jong
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Apr 19, 1991 Wide
On DVD: Jul 22, 2003
Studio: New Line Cinema

Critic Reviews

Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com
An appallingly unpleasant, unfunny, and deeply disturbed motion picture. It's an ear-splitting slapstick comedy for an unknown audience, unifying parents and kids in discomfort with its aggressive movement.
Widgett Walls, Needcoffee.com
It's worth a rental just because the film's out on DVD, but even fans of the film should be hesitant to buy it because of the evil of pan and scan.
Widgett Walls, Needcoffee.com
'Cute film' and 'Young Ones alum' don't normally appear in the same sentence, do they?
Gerry Shamray, Sun Newspapers of Cleveland
Icky comedy.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
What were they thinking?
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
I know this flick has its fans, but I saw it 14 years ago ... and I still have a headache.

Read all 6 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

Phil H

This is great purely for Rik. I love 'Bottom' and 'The Young Ones' and this is close to being great stuff, close. The idea is cool and original but it needed more mischief from Rik and more risky laughs. Its still good, love Rik's look.
Tony G

Dumb. Dumb. Dumb. Probably why Phoebe Cates retired from acting.
Jason O

I've been watching "Drop Dead Fred" for years and it's still one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. Everybody does a good job acting and it has some of the funniest sequences of any movie ever. Phoebe Cates used to have an imaginary friend, but now… More
I've been watching "Drop Dead Fred" for years and it's still one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. Everybody does a good job acting and it has some of the funniest sequences of any movie ever. Phoebe Cates used to have an imaginary friend, but now she's grown up. All of a sudden he comes back and she's the only one that can see him. However, she is more mature now, so she tries to ignore him and even make him go away, but she realizes she still feels like a kid sometimes and wants her imaginary friend to stay around. "Drop Dead Fred" is one of the best comedy films ever and you'll never get tired of watching it. It's one of the few movies that will never get old. If you like comedy movies, this is one you can't miss. NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2000. Always loved this one and still do.....wow, people on this site only rate this movie and average of 3 stars!?? What's wrong with you all?
Nicki M

Probably wouldn't work if it was to be released now, but at the time, this was a decent movie, and still smile rewatching it.
Film C

excellant i thought it was really funny like every kids imaginary friends lol love fred was excellant
EightThirty .

Fun and Funny
Leigh R

My favorite movie when I was younger. Cute, sweet, and funny.
Nani V

Ah! Childhood memories!
Lafe F

An important movie about overcoming those who control you. Phoebe Cates needs to call on her imaginary friend "Drop Dead Fred" to assert herself against her domineering fiance and mother. It's a film about growing up and become an adult. Rik Mayall plays the very… More
An important movie about overcoming those who control you. Phoebe Cates needs to call on her imaginary friend "Drop Dead Fred" to assert herself against her domineering fiance and mother. It's a film about growing up and become an adult. Rik Mayall plays the very naughty but loveable imaginary friend. This movie can be somewhat childish, cheap and annoying, but I found it to be a light enjoyable comedy with my brand of humour. There's a nice funny appearance from Carrie Fisher as Phoebe's best friend.
Lady D

If you're a grown up with a bit of a kid still in you watch this film
xGary X

A reasonable idea scuppered by an utterly witless script leaving Mayall floundering in a loud and irritating attempt to make us laugh. And completely failing.
Jason S

Silly
Dean M

Rik Mayall's manic performance must have put the cause of British comics in Hollywood.
Emily A

This is one of my childhood favorites. Rik Mayall is a scream, as is Marsha Mason as the overbearing harridan of a mother. This movie is really immature and really funny. It's ironic that having an imaginary friend that childish helped both parties mature.
Andrew F

I was surprised that I actually kind of liked it. I liked the idea of the movie, but the execution of the plot was not great. The guy who plays Fred is annoying and should have been replaced. It is a somewhat creative comedy that I will probably forget.
Jason S

One of those flicks you grew up with, but if you didn't you wont get it. I didn't, the laughs are non existant and its manic nature is tiring rather than endearing. Its central message has good intentions though so its not a white wash.
Andrew P

Eventually charming and sweet at the end, but throughout Mayall can either be tollerable or damn right annoying. Funny in parts, annoying in others the film is hit or miss most of the way through but they payoff warrents 3 stars at the charming ending.
Sarah B

I must've gone off Rik Mayall.
Leo L

Absolutely love Rik Mayall!!
Sean S

Not a great debut for Mayall and pretty much the last time I saw Cates.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Phoebe Cates as Elizabeth Cronin

            Rik Mayall as Drop Dead Fred

            Marsha Mason as Polly

            Tim Matheson as Charles

            Carrie Fisher as Janie

            Keith Charles as Murray

            Ron Eldard as Mickey Bunce

            Ashley Peldon as Young Elizabeth

            Daniel Gerroll as Nigel

            Kelly Benson as Natalie

            Tom Bethke as Graggy

            Peter Breitmayer as Go to Hell Herman

            Daniel Buchen as Doctor Ryland

            Sjoukje DeJong Douma as Grandma Bunce

            Bridget Fonda as Annabelle (uncredited)

            Elizabeth Gray as Namby Pamby

            Cheryl Hawker as Nurse

            Cathy Lind Hayes as Ms. Fuzzock

            Paul Holmes as Man in Speedboat

            Marie Mathay as Concerned Mom

            Robert Meyzen as 2nd Waiter

            Eleanor Mondale as Attractive Customer

            Clark Niederjohn as Velcro Head

            Bob Reid as Judge Dubben

            Peter Thoemke as Arsonist

            Michael Welker as Waiter at Wine Gala

            Lynn Kressel
            
            Steve Cochran as 1st Waiter
See full cast