Three Men and a Baby (3 Men and a Baby) (1987)

75% of critics liked it
(28 reviews)
51% of users liked it
(250,342 ratings)

Three Men and a Baby is an Americanized remake of the 1985 French comedy hit Three Men and a Cradle. Tom Selleck, Ted Danson and Steve Guttenberg play three upwardly mobile New York bachelors who share an apartment. Their even-keel lifestyle is thrown out of whack when a young woman leaves a baby on… More Three Men and a Baby is an Americanized remake of the 1985 French comedy hit Three Men and a Cradle. Tom Selleck, Ted Danson and Steve Guttenberg play three upwardly mobile New York bachelors who share an apartment. Their even-keel lifestyle is thrown out of whack when a young woman leaves a baby on their doorstep, suspecting that film director Danson is the father. The balance of the film is devoted to milking as much humor as possible out of the situation of three urbane young men trying to play nursemaid with nary a clue of what they're doing (at one point, a desperate Selleck offers Guttenberg a thousand dollars if Guttenberg will change a diaper). A subplot involving drug dealers is thrown in to sustain audience interest after our trio of heroes become accustomed to a baby around the apartment. "Urban legend" aficionados please note: That cardboard cutout of Ted Danson briefly glimpsed in one scene of Three Men and a Baby is not the ghost of a little boy who died in the bachelors' apartment before filming started. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 42 min.
Directed By: Leonard Nimoy
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Nov 25, 1987 Wide
On DVD: Apr 2, 2002

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
Film is a good showcase for the comic abilities of this threesome, all of whom seem to have their one-liner timing down pat.
Janet Maslin, New York Times
The balance of the film is devoted to milking as much humor as possible out of the situation of three urbane young men trying to play nursemaid with nary a clue of what they're doing.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The movie never steps wrong as long as it focuses on the developing love between the two big men and the tiny baby.
Rita Kempley, Washington Post
As long as the script tracks the men's relationship with the baby, the picture is lively froth.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
Director Leonard Nimoy does not use his ears for comedy -- nor his eyes, even. His three leads recite their lines as though they wanted to take their jumbo-sized salaries and run -- which, given this movie, maybe isn't such a dumb idea.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
The leads acquit themselves fairly well, but the biggest winner is Selleck, whose low-key charm and gift for light comedy are put to good use here.
Emma Cochrane, Empire Magazine
Still charming and watchable. The three leads show their comedy potential.
M. Faust, Common Sense Media
Coasts on the charisma of its three stars.
, Time Out
It is shamelessly sentimental, and could well send the hardboiled home to kick the cat.
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
Funny, dated sexist comedy
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
The mix of comedy and melodrama is pretty well done.
Greg Muskewitz, eFilmCritic.com
Simple-minded situation comedy, but undeniably appealing.
, Film4
Based on the French film, Three Men and a Cradle, this is acceptable comedy, but cinema it is not.
Brian Mckay, eFilmCritic.com
Saccharine feel-good mainstream comedy geared to the Lowest Common Denominator.

Read all 14 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

AJ V

A silly movie, a little stupid at times, but it's got a good cast and it's pretty funny most of the time too. Overall, it's okay.
Sajin P

A warm gentle comedy about three bachelors trying to raise a baby - a situation that naturally promises a lot of funny scenarios. A timeless classic.
Tim S

That is not a ghost.
Anthony L

This is quite a good film, a favourite as a child. It?s a little dated but still entertaining enough. Look out for the ghost behind the curtain!!!
Dean !

A funny comedy as 3 men struggle with looking after a baby for the first time as it alters their bachelor lifestyle.
Robert C

The original French version was much better.
Julie B

What can I say, I was young and impressionable...
Candy R

Three bachelors are landed with a baby girl, who turns their lives upside down. They become very attached to her, just as her mother returns to take her back.
danny d

classic, i love this flick
Tim S

The only reason we watch this is because of Steve Guttenburg and the ghost behind the curtain.
Tim B

I find the picture for this movie really funny.
Lafe F

Lame + Lame + Lame + Cute = 3 Men and a Baby Good title for a film, but I just couldn't get over the plot and how sugary-sweet it was. New parents might enjoy this movie.
xGary X

Typically contrived and lame Hollywood rom com with a cast of TV has beens churning out the usual nappy jokes.
Leigh R

Oh... this movie is so cute.
Jason S

Funny and it really showcases these three great actors.
Michael G

That ghost was soooooooo scary...! And the movie was so terrible.
Dean M

Really funniest comedy of three bachelors has an unexcepted new roommate. Do you see in the background that a boy standing in front of a window when Ted Danson's mother comes to visit baby? It's a ghost boy - TRUE!
vieras e

It's scary how much I used to love this movie as a kid.
Juan C

as hillarious as the cast, this remake is heartwarming, hillarious, fresh, and original as a newborn baby. B+
Deb S

"They Changed Her Diapers. She Changed Their Lives" "Three Men and a Baby" is a fine comedy about three bachelors (Ted Danson, Tom Selleck and Steve Guttenberg) who are forced to take care of an abandoned baby that was left on their doorstep who have no idea… More
"They Changed Her Diapers. She Changed Their Lives" "Three Men and a Baby" is a fine comedy about three bachelors (Ted Danson, Tom Selleck and Steve Guttenberg) who are forced to take care of an abandoned baby that was left on their doorstep who have no idea what to do with a baby. It's a story that embraces parenting and all of its lovable details like dirty diapers, food spit-ups, and lack of sleep. Has many hilarious moments and you have to be a real cynic not to just kick back and enjoy this feel-good comedy/drama.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Tom Selleck as Peter Mitchell

            Steve Guttenberg as Michael Kellam Cartoonist

            Ted Danson as Jack Holden actor

            Nancy Travis as Sylvia Actress

            Margaret Colin as Rebecca

            Philip Bosco as Det. Melkowitz

            Celeste Holm as Mrs. Holden

            Michelle Blair as Mary

            Paul Guilfoyle as Vince

            Cynthia Harris as Mrs. Hathaway

            Derek de Lint as Jan Clopats Conductor

            Alexandra Amini as Patty

            Francine Beers as Woman at Gift Shop

            Barbara Budd as Dramatic Actress

            Michael Burgess as Handsome Man at Party

            Claire Cellucci as Angelyne

            Eugene Clark as Man At Pary

            David Ferry as Telephone Installer

            Dave Foley as Grocery Store Clerk

            Earl Hindman as Satch

            Mario Joyner as Cab Driver

            Gary Howard Klar as Detective

            Edward D. Murphy as Security Guard

            Colin Quinn as Gift Shop Clerk

            Thomas Quinn as Mounted Policeman

            John Gould Rubin as Paul Milner

            Dan Scott as Swimming Instructor

            Louise Vallance as Sally

            Michele Duquet as Tawnya

            Christine Kossak as One of Jack's Girls

            Joe Lynn as Detective

            Jackie Richardson as Edna

            Camilla Scott as Chenise

            Sharolyn Sparrow as Vanessa

            Jonathan Whitaker as Adam

            Dianne Crittenden
            
            Lisa Blair
            
See full cast

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