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

Five siblings are left alone all summer when their mom leaves town and the evil babysitter bites the dust.

Director:

Stephen Herek

Writers:

Neil Landau, Tara Ison

Stars:

Christina Applegate, Joanna Cassidy, John Getz

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Christina Applegate	...	Swell
Joanna Cassidy	...	Rose Lindsey
John Getz	...	Gus
Josh Charles	...	Bryan
Keith Coogan	...	Kenny
Concetta Tomei	...	Mom
David Duchovny	...	Bruce
Kimmy Robertson	...	Cathy
Jayne Brook	...	Carolyn
Eda Reiss Merin	...	Mrs. Sturak
Robert Hy Gorman	...	Walter
Danielle Harris	...	Melissa
Christopher Pettiet	...	Zach
Chris Claridge	...	Lizard
Jeff Bollow	...	Mole

Storyline

Single mother goes away for the summer. The kids are first delighted but then find that Mom has hired the sitter from hell to stay with them. When the sitter dies of a sudden coronary they deposit the body at a mortuary only to discover all their summer expense money was in her purse. The kids must find a way to survive the summer without mom or her money. This means actual work!

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Plot Keywords:

roof | babysitter | fast food restaurant | deception | fashion | 

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Taglines:

No rules. No curfews. No nagging. No pulse.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

PG-13

Did You Know?

Trivia

Christina Applegate's first lead role. She was 18

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Goofs

In California, drivers under 21 have their picture on the right side of the license. Sue Ellen's picture is on the left.

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Quotes

Rose Lindsey: Don't feel overwhelmed, just do one thing at a time.

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Crazy Credits

The two groundskeepers for the cemetery stand over the Babysitters grave and comment how nice it was for her to leave them the money. The tombstone reads "Nice Old Lady inside who died of natural causes".

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Alternate Versions

The scene when Kenny puts his cannabis plant on the window sill, it falls off, on VHS, he smiles, then Sue Ellen walks in. On DVD, he smiles, & says, "Fuck...!", then Sue Ellen walks in. (this refers the Australian VHS & DVD Versions)

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Connections

References The Terminator (1984)

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Soundtracks

As Time Goes By
Produced by Bruce Nazarian
Written by Herman Hupfeld
Published by Warner Bros., Inc.

User Reviews

Fun from the word GO!

How could you NOT like this movie! I am watching it right now, and it has inspired me to write a review, and hopefully give it more recognition and more importantly, a higher rating!!!! Kids home alone with no parents, free to do whatever, but also trying to maintain living! Each character has their own stereotype- Walter the youngest: a handful, Melissa: the disobedient tomboy, Kenny: the headbanging rocker drop-out, Zachary: the calm, but sneaky love struck teen and Sue-Ellen: the responsible, yet hip mother of her siblings. This movie is full of much excitement and a great plot. You cannot go past this underrated classic!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 June 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Real World

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,233,415, 9 June 1991

Gross USA:

$25,196,249

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$25,196,249

Company Credits

Production Co:

Home Box Office (HBO), Cinema Plus, Mercury/Douglas Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1