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Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead

  • 1991
  • AL
  • 1h 42m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
39K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,367
1,255
Christina Applegate, Keith Coogan, Robert Hy Gorman, Danielle Harris, and Christopher Pettiet in Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead (1991)
Home Video Trailer from Warner Home Video
Play trailer1:49
2 Videos
99+ Photos
Dark ComedyComedy

Five siblings are left alone all summer when their mom leaves town and the evil babysitter bites the dust.Five siblings are left alone all summer when their mom leaves town and the evil babysitter bites the dust.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
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    39K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    2,367
    1,255
    • Director
      • Stephen Herek
    • Writers
      • Neil Landau
      • Tara Ison
    • Stars
      • Christina Applegate
      • Joanna Cassidy
      • John Getz
    • 126User reviews
    • 25Critic reviews
    • 35Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 nominations

    Videos2

    Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead
    Trailer 1:49
    Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead
    Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead
    Trailer 2:05
    Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead
    Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead
    Trailer 2:05
    Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead

    Photos157

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    Top cast47

    Edit
    Christina Applegate
    Christina Applegate
    • Swell
    Joanna Cassidy
    Joanna Cassidy
    • Rose Lindsey
    John Getz
    John Getz
    • Gus
    Josh Charles
    Josh Charles
    • Bryan
    Keith Coogan
    Keith Coogan
    • Kenny
    Concetta Tomei
    Concetta Tomei
    • Mom
    David Duchovny
    David Duchovny
    • Bruce
    Kimmy Robertson
    Kimmy Robertson
    • Cathy
    Jayne Brook
    Jayne Brook
    • Carolyn
    Eda Reiss Merin
    • Mrs. Sturak
    Robert Hy Gorman
    Robert Hy Gorman
    • Walter
    Danielle Harris
    Danielle Harris
    • Melissa
    Christopher Pettiet
    Christopher Pettiet
    • Zach
    Chris Claridge
    • Lizard
    Jeff Bollow
    Jeff Bollow
    • Mole
    Michael Kopelow
    Michael Kopelow
    • Hellhound
    Alejandro Quezada
    • Skull
    Wendy Brainard
    • Jill
    • Director
      • Stephen Herek
    • Writers
      • Neil Landau
      • Tara Ison
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Production nearly stopped towards the end of shooting when Christopher Pettiet's drug addiction was getting out of control. The producers cut a few of his scenes to keep the film on schedule.
    • Goofs
      Several times, the children refer to being on summer vacation. However, the computer at the office reads March 22, 1989, and the tickets Sue Ellen gets as a gift read April 1st, 1990.
    • Quotes

      [repeated line]

      Sue Ellen "Swell" Crandell: I'm right on top of that, Rose.

    • 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".
    • Alternate versions
      TV versions edit the shot of the three drag queens stealing the car and also cut the line of dialogue from Sue Ellen that goes, "Oh yeah, what are we gonna say? Liza Minnelli stole our Buick?"
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: City Slickers/Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead/Jungle Fever/An Angel at My Table (1991)
    • Soundtracks
      Draggin' the Line
      Performed by Beat Goes Bang

      Produced by Alan Meyerson and Beat Goes Bang

      Courtesy of Restless Records

      Written by Tommy James and Robert King (as Robert L. King)

      Published by Longitude Music Co.

    User reviews126

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10

    Harmless entertainment

    You know... I've seen this a couple of times and I'd see it again. It made me laugh. It was charming. It was a harmless flick; no psyches were harmed in the making thereof. Granted, no real thought needs to be put into watching it. But it was fun, and I enjoyed it.

    Christina Applegate especially impressed me, which is noteworthy as -- at the time -- I really disliked her as a result of really disliking "Married With Children." She was not only good in her role but, I have to say, pretty much won me over.

    I can't say that the film made me wish I had siblings or a dead babysitter, but it did entertain me, and it made me smile to remember it watching this review, which has got to be worth something.
    • viv-15
    • Jun 30, 2005
    • Permalink

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    FAQ21

    • How long is Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead?Powered by Alexa
    • Who is that mad old cooking woman with the really annoying voice they are watching on tv?
    • Why is some of the coarse language censored, even on the DVD?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 13, 1991 (Netherlands)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Real World
    • Filming locations
      • 15548 Iron Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita, California, USA(The Crandell house)
    • Production companies
      • Home Box Office (HBO)
      • Cinema Plus
      • Mercury/Douglas Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $25,196,249
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $4,233,415
      • Jun 9, 1991
    • Gross worldwide
      • $25,196,249
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 42 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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    Christina Applegate, Keith Coogan, Robert Hy Gorman, Danielle Harris, and Christopher Pettiet in Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead (1991)
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