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IMDbPro

Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead

  • 1991
  • PG
  • 1h 42m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
36K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,646
233
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
Comedy

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, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    36K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,646
    233
    • Director
      • Stephen Herek
    • Writers
      • Neil Landau
      • Tara Ison
    • Stars
      • Christina Applegate
      • Joanna Cassidy
      • John Getz
    • 115User reviews
    • 24Critic reviews
    • 35Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 nominations

    Videos2

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

    Photos142

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

    Top cast

    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

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The original script was written with Winona Ryder in mind for the role of Sue Ellen Crandell. But she turned it down as she was working on both Edward Scissorhands (1990) and Mermaids (1990). Justine Bateman was later cast as Sue Ellen but left the project. Christina Applegate was cast after her Married with Children (1987) costar Ed O'Neill, who was friends with a producer of the film, gave her the script.
    • Goofs
      When the drag queens steal the Buick, and the shot cuts back to the kids, Kenny says "Liza?" while Sue Ellen's mouth clearly says "Shit." However, the audio has them both saying "Liza?"
    • 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 reviews115

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Nostalgia at its best
    I remember watching this film when I was about ten and I loved it. I remember being motivated to see it in the first place because Married with children reigned supreme in our house and I loved Christina Applegate. In this movie she didn't disappoint either, as she was not only good in it, but played a character wildly different from mean, dim witted Kelly Bundy. Instead she played Sue Ellen Krandle a decent ,level headed, but restless young woman who is uncertain about her future. Sue Ellen has a contentious relationship with her siblings and mother,but she also is willing to strive for their approval and respect. In other words she is a regular seventeen year old. More mature than her siblings but not quite ready to take up the mantle of an adult. When her mother goes to Austraila, Sue Ellen thinks that she is going to have a care free summer of fun in the sun, when a woman comes to the door and her mother introduces... the babysitter. When mom leaves the seemingly sweet grandma like gem, reveals a nastily terrifying tyrant underneath, and Sue Ellen and her siblings try and keep cool heads. The old be careful what you wish for scenario surfaces when the baby sitter sees Sue Ellens punk brother's bedroom and is literally shocked to death. Sue Ellen finds the woman's corpse and to make a long story short her and her siblings are left for two months with out money or adult supervision. This movie is not perfect from a technical standpoint. It a predicable cheesy fantasy full of scenarios that in real life would be incrediblbly dark. However, for some reason, the acting, the engrossing action pact scenes and the love you have for the respectful a, fresh and resourceful sue Ellen and hate you have for the bad characters emotionally engross you. This movie couldn't hold up today, but for its time, and because the memories it brings I will always love it.
    helpful•8
    0
    • tub83388
    • Oct 28, 2013

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    FAQ2

    • Why is some of the coarse language censored, even on the DVD?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 7, 1991 (Canada)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Faut pas dire à maman que la gardienne mange les pissenlits par la racine
    • 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

    Technical specs

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

    Related news

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