Parents' Guide to

Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead

By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Teen steps up to care for siblings; language, drugs.

Movie PG-13 1991 102 minutes
Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 10+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Mariah T.
Mariah T. Adult
January 4, 2023
age 10+

Great movie

Jessica Dawn Roddy
Jessica Dawn Roddy Parent of 14 and 18-year-old
March 7, 2022
age 10+

This was one of my favorite growing up

To me it was a classic I remember what I was doing when it was released it certainly was a part of my childhood funny and a great story line
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In DON'T TELL MOM THE BABYSITTER'S DEAD, a divorced mom (Concetta Tomei) plans a two-month trip to Australia with a new boyfriend, leaving behind her five kids ranging in age from 17 to around 8. Mrs. Sturak, a seemingly sweet older woman (Eda Reiss Merin), arrives the day of Mom's departure to babysit in the interim, but she conveniently dies of seemingly natural causes early on. The kids dump her body at the morgue -- and with the body, all the cash Mom left for expenses. Pressed for cash, Sue Ellen (Christina Applegate) uses a false resume to snag an executive assistant job at a clothing company to make ends meet and quickly makes herself indispensable in the eyes of her boss, Rose (Joanna Cassidy). Rose's boyfriend, Gus (John Getz), a vice president at the company, repeatedly hits on Sue Ellen. With hungry kids at home and waiting for her first paycheck, Sue Ellen raids petty cash, expecting to pay it back on payday. Her siblings spend lavishly, putting pressure on Sue Ellen to avoid embezzlement charges. Sue Ellen's ingenuity and design talent rescue Rose's failing company from bankruptcy. Mom returns early and demands an explanation for everything, including a lavish lawn party in full swing around her pool, but she's calmed by Sue Ellen's newfound maturity and problem-solving skills.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (2):

This is a routine, low-level comedy -- a teen-centric version of Home Alone crossed with The Secret of My Success. This time Christina Applegate's character gets to show that teens are far more ingenious and responsible than they're usually given credit for as she not only fills a grown-up job responsibly, but also saves her boss's failing company using her creativity and smarts. Teens who feel underappreciated may applaud Sue Ellen's heroic triumph, even as she faces punishment from her angry mom. Kids may take cues from Sue Ellen's diligence and accomplishment, but her embezzlement also sets an example, just a less admirable one.

Jokes and predicaments are predictable and recycled. You almost expect a laugh track to verify the movie's inspiration: TV sitcoms. Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead wasn't a huge hit when it came out (voted "one of the year's worst movies" by a popular critic of the time), but it has become something of a "cult classic," and plans were announced for a remake featuring a Black family.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the many reasons no responsible parent would ever go thousands of miles from home and leave her four kids for two months with a babysitter the kids have never met. Do you think Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead needed to be more realistic, or is realism unnecessary with a comedy?

  • Sue Ellen displays ingenuity, guts, and responsibility when she impersonates an adult with an impressive made-up resume. Does it matter that she lied, or do her successes make up for the deceit?

  • Do you think grown-ups underestimate the ability of teens in general? Does this movie serve to demonstrate that teens can be more responsible if they need to be? Why or why not?

Movie Details

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