Sue Ellen Crandell is a teenager eagerly awaiting her mother's summer-long absence. While the babysitter looks after her rambunctious younger siblings, Sue Ellen can party and have fun. But then the babysitter abruptly dies, leaving the Crandells short on cash. Sue Ellen finds a sweet job in fashion by lying about her age and experience on her résumé. But, while her siblings run wild, she discovers the downside of adulthood
Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead starts with an enjoyable, if crude, black comedy situation promised by the title, but then it turns into an incredibly dumb teenage girl's fantasy of making it in the business world.
– Variety Staff,
Variety,
25 Jul 2007
rotten:
Miss Applegate is charming when the screenplay allows her to slow down. Working against her is the director, Stephen Herek, who pushes every gag so hard and fast that he seems to be keeping up with a laugh track only he can hear.
– Vincent Canby,
New York Times,
20 May 2003
rotten:
Blame the smash of Home Alone for the new herd of kids-on-the-loose movies. Let's hope none are dumber than this one.
– Peter Travers,
Rolling Stone,
12 May 2001
rotten:
Bummer.
– Desson Thomson,
Washington Post,
1 Jan 2000
rotten:
Once the babysitter dies and her body is deposited anonymously on the steps of a funeral home, the movie is free to reveal its real purpose: This is a consumerist, escapist fantasy for teenage girls.