Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead

Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead is currently streaming in Australia on HBO Max, and in the US on YouTube TV and Cinemax Amazon Channel, and it delivers exactly the kind of comedy that earns a loyal following. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. 491 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Christina Applegate is the obvious draw, but the whole ensemble earns its laughs. Start it on HBO Max whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead earns its spot. Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead gets the fundamentals right first, then finds room to get weird with it. 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. Between them, Christina Applegate and Joanna Cassidy carry the comedy without ever forcing it. Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead came out in 1991. The real test of any comedy is whether it is still funny once you know all the jokes, and Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead holds up on rewatch in a way that separates it from one-off curiosities. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Comedy fans looking for a reliably funny watch will find it in Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Christina Applegate sets the tone, but the supporting cast is where a lot of the best moments come from. A reliable pick for any night you want quality comedy without the homework.