Problem Child

Problem Child has quietly become one of the more dependable comedies currently available. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. With 924 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. John Ritter sets the tone, and the rest of the cast matches it scene for scene. Available now — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Problem Child is worth clearing space for. Sharp writing and a well-matched ensemble are what separate Problem Child from the crowd. Ben Healy and his social climbing wife Flo adopt fun-loving seven year old Junior. But they soon discover he's a little monster as he turns a camping trip, a birthday party and even a baseball game into comic nightmares. John Ritter and Jack Warden lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1990. The real test of any comedy is whether it is still funny once you know all the jokes, and Problem Child 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.

Problem Child is the kind of thing you put on in the background and end up fully watching. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. John Ritter anchors an ensemble with real chemistry. Genuinely funny, consistently, across the whole run.