Don’t spill the secrets of “Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead”
Well, DTMTBD was somewhat doomed in terms of reviews (with a 35 percent freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes), but it managed to earn a modest $25 million at the box office with a $10 million budget. Despite its initial reception, the film has gained a strong following through video store rentals and frequent airings on cable.
“The cult following of Don’t Tell Mom is surprising because the movie initially struggled,” noted Applegate in a 2022 interview with Variety. “I had my reservations about doing a studio film at the time, but now I would love to be part of one. It’s amazing to see how lines from the movie, like ‘I’m right on top of that, Rose!’ are still quoted today, 30 years later. It really struck a chord with audiences.”
On the other hand, Cassidy, known for her positive outlook, couldn’t understand why DTMTBD didn’t receive more acclaim upon its release.
“It was such a charming film,” she expressed to BuzzFeed. “I truly believed it had the potential to be a huge success.”