Adventures in Babysitting
She thought babysitting was easy money - until she started hanging out with the Andersons.
1987 | 102m | English
Popularity: 2 (history)
| Director: | Chris Columbus |
|---|---|
| Writer: | David Simkins |
| Staring: |
| When plans with her boyfriend fall through, high school senior Chris Parker ends up babysitting the Anderson kids, Brad and Sara. What should be a quiet night in, however, turns into a series of ridiculous exploits, starting when they leave the house to pick up Chris' friend Brenda. Soon, Brad's buddy Daryl is involved, and the group must contend with car thieves, blues musicians and much more. | |
| Release Date: | Jul 01, 1987 |
|---|---|
| Director: | Chris Columbus |
| Writer: | David Simkins |
| Genres: | Comedy |
| Keywords | babysitter, unfaithful boyfriend, misadventure, one night, car theft, suburbanite, chop shop, homeless man, frat party, criminal gang, held hostage, norse mythology, aftercreditsstinger |
| Production Companies | Silver Screen Partners III, Touchstone Pictures |
| Box Office |
Revenue: $34,368,475
Budget: $7,000,000 |
| Updates |
Updated: Feb 01, 2025 Entered: Apr 13, 2024 |
| Name | Character |
|---|---|
| Elisabeth Shue | Chris Parker |
| Maia Brewton | Sara Anderson |
| Keith Coogan | Brad Anderson |
| Anthony Rapp | Daryl Coopersmith |
| Calvin Levels | Joe Gipp |
| Vincent D'Onofrio | Dawson / 'Thor' |
| Penelope Ann Miller | Brenda |
| George Newbern | Dan Lynch |
| John Ford Noonan | John Pruitt |
| Bradley Whitford | Mike Todwell |
| Ron Canada | Greydon |
| John Davis Chandler | Bleak |
| Dan Ziskie | Mr. Anderson |
| Allan Aarons | Janitor #1 |
| Marcia Bennett | Nurse |
| Rummy Bishop | Janitor #2 |
| David Blacker | Cleminski |
| Lolita Davidovich | Blonde |
| John Dee | Old Man |
| Monica Devereux | Teenage Runaway |
| Clarke Devereux | Gangster at Table |
| Richard Rebiere | Friend |
| Rick Goldman | Adulterer |
| Deryck Hazel | Maitre D' |
| John Hemphill | Drunk at Party |
| Frank Hill | El Train Attendant |
| Philip Honey | Jock |
| Clark Johnson | Black Gang Leader |
| Maryann Kelman | Passenger |
| Kirsten Kieferle | Sesame |
| Peter Lavender | Hot Dog Vendor |
| Kevin Lund | Huge Guy |
| Southside Johnny | Band Leader at Frat Party |
| Allan Merovitz | Man with Gun |
| Sam Moses | Dr. Nuhkbane |
| Les Nirenberg | Fat Man |
| Juan Ramírez | Chicano Leader |
| Diane Robin | Nurse |
| Sandi Ross | Bag Lady |
| Charlene Shipp | Mrs. Pruitt |
| Sandra Shuman | Mrs. Parker |
| Linda Sorensen | Mrs. Anderson |
| Walter Woodson | Gang Member |
| Jaap Broeker | Maitre'D (uncredited) |
| Billy Branch | Harmonica Player (uncredited) |
| Albert Collins | Self (uncredited) |
| Jordan-Patrick Marcantonio | Boy on Street (uncredited) |
| David Simkins | Frat Boy with Playboy (uncredited) |
| Andrew Shue | Extra (uncredited) |
| Name | Job |
|---|---|
| Chris Columbus | Director |
| Fredric Steinkamp | Editor |
| Barbara Dunphy | Art Direction |
| Linda Gill | Makeup Artist |
| John G. Wilson | Unit Production Manager |
| Gregory P. Keen | Assistant Art Director |
| Howard Neiman | Sound Editor |
| David Lee | Sound Mixer |
| David M. Ice | Sound Editor |
| Michael Lloyd | Matte Painter |
| David Simkins | Writer |
| Ric Waite | Director of Photography |
| Judith R. Gellman | Costume Design |
| David Coatsworth | Production Manager |
| Terry Porter | Sound Re-Recording Mixer |
| Tom C. McCarthy | Supervising Sound Editor |
| Roxanne Jones McCarthy | Sound Editor |
| David W. Gray | Dolby Consultant |
| William Mesa | Visual Effects Supervisor |
| Jennifer Granger | Stunts |
| Daniel Maldonado | Stunts |
| Kay Whipple | Stunts |
| William Steinkamp | Editor |
| Daniel Loren May | Set Decoration |
| Issy Shabtay | Production Supervisor |
| Jayne Armstrong | Post Production Supervisor |
| Don S. Walden | Sound Editor |
| Mel Metcalfe | Sound Re-Recording Mixer |
| Fred Judkins | Supervising Sound Editor |
| David J. Hudson | Sound Re-Recording Mixer |
| Rick Rische | Matte Painter |
| Stacy Logan | Stunts |
| Leslie Munro | Stunts |
| Michael Kamen | Original Music Composer |
| Janet Hirshenson | Casting |
| Jane Jenkins | Casting |
| Todd Hallowell | Production Design |
| Daniel J. Heffner | Executive In Charge Of Production |
| Alison Reid | Stunts |
| G.A. Aguilar | Stunts |
| James Fierro | Stunts |
| Mark Harper | Stunts |
| Eddie J. Fernandez | Stunts |
| Rick LeFevour | Stunts |
| Branko Racki | Stunt Coordinator |
| Rich Wilkie | Stunts |
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Lynda Obst | Producer |
| Debra Hill | Producer |
| Organization | Category | Person |
|---|
Popularity History
| Year | Month | Avg | Max | Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 27 | 36 | 21 |
| 2024 | 5 | 37 | 51 | 28 |
| 2024 | 6 | 31 | 58 | 12 |
| 2024 | 7 | 28 | 53 | 15 |
| 2024 | 8 | 21 | 32 | 14 |
| 2024 | 9 | 25 | 51 | 16 |
| 2024 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 14 |
| 2024 | 11 | 22 | 54 | 13 |
| 2024 | 12 | 18 | 26 | 12 |
| 2025 | 1 | 19 | 29 | 12 |
| 2025 | 2 | 14 | 21 | 3 |
| 2025 | 3 | 6 | 20 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 2025 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 2025 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 1 |
| 2025 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
Trending Position
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | 837 | 852 |
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 690 | 740 |
RELEASED IN 1987 and directed by Chris Columbus, “Adventures in Babysitting” (aka "A Night on the Town") is a teen dramedy about 17 year-old babysitter, Chris (Elisabeth Shue), from the suburbs of Chicago who has no choice but to take the siblings she’s babysitting (Keith Coogan & Maia Brewton) and ... their friend (Anthony Rapp) into the big city whereupon they have many misadventures. Penelope Ann Miller plays Chris’ geeky friend (at the bus station), Calvin Levels a car thief, John Davis Chandler the main heavy and George Newbern a helpful college dude with eyes for Chris. I was surprised at how entertaining this movie is. It has the tone of an Indiana Jones flick, but with teen protagonists and taking place in a modern USA city. The Thor element was a unique surprise and the little girl is cute and spry. The protagonists are likable and you can sense the warmth in their relationships, e.g. Brad’s infatuation with Chris. Unfortunately, the movie fumbles the ball on the female front a little bit. There are quality women in the cast, for sure, but the director never milks these resources for their worth (and I’m not tawkin’ bout nudity or sleaze). Take Shue, for example (who was 21 during filming); she’s dressed in a looong sweater or jacket that covers her figure the entire film. Compare this with her role in “The Karate Kid” (1984) where her beauty is well displayed and tastefully so. THE FILM RUNS 1 hour & 42 minutes and was shot in Toronto and the Chicago area. WRITER: David Simkins GRADE: B+/A-