WISE Score
Avg. Tomatometer
A suburban babysitter’s night turns into a gritty Chicago odyssey involving car thieves, a blues club standoff, and a very young Thor enthusiast.
773%
45
Adventures in Babysitting is the gold standard for the 'one crazy night' genre. It’s funny, genuinely tense, and features a breakout performance from Elisabeth Shue.
Just be ready for the 1987 factor. This is a movie from an era where PG meant 'some swearing and a little blood are fine.' If you can get past the dated urban stereotypes and the famous F-bomb, it’s a high-energy ride that holds up surprisingly well compared to modern, more sanitized family comedies.
Best for kids 10 and up. While the title sounds like a movie for 7-year-olds, the language and the gritty 'city peril' make it a better fit for the middle-school crowd who can handle the 80s edge.
At its heart, it's about a teenager taking her responsibility seriously and protecting kids, but it's wrapped in a gritty, high-stakes urban adventure that feels more 'adult' than modern equivalents.
The way it transforms a boring suburban night into a sprawling, multi-genre odyssey through the city is classic 80s world-building. The Thor obsession adds a nice touch of kid-logic creativity.
This is 1987 PG, which means it has a literal F-bomb, switchblade fights on a subway, and a subplot involving a Playboy magazine. It's not 'unsafe,' but it will surprise parents used to modern ratings.
Models resourcefulness, courage under pressure, and the idea that kids are more capable than they look. Plus, a great intro to the blues for younger viewers.
If you grew up in the 80s, this movie was likely a staple of your VHS rotation. Watching it now, the first thing that hits you is how much danger these kids are actually in. Unlike modern family films where the peril feels manufactured and safe, Chris Columbus (who went on to direct Home Alone) puts these kids in a chop shop, a gang-infested subway, and dangling off the side of the Smurfit-Stone Building.
Let's talk about the elephant in the room: the script. There is a very specific line—'Don't f*** with the babysitter'—that is burned into the memory of every Gen X parent. In 2026, we’re used to PG movies being almost entirely clean, but in 1987, the rules were looser. Beyond that one big word, there's a lot of '80s tough guy' talk and some casual references to adult magazines that might require a quick sidebar with your kid.
Despite the dated elements, the movie works because it respects the kids' agency. Sara (the youngest) isn't just a burden; her love for Thor actually helps save the day. Brad's awkward teenage pining is relatable without being too cringey. It’s a movie about a group of people who are out of their element but refuse to give up.
If your kid liked The Goonies or the more recent Stranger Things, this is a great 'historical' artifact to show them where those vibes came from. It’s faster-paced than most movies from its decade, and the Albert Collins blues cameo is still a total joy.
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