Drop Dead Fred

Play trailer

2:08

Drop Dead Fred

PG-13

1991

1h 43m

Fantasy

Comedy

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

11%

Tomatometer

36 Reviews

77%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

An unhappy housewife (Phoebe Cates) gets a lift from the return of her imaginary childhood friend, Drop Dead Fred (Rik Mayall).

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Tackling mature themes with an infantile sensibility, Drop Dead Fred is an ill-conceived family comedy that is more likely to stir up a headache than the imagination.

Read Critics Reviews

Michael Wilmington

Los Angeles Times

05/05/2014

Drop Dead Fred is an erratic stab at making madness sensible, a slapstick nightmare that goes too sane, that tries too hard to be both good and rotten.

Go to Full Review

Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

05/05/2014

0/4

This is easily one of the worst films I've ever seen.

Go to Full Review

Steven Rea

Philadelphia Inquirer

05/05/2014

1.5/4

The episodic flashbacks are cast in an unfunny Freudian light -- domineering mother, helpless hubby, the tragically withdrawn child. What a laugh riot!

Go to Full Review

Tony Black

Cultural Conversation

02/16/2021

2/5

The crucial problem of course is that for a comedy, it's not really very funny.

Go to Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

09/11/2020

5/10

Fred is a particularly crass, unappealing imaginary friend, going out of his way to stir up trouble more than engaging in fun activities.

Go to Full Review

Jorge Loser

Espinof

08/11/2020

3.5/5

A fantastic cult comedy. [Full Review in Spanish]

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

debz N

@RT69840464 5d

Excellent movie and shocked at the 11% rating on here!! This film has a huge fan base ❤️

See more

Jax M.

@movieIover2000 Mar 19

It was the best movie ever specifically from my childhood i saw the rating was an wopping 11% and i had to make a change because how can you rate this movie so low. Its funny, its sad. Its everything you could ever need in a movie

See more

Donald K.

@djkidd_89 Dec 17

Favorite film from my childhood! Love it

See more

Julian B

@Spursy153 Nov 18

A Classic comedy love it, highly recommend watching

See more

Onebeat G

@RT98402766 Oct 12

One of the only movies that I loved as a child and still love as an adult. What a difference between the tomatometer score and the real audience score. Just shows you can't pay too much attention to ratings. It's laugh out loud funny thanks to the legendary cast. RIP Rik Mayall.

See more

A T

@RT38871713 Aug 26

I loved this movie as a kid when it first came out. This is a movie that I would watch over and over again. Even over 30 years later I still enjoy it as an adult! I think the posh reviewers are dead wrong about this movie! It is great and I highly recommend!!

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Ate de Jong

Director

Phoebe Cates

Elizabeth

Rik Mayall

Drop Dead Fred

Marsha Mason

Polly

Tim Matheson

Charles

Carrie Fisher

Janie

Paperhouse

100%

71%

Paperhouse

Watchlist

Radio Flyer

35%

72%

Radio Flyer

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Radio Flyer

Dream a Little Dream

9%

67%

Dream a Little Dream

Watchlist

Prelude to a Kiss

63%

39%

Prelude to a Kiss

Watchlist

Mr. Destiny

35%

55%

Mr. Destiny

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Drop Dead Fred: Trailer 1

2:08

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

An unhappy housewife (Phoebe Cates) gets a lift from the return of her imaginary childhood friend, Drop Dead Fred (Rik Mayall).

Director: Ate de Jong
Producer: Paul Webster
Screenwriter: Elizabeth Livingston, Carlos Davis, Anthony Fingleton
Distributor: New Line Cinema
Production Co: New Line Cinema, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Fantasy, Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 19, 1991, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 23, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $13.9M
Runtime: 1h 43m
Sound Mix: Dolby, Surround, Stereo
Aspect Ratio: 35mm

Most Popular at Home Now