Problem Child
An exasperated adoptive father must protect his wildly destructive new son when the boy's dangerous pen pal turns a family ordeal into a rescue mission.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Mild
- manic
- irreverent
- abrasive
- nostalgic 1990s movie night
- slapstick comedy marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded the film as mean-spirited, unpleasant, and lacking comic invention despite its commercial success.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Junior's pranks, insults, and trail of destruction drive the film's deliberately abrasive comic energy.
Ben and Flo's adoption of Junior creates the central domestic conflict, while the film's adoption jokes attracted criticism.
Seven-year-old Junior is the central agent of the pranks, family upheaval, and rescue storyline.
Ben's attempt at family stability repeatedly collapses into destructive set pieces and absurd emergencies.
Films like Problem Child, and why
Dennis the Menace
shares broad family comedy, unruly child antics, and escalating slapstick destruction
The Bad Seed
shares child-centered domestic chaos, mischievous behavior, and accessible comic tone
Home Alone
shares eccentric family comedy, physical gags, and a child disrupting adult life
Movie Details
- Director
- Dennis Dugan
- Release Date
- 1990-07-27
- Runtime
- 81 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (958)
Cast
- John Ritter
- Jack Warden
- Michael J. Oliver
- Gilbert Gottfried
- Amy Yasbeck
- Michael Richards
- Peter Jurasik
- Charlotte Akin
- Anna Marie Allred
- Adam Anderly
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Problem Child about?
- An exasperated adoptive father must protect his wildly destructive new son when the boy's dangerous pen pal turns a family ordeal into a rescue mission.
- What is Problem Child like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Problem Child as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Problem Child violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Problem Child as mild.
- What did critics think of Problem Child?
- Critics broadly regarded the film as mean-spirited, unpleasant, and lacking comic invention despite its commercial success.
- Which films are like Problem Child?
- Films with a similar feel include Dennis the Menace, The Bad Seed, and Home Alone.
- How long is Problem Child?
- Problem Child runs 81 minutes.
- Where can I watch Problem Child?
- In United States, Problem Child is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
