Dennis the Menace

27%

Tomatometer

26 Reviews

38%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Mischievous Dennis Mitchell (Mason Gamble) makes the life of neighbor George Wilson (Walter Matthau) miserable with his overactive energy and inadvertent troublemaking. Because his parents must leave town for work and can't find a baby sitter for Dennis, they ask George and his wife, Martha (Joan Plowright), to take care of him. But when burglar Switchblade Sam (Christopher Lloyd) breaks in to steal George's gold coin collection, he takes Dennis as a hostage, and crusty George must save the boy.

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Critics Consensus

Walter Matthau does a nice job as Mr. Wilson, but Dennis the Menace follows the Home Alone formula far too closely.

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Critics Reviews

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Patricia Bibby

Associated Press

What saves this movie from insipidness is an endearing performance by Walter Matthau as the cantankerous Mr. Wilson.

Jun 12, 2018

Full Review

Ty Burr

Entertainment Weekly

Its unholy mixture of peppy sadism and pious, self-righteous sentiment comes straight from Hughes' crabbed cinematic heart.

Rated: D

Jul 7, 2010

Full Review

Todd McCarthy

Variety

Very young children may find the numskull, by-the-numbers gags here amusing, but teens will consider this kids' stuff and adults will be pained.

Jul 22, 2008

Full Review

Common Sense Media Editors

Common Sense Media

Comic strip-based comedy has peril, scary villain.

Rated: 2/5

Aug 14, 2019

Full Review

Malcolm Johnson

Hartford Courant

A kid's picture that can delight crabby adults, too.

Apr 9, 2018

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Quentin Curtis

Independent on Sunday

As Dennis, the charmless Mason is a Gamble that hasn't paid off.

Dec 7, 2017

Full Review

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Audience Reviews

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Shaun K I loved this movie as a kid. Which is the point. Right? Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/12/24 Full Review Nathan W I loved this movie as a kid, so it's going to be hard to take off the nostalgia tinted glasses and review it fairly. I will say that it hits differently as an adult. You know, there was subtle humor that I probably didn't notice the last time I saw it. There isn't much in the way of a plot outside of Mr. Wilson's character arc, and even that wasn't as flushed out as it could have been. Walter Matthau was absolutely perfect for the neighbor role, and the kid who played Dennis was surprisingly good for being so young. I laughed quite a bit more than I thought I would too. Mostly situational comedy but the dialogue between the kids, as they attempt to make sense of the world around them, was priceless. The more I watched, the more convinced I was that this isn't really a kid's movie. It lacked much of anything that a child would find interesting and the plot got a little dark towards the end. Its really not the best movie, but it reminds me of a simpler time... When kids could just be kids. And because of that, it will always have a special place in my heart. Rated 2/5 Stars • Rated 2 out of 5 stars 05/26/24 Full Review Madison B It's a cute movie. I loved this movie. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/07/24 Full Review Adam S I am having a hard time understanding how this movie has such a low score. I just watched it again with my two boys, 7 & 11. It's hilarious. It's exactly what it's supposed to be - silly and fun. Casting is perfect. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/24/24 Full Review Anderson O Funny and unexpectly silly for a 5 year olds performance. Denise the Menace adapts some of its source material well and includes kids journeys and adventures into seeing adulthood from their perspective when they're not yet as educated. Lives up to his name sake as Denise the Menace though. Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/13/24 Full Review Brianna B Great movie from my childhood. Walter Matthau and Christopher Lloyd, how can you lose? Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/12/24 Full Review Read all reviews

Dennis the Menace

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Cast & Crew

Nick Castle Director Walter Matthau Mr. George Wilson Mason Gamble Dennis Mitchell Joan Plowright Mrs. Martha Wilson Christopher Lloyd Switchblade Sam (Town Robber) Lea Thompson Mrs. Alice Mitchell

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