Drop Dead Fred (1991)

Drop Dead Fred
Theatrical Performance
Domestic Box Office $13,746,300Details
International Box Office $526,477Details
Worldwide Box Office $14,272,777
OpusData ID: 31960100 More info...
Further financial details...

Synopsis

When Elizabeth Cronin comes to stay with her overbearing mother (after her husband leaves her for a younger woman), she rediscovers her wacky imaginary childhood friend, Drop Dead Fred. Drop Dead Fred and Elizabeth have a number of mischievous, sometimes malicious, adventures as Elizabeth struggles to regain her sense of self and independence.

Metrics

Legs:3.79 (domestic box office/biggest weekend)
Domestic Share:96.3% (domestic box office/worldwide)
Infl. Adj. Dom. BO $36,928,892

Movie Details

Domestic Releases: April 19th, 1991 (Wide) by New Line
International Releases: November 15th, 1991 (Wide) (Australia)
March 21st, 2024 (Limited) (New Zealand)
Video Release: July 22nd, 2003 by Lionsgate Home Entertainment
MPA Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 103 minutes
Plot point: Dream Sequence, Dysfunctional Family, Imaginary Friend, Mental Illness, Relationships Gone Wrong
Subgenre: Black Comedy
Target audience: Cult Movie
Source:Original Screenplay
Genre:Black Comedy
Production Method:Live Action
Creative Type:Fantasy
Production/Financing Companies: Working Title Films, Polygram Pictures, New Line Cinema
Production Countries: United States
Languages: English

Weekend Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
May 24, 1991 6 $3,625,648   851 $4,260   $4,053,959 6
May 31, 1991 7 $2,378,267 -34% 933 $2,549   $6,916,766 7
Jun 7, 1991 10 $1,202,689 -49% 932 $1,290   $8,953,508 8
Jun 21, 1991 17 $517,165   677 $764   $9,741,898 10

Weekly Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
May 24, 1991 6 $4,110,188   851 $4,830   $4,538,499 6
May 31, 1991 7 $3,212,320 -22% 933 $3,443   $7,750,819 7

Top International Territories

Box Office Summary Per Territory

Territory Release
Date
Opening
Weekend
Opening
Weekend
Screens/Theaters
Maximum
Screens/Theaters
Theatrical
Engagements
Total
Box Office
Report
Date
Australia 11/15/1991 $0 0 1 3 $77 4/4/2026
New Zealand 3/21/2024 $489 1 1 1 $489 3/25/2024
  
Rest of World $525,911
  
International Total $526,477 4/4/2026

Note: Territories vary in whether they report screens or theaters. Full details on international box office data are available via our OpusData service.

Leading

Phoebe Cates    Elizabeth Cronin
Rik Mayall    Drop Dead Fred

Supporting

Marsha Mason    Polly Cronin
Tim Matheson    Charles Cronin
Carrie Fisher    Janie

Cameo

Bridget Fonda    Annabella

Supporting

Ron Eldard    Mickey Bunce
Keith Charles    Murray
Daniel Gerroll    Nigel
Ashley Peldon    Young Elizabeth
Eleanor Mondale    Attractive Customer
Bob Reid    Judge Dubben
Paul Holmes    Man in Speedboat
Peter Thoemke    Arsonist
Sjoukje DeJong Douma    Grandma Bunce
Daniel Buchen    Doctor Ryland
Marie Mathay    Concerned Mom
Steve Cochran    1st Waiter

Production and Technical Credits

Ate de Jong    Director
Paul Webster    Producer
Carlos Davis    Screenwriter
Anthony Fingleton    Screenwriter
Tim Bevan    Executive Producer
Carlos Davis    Executive Producer
Anthony Fingleton    Executive Producer
Peter Deming    Director of Photography
Marshall Harvey    Editor
Joseph T. Garrity    Production Designer
Carol Wood    Costume Designer
Randy Edelman    Composer

Cast and crew with above-the-line roles are marked in bold. The line marks the division between above-the-line and below-the-line roles.


Synopsis

When Elizabeth Cronin comes to stay with her overbearing mother (after her husband leaves her for a younger woman), she rediscovers her wacky imaginary childhood friend, Drop Dead Fred. Drop Dead Fred and Elizabeth have a number of mischievous, sometimes malicious, adventures as Elizabeth struggles to regain her sense of self and independence.

Metrics

Legs:3.79 (domestic box office/biggest weekend)
Domestic Share:96.3% (domestic box office/worldwide)
Infl. Adj. Dom. BO $36,928,892

Movie Details

Domestic Releases: April 19th, 1991 (Wide) by New Line
International Releases: November 15th, 1991 (Wide) (Australia)
March 21st, 2024 (Limited) (New Zealand)
Video Release: July 22nd, 2003 by Lionsgate Home Entertainment
MPA Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 103 minutes
Plot point: Dream Sequence, Dysfunctional Family, Imaginary Friend, Mental Illness, Relationships Gone Wrong
Subgenre: Black Comedy
Target audience: Cult Movie
Source:Original Screenplay
Genre:Black Comedy
Production Method:Live Action
Creative Type:Fantasy
Production/Financing Companies: Working Title Films, Polygram Pictures, New Line Cinema
Production Countries: United States
Languages: English

Weekend Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
May 24, 1991 6 $3,625,648   851 $4,260   $4,053,959 6
May 31, 1991 7 $2,378,267 -34% 933 $2,549   $6,916,766 7
Jun 7, 1991 10 $1,202,689 -49% 932 $1,290   $8,953,508 8
Jun 21, 1991 17 $517,165   677 $764   $9,741,898 10

Weekly Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
May 24, 1991 6 $4,110,188   851 $4,830   $4,538,499 6
May 31, 1991 7 $3,212,320 -22% 933 $3,443   $7,750,819 7

Top International Territories

Box Office Summary Per Territory

Territory Release
Date
Opening
Weekend
Opening
Weekend
Screens/Theaters
Maximum
Screens/Theaters
Theatrical
Engagements
Total
Box Office
Report
Date
Australia 11/15/1991 $0 0 1 3 $77 4/4/2026
New Zealand 3/21/2024 $489 1 1 1 $489 3/25/2024
  
Rest of World $525,911
  
International Total $526,477 4/4/2026

Note: Territories vary in whether they report screens or theaters. Full details on international box office data are available via our OpusData service.

Leading

Phoebe Cates    Elizabeth Cronin
Rik Mayall    Drop Dead Fred

Supporting

Marsha Mason    Polly Cronin
Tim Matheson    Charles Cronin
Carrie Fisher    Janie

Cameo

Bridget Fonda    Annabella

Supporting

Ron Eldard    Mickey Bunce
Keith Charles    Murray
Daniel Gerroll    Nigel
Ashley Peldon    Young Elizabeth
Eleanor Mondale    Attractive Customer
Bob Reid    Judge Dubben
Paul Holmes    Man in Speedboat
Peter Thoemke    Arsonist
Sjoukje DeJong Douma    Grandma Bunce
Daniel Buchen    Doctor Ryland
Marie Mathay    Concerned Mom
Steve Cochran    1st Waiter

Production and Technical Credits

Ate de Jong    Director
Paul Webster    Producer
Carlos Davis    Screenwriter
Anthony Fingleton    Screenwriter
Tim Bevan    Executive Producer
Carlos Davis    Executive Producer
Anthony Fingleton    Executive Producer
Peter Deming    Director of Photography
Marshall Harvey    Editor
Joseph T. Garrity    Production Designer
Carol Wood    Costume Designer
Randy Edelman    Composer

Cast and crew with above-the-line roles are marked in bold. The line marks the division between above-the-line and below-the-line roles.