Christina Applegate: 5 Awesome Performances And 5 That Sucked

3. Sue Ellen Crandell - Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead (1991)

This likable John Hughes knock-off gave Applegate one of her first major roles, as an older sibling who has to fend for her family after their summer baby-sitter kicks it. The story veers all over the place, mixing seasonal hi-jinks with a foray into 80s corporate culture, but Applegate keeps the thing ticking along despite its shortcomings. She's admirably present at the film's core, using her already well-honed chops to hold the oscillating tone in check. The actress handles slapstick and even maudlin familial drama capably, good practice for her current career. The film's a little too dark for kids and a little too broad for adults, which might explain why it's sort of been forgotten. Hollywood didn't exactly bend over to make her a leading lady though, her next feature credit wasn't until 1995's Vibrations.