Drop Dead Fred

Drop Dead Fred
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAte de Jong
Screenplay byCarlos Davis
Anthony Fingleton
Story byElizabeth Livingston
Produced byPaul Webster
Starring
CinematographyPeter Deming
Edited byMarshall Harvey
Music byRandy Edelman
Production
companies
Distributed byNew Line Cinema
(United States)
Rank Film Distributors (United Kingdom)
Manifesto Film Sales (International)
Release dates
  • May 24, 1991 (1991-05-24) (United States)
  • October 11, 1991 (1991-10-11) (United Kingdom)
Running time
101 minutes
CountriesUnited Kingdom
United States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$6.7 million (est.) or £3,650,000
Box office$24 million

Drop Dead Fred is a 1991 black comedy fantasy film, directed by Ate de Jong, produced by PolyGram and Working Title Films and released and distributed by New Line Cinema. Starring Phoebe Cates and Rik Mayall, with Marsha Mason, Tim Matheson and Carrie Fisher, the film's plot revolves around a young woman who, facing setbacks in her life, finds herself reunited with her childhood imaginary friend who offers to help her overcome her problems in his very distinctive way. The film was a commercial flop on its opening weekend and received generally negative reviews, but went on to become a cult film.