As longtime readers of my blog know, I rate every movie I see according to the DTMTBD scale: how it compares to Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead, which I established twenty years ago as the baseline for all films. Better than Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter‘s Dead means the movie was a rewarding experience; worse means you wasted your time. About as good as means it all depends on the popcorn.

Top Ten
1 – Cave of Forgotten Dreams
2 – Rise of the Planet of the Apes
3 – War Horse
4 – Young Adult
5 – A Dangerous Method
6 – 50/50
7 – The Artist
8 – Attack the Block
9 – Source Code
10 – Fast Five

Better Than Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead

The Muppets
Tree of Life
The Descendants
Contagion
Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Drive
Tower Heist
Mission Impossible 4
Rango
Cedar Rapids
Hot Coffee
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part II
Captain America
Horrible Bosses

About As Good As Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead
Moneyball
Crazy, Stupid Love
Bad Teacher
Adjustment Bureau
Thor
The Lincoln Lawyer
The Hangover 2
Our Idiot Brother
Hugo
Super 8

Worse Than Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead
Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows
Midnight in Paris