You probably remember the poster. A massive, orange, leather-skinned man with a bleached-blonde mustache wearing a pink tutu. It’s an image burned into the retinas of every child who wandered the aisles of a Blockbuster in the early nineties.
Honestly, it’s iconic.
The hulk hogan babysitter movie, officially titled Mr. Nanny, was released in 1993. It didn't just happen; it was a deliberate attempt to turn the biggest wrestling star on the planet into a family-friendly movie lead. Hollywood was obsessed with the "tough guy meets toddlers" trope back then. Arnold had Kindergarten Cop. Sly had Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot. Hulk Hogan had a tutu and a bunch of high-tech booby traps.
What Actually Happens in the Hulk Hogan Babysitter Movie?
The plot is basically a fever dream. Hogan plays Sean Armstrong, a former pro wrestler who is haunted by literal nightmares of his time in the ring. He’s living a quiet life in Florida when his old manager, Burt Wilson (played by the legendary Sherman Hemsley of The Jeffersons fame), begs him to take a bodyguard gig.
The job? Protecting the children of a wealthy, paranoid tech inventor named Alex Mason Sr.
Mason has developed a top-secret anti-missile microchip called the "Peacefinder." Naturally, there's an evil villain named Tommy Thanatos who wants the chip. But the real villains for the first half of the movie are the kids: Alex Jr. and Kate. They are tiny terrors. They spend their days rigging the house with elaborate, often life-threatening traps to scare away every nanny their father hires.
They are essentially the Home Alone kid, but with a significantly higher budget for property damage.
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The "Nanny" Part of the Gig
When the latest nanny quits in terror, Sean is forced to step in. He isn't just a bodyguard anymore; he’s the "Mr. Nanny." This leads to the scenes everyone remembers: Hogan getting hit in the head with a bowling ball, Hogan being electrocuted while coming out of the shower, and yes, Hogan being forced to participate in a ballet class.
It’s slapstick at its most aggressive.
The movie tries to balance this goofy domestic comedy with a weirdly dark subplot involving kidnapping and corporate espionage. Tommy Thanatos (played by David Johansen, better known as Buster Poindexter) has a literal steel plate in his head because of a previous encounter with Hogan’s character. He’s out for revenge.
Why Did This Movie Even Exist?
To understand Mr. Nanny, you have to understand the state of Hulkamania in 1993. Hogan was transitionally "out" of the WWF (now WWE) at the time. He was trying to follow the path blazed by Arnold Schwarzenegger. He wanted to be a legitimate movie star.
Suburban Commando (1991) had done okay, but it wasn't a smash hit. Mr. Nanny was the Hail Mary.
The studio, New Line Cinema, put up a $10 million budget. That wasn't pocket change back then. They hired Michael Gottlieb to direct, the same guy who directed Mannequin. They were aiming for that sweet spot of PG-rated family fun that parents could tolerate while their kids laughed at the big man falling down.
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The Cast You Forgot About
Looking back, the cast is surprisingly stacked for a movie that currently holds a 6% on Rotten Tomatoes.
- Sherman Hemsley: He brings a level of manic energy that almost makes the sidekick role work.
- Austin Pendleton: Playing the distant, workaholic father. He’s a character actor veteran.
- Madeline Zima: She played the daughter, Kate. You probably recognize her from The Nanny or Californication years later.
- David Johansen: The villain. He is chewing so much scenery he probably needed a toothpick after every take.
The Legacy of Hulk Hogan as a Nanny
Was it a success? Not even close.
It grossed about $4.3 million at the box office. It lost money. Critics absolutely tore it apart. They called it crass, heavy-handed, and—most unforgivably—unfunny. The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) actually had to cut scenes for the UK release. Apparently, the scene where the kids rig an "electrocution trap" for Hogan was deemed too dangerous for British kids to imitate at home.
But here’s the thing: people still talk about it.
It has become a "so bad it's good" staple. It’s part of a specific era of cinema where we weren't sure if wrestlers were humans or cartoons. Hogan’s performance is exactly what you’d expect—he’s loud, he’s sweaty, and he treats every line of dialogue like he’s cutting a promo for SummerSlam.
Why It Still Matters (Sorta)
The hulk hogan babysitter movie represents the end of an era. Shortly after this, Hogan jumped to WCW, turned heel, and became "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan. The "Real American" hero who babysat kids and wore tutus died so the New World Order (nWo) could live.
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If you’re looking to revisit this 90s relic, keep these things in mind:
- Don't expect logic. The physics of the traps are nonsensical.
- The soundtrack is... something. David Johansen recorded a song called "Rough Stuff" for the movie under its original working title.
- It's a time capsule. The tech, the hair, the neon colors—it’s peak 1993.
If you actually want to watch it, it’s frequently available on streaming services like Tubi or as part of a "Hulk Hogan Double Feature" DVD with Suburban Commando.
Actionable Takeaways for Movie Buffs
If you’re diving into the world of wrestler-turned-actor filmography, Mr. Nanny is essential viewing for the wrong reasons.
- Compare it to Suburban Commando: Most fans agree Suburban Commando is actually the better "bad" movie because of Christopher Lloyd’s involvement.
- Look for the "Easter Eggs": There are several wrestling cameos, including Afa the Wild Samoan and Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake.
- Notice the Tone Shift: Watch how the movie goes from a "kids being brats" comedy to a "villain trying to murder everyone" action flick in the final twenty minutes. It’s jarring.
To see how much the genre has evolved, watch Mr. Nanny and then immediately watch Dave Bautista in My Spy or John Cena in Playing with Fire. The "strong guy vs. kids" formula is still alive; they just stopped putting them in tutus for the poster.
Usually.
Check your local streaming listings or digital retailers like Amazon and Vudu to find a copy. Most of the time, you can find it for a few bucks, which is exactly the right price for 84 minutes of Hulk Hogan being bullied by children.