Finding a movie that hits the same chaotic, sweet-natured note as the 1993 Dennis the Menace is harder than it looks. Most people think any movie with a kid and a slingshot fits the bill. Honestly? They’re usually wrong. What made the John Hughes-penned classic work wasn't just the slapstick—it was that specific, high-contrast tension between a well-meaning kid and a neighbor who just wanted to eat his grilled cheese in peace.
If you’ve been hunting for movies like Dennis the Menace, you aren't just looking for "kids being bad." You're looking for that cocktail of suburban mayhem, a slightly terrifying villain, and a heart-melting ending. We live in an era where family movies are often hyper-sanitized or entirely CGI.
Going back to the 90s live-action era feels like a different planet.
Why Problem Child Isn't Actually Like Dennis
People always group these two together. It makes sense on paper, right? Both have red-headed kids causing property damage. But if you sit down and watch them back-to-back, the "vibe" is completely different.
Junior from Problem Child (1990) is, well, a bit of a sociopath. He’s calculated. He wants to see the world burn because the world was mean to him first. Dennis, on the other hand, is a literal angel who just happens to be a walking natural disaster. He doesn't want to ruin Mr. Wilson's life; he wants to be his best friend.
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If you want the "misunderstood kid" energy, Problem Child is the edgy cousin. If you want the "innocent chaos" of Dennis, you should actually be looking at something like Beethoven (1992). Yeah, it’s a dog movie. But that St. Bernard is basically a four-legged Dennis. He destroys the house, ruins the dad's business meetings, and eventually saves the day from a creepy vet who is basically the "Switchblade Sam" of the animal world.
The Mount Rushmore of Movies Like Dennis the Menace
When you're scouring streaming services for that specific brand of 90s nostalgia, a few titles stand out as the true spiritual successors. These films captures the same "neighborhood" feel where the stakes are low for the world but high for the characters.
1. The Little Rascals (1994)
This is probably the closest you’ll ever get to the visual style of Dennis the Menace. It’s bright, it’s set in a timeless version of suburbia, and it features a group of kids who are constantly failing upwards. The "He-Man Woman Haters Club" creates the same kind of unintentional trouble that Dennis would find himself in. Plus, the slapstick is top-tier.
2. Baby’s Day Out (1994)
Another John Hughes production. If you liked the "Switchblade Sam" subplot where a hardened criminal gets absolutely wrecked by a small child, this is your holy grail. A baby wanders through Chicago while three bumbling kidnappers try to catch him and fail miserably. It’s basically 90 minutes of the final act of Dennis the Menace or Home Alone.
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3. Richie Rich (1994)
While Richie is way more polite and has way more money, the movie hits the same notes. You’ve got the loyal, grumpy-but-loving parental figure (the butler, Cadbury), a massive estate ripe for destruction, and a villain who underestimated the kid. It’s a bit more "action-adventure," but the heart is in the same place.
4. Matilda (1996)
Matilda is a different kind of menace. She’s quiet and brilliant, but the way she uses her "powers" to prank the adults in her life—the Wormwoods and Miss Trunchbull—is incredibly satisfying. It captures that "kids vs. the world" energy that made the 90s such a golden era for this genre.
The Secret Ingredient: The Grumpy Adult
You can't have a movie like Dennis the Menace without a Mr. Wilson. Walter Matthau was a masterclass in "grumpy old man who secretly has a soul." To find that same dynamic elsewhere, you have to look at Uncle Buck (1989).
John Candy plays the chaotic force this time, and the kids are the ones trying to maintain order. It flips the script, but the chemistry is identical. There’s a scene in Uncle Buck where he’s flipping giant pancakes that feels like it could have been pulled straight from a Dennis comic strip.
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Don't Forget the Forgotten Sequels (and Why They Failed)
Most fans don't realize there was a direct-to-video sequel called Dennis the Menace Strikes Again! (1998). It had Don Rickles as Mr. Wilson. On paper, that’s casting genius. Don Rickles is the king of the "insult comic" persona.
But it lacked the cinematic warmth of the 1993 original. It felt like a long sitcom episode. If you’re a completionist, give it a watch, but don't expect the same magic. There was also a 2007 Christmas movie, but we generally don't talk about that one in polite company.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Movie Night
If you want to recreate that specific feeling, don't just pick one movie. You’ve got to build a "90s Chaos" marathon. Here is the most effective way to sequence these for maximum nostalgia:
- The Opener: The Little Rascals. Start with the group dynamic. It’s light, fast-paced, and sets the tone.
- The Main Event: Dennis the Menace. Always watch the 1993 version. Accept no substitutes.
- The "Villian" Pivot: Baby’s Day Out. This transitions from the neighborhood setting into the "outsmarting the bad guys" trope.
- The Closer: Matilda. End on a high note with a bit of magic and a happy ending that feels earned.
The reality is that movies like Dennis the Menace aren't being made anymore because the "feral childhood" era of cinema has largely passed. Kids in movies today are often too tech-savvy or too mature for their age. There's something special about a kid who just wants to find a cool rock and accidentally burns down a bathroom.
To get the most out of these re-watches, pay attention to the production design. The 90s had a way of making suburban houses look like giant playgrounds. From the oversized treehouses to the backyard "labs," these films weren't just about the characters; they were about the freedom of being a kid before everyone had a smartphone in their pocket.
Pick one of the titles above, grab some popcorn, and prepare for a very specific type of headache that only a 7-year-old with a slingshot can provide.