When a Stranger Calls (1979): Cast, Ratings & Box Office
When a Stranger Calls is a 1979 drama thriller directed by Fred Walton, starring Charles Durning, Carol Kane and Carmen Argenziano. It runs 1 hour 37 minutes and earned $21.4 million worldwide. Critics gave it 58 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 37m (97 min)
- Director
- Fred Walton
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Columbia Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is When a Stranger Calls About?
The premise of When a Stranger Calls without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
While babysitting for a wealthy family, Jill Johnson receives disturbing phone calls from an anonymous caller. The unsettling calls escalate from unsettling remarks to direct threats, disrupting the peaceful atmosphere of the upscale home. As Jill desperately tries to uncover the caller's identity and their intentions, she finds herself in a terrifying fight for survival, unsure of who she can trust.
When a Stranger Calls Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- threatening telephone call
- cult film
- babysitter in peril
- flash forward
- home invasion
- call is coming from the same location
- babysitting
- babysitter
- telephone
- murder of a child
- stalker
- telephone terror
+38 more Show fewer
- mysterious telephone call
- horror movie remade
- urban legend
- psychopath
- putting a child to bed
- shot multiple times
- based on urban legend
- mysterious stranger
- telephone call
- suspense
- based on short film
- female protagonist
- remade
- private detective
- gun
- stalking
- terror
- throwing knife
- flophouse
- escaped psychiatric patient
- going out to dinner
- newspaper clipping
- double barreled shotgun
- lightbulb burning out
- candy bar
- shot in the chest
- husband murdered
- psychotronic film
- stranger in the house
- stranger
- stranger danger
- creepy stranger
- attacked by a stranger
- talking to a stranger
- grindhouse film
- jump scare
- female babysitter
- redheaded woman
When a Stranger Calls Cast
Charles Durning leads the cast, with Carol Kane and Carmen Argenziano. Directed by Fred Walton; 10 actors are credited in all.
- Director Fred Walton
Also Starring in When a Stranger Calls
· 6 moreMore from Fred Walton
More films directed by Fred Walton, best-rated first: April Fool's Day, The Stepford Husbands, The Courtyard and Dead Air.
When a Stranger Calls Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave When a Stranger Calls 58 on Metacritic.
-
Metacritic 58 Metascore
User score 6.0
See on Metacritic
When a Stranger Calls Plot Summary
What happens in When a Stranger Calls from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
As a local sheriff investigates a horrific scene where an intruder has murdered three children and their babysitter with brutal precision, a chilling sequence unfolds 125 miles away in Colorado. Here, Jill Johnson, a 16-year-old babysitter, unwittingly steps into a nightmare as she watches over the Mandrakis family’s two kids after exceeding her cell phone minutes. The warm hospitality of Mrs. Mandrakis and the introduction to their live-in housekeeper, Rosa, provide her with a fleeting sense of security, especially as the sun sets and darkness creeps in.
Full summary
The whole story of When a Stranger Calls, scene by scene
When a Stranger Calls Box Office
When a Stranger Calls grossed $21.4 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$21.4M
- US & Canada
- $21.4M
When a Stranger Calls Trailers & Videos
3 videos: 1 trailer, 1 clip and 1 featurette.
- Clip When A Stranger Calls 1979
- Featurette TCM Slumberground Presents: When a Stranger Calls (1979)
How Well Do You Know When a Stranger Calls?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the main job of Jill Johnson in the movie?
Cars in When a Stranger Calls
24 cars on screen, including the 1977 Ford LTD II and the 1975 Chevrolet Impala.
-
1977 Ford LTD II Important role -
1975 Chevrolet Impala Minor role -
1976 Dodge Aspen Minor role -
1978 Ford Fairmont Wagon Minor role
When a Stranger Calls Also Known As
14 alternative titles, including “Das Grauen kommt um 10” and “Mensageiro da Morte”.
- Also known as
-
- Das Grauen kommt um 10
- Mensageiro da Morte
- Terreur sur la ligne
- Das Grauen kommt um Zehn
- Quando chiama uno sconosciuto
- Llama un extraño
- Ismeretlen hívás
- Когда звонит незнакомец
- 惊呼狂叫
- Quando Um Estranho Chama
- 웬 어 스트레인저 콜스
- Telefondaki Yabancı
+2 more Show fewer
- Chamada Misteriosa
- Rösten inifrån
Seen When a Stranger Calls?
Movies Like When a Stranger Calls
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including When a Stranger Calls, When a Stranger Calls Back and When a Killer Calls.
When a Stranger Calls FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of When a Stranger Calls, each answered in a sentence.
How long is When a Stranger Calls?
When a Stranger Calls runs 1 hour 37 minutes (97 minutes).
When was When a Stranger Calls released?
When a Stranger Calls was released on October 26, 1979.
Who directed When a Stranger Calls?
When a Stranger Calls was directed by Fred Walton.
More films by Fred Walton Who is in the cast of When a Stranger Calls?
When a Stranger Calls stars Charles Durning, Carol Kane and Carmen Argenziano, among 10 credited actors.
How much did When a Stranger Calls make at the box office?
When a Stranger Calls grossed $21.4 million worldwide.
How is When a Stranger Calls rated?
When a Stranger Calls has 58 on Metacritic.
Does When a Stranger Calls have a post-credit scene?
No. When a Stranger Calls has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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