Adventures in Babysitting 2016
Directed by
John Schultz
Made by
Bad Angels Productions, Ltd.
Adventures in Babysitting Plot Summary
Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Adventures in Babysitting (2016). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
In Oak Park, Illinois, a quiet plan for a special anniversary date falls apart when Mike Todwell cancels, leaving 17-year-old Chris Parker to figure out a way to lift her spirits. To help, she invites her friend Brenda over, and at her mother’s urging she agrees to babysit their neighbors’ eight-year-old Sara Anderson while the parents attend a party downtown in Chicago. What starts as a simple night of babysitting quickly spirals into a wild, cross‑city adventure when Brenda suddenly calls in a panic and runs off to a downtown bus station. Chris is dragged into the chaos by Sara, Sara’s 15-year-old brother Brad, and Brad’s friend Daryl Coopersmith, who persuade her to take the group along for the ride.
On the highway, the station wagon suffers a flat tire, and a tow truck driver known as “Handsome” John Pruitt offers help that comes with a price. Chris realizes she left her purse back at the Andersons’, and Pruitt promises to pay for the tire if they help him out. As the drama unfolds, Pruitt’s own world collides with trouble: a call from his boss Dawson reveals evidence of a wife’s infidelity, and in a violent twist he shoots out a windshield while attempting to confront the lover. This escalation forces Chris and the kids to hide inside the adulterer’s Cadillac, only to be discovered when Joe Gipp, a car thief, steals the Cadillac away from them.
Their escape leads them to a South Side hideout where they’re briefly detained, but they manage to break free. They find themselves in a blues club where the onstage band won’t let them leave until they perform. As the music swells, the group recalls the night’s chaos, and the audience begins to chant and clap along, turning their misadventure into a shared moment of community. The trouble catches up with them again when Joe, Graydon (the operation’s second-in-command), and their boss Bleak arrive, but the club owners stall them long enough for the kids to slip away.
The kids split from Daryl and attempt to reunite with Brenda, but not before a tense chase resumes. They’re separated from a pair of runaways and soon find themselves on the Chicago “L”—only to be caught in the middle of a gang fight. Brad is injured when a switchblade is hurled onto his foot, prompting a dash to the nearest university hospital for a stitch. They then stumble into a fraternity house party, where a kindly donor named Dan Lynch hears of Chris’s predicament and generously donates $45. He drives them to Dawson’s Garage and leaves them there, hoping to set things straight.
Back at Dawson’s, the tall, blond-haired owner with a sledgehammer earns Sara’s mistaken belief that he’s Thor; he denies them the car because of a $5 shortage, but Sara offers him her toy Thor helmet, and he relents, letting them go. Meanwhile, Joe Gipp relays their troubles to Bleak, who and his associates are waiting to tail them. The group then learns that Mike, the boy Chris planned to see, is with another girl, Sesame Blexer, at the restaurant they had hoped to reach. Sara slips away to a toy store, giving Chris a moment to confront Mike. Brad stands up for Chris, though he’s reluctant to strike Mike; Daryl’s bold kick sends Mike crashing into a table, sparking a chaotic scene.
Bleak spots Sara and Graydon pursues her to an office building, where Sara climbs out a window and slides down the façade. The others hurry after her, and they all rush upstairs to help. In a tense sequence, Joe knocksBleak unconscious and passes along a Playboy magazine that contains crucial notes the criminals want to keep hidden. The kids rescue Brenda from the bus station and race home, evading the Andersons on Interstate 290. Once back at the house, Chris cleans up the earlier mess just as the Andersons return. The night ends on a lighter note when Dan arrives with one of Sara’s missing skates, and with Sara’s encouragement, Chris and Dan share a quiet kiss, signaling a new, hopeful chapter after an unforgettable ordeal.
Adventures in Babysitting Timeline
Follow the complete movie timeline of Adventures in Babysitting (2016) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.
Plans for a quiet anniversary date collapse
In Oak Park, Chris Parker is asked to babysit Sara as a plan for a calm anniversary night falls apart. She agrees, hoping to keep Sara entertained while Brenda arrives to help. The setup hints at a routine evening that soon spirals into something far wilder.
Brenda joins the plan and Sara is entrusted to babysit
Brenda comes over to help, and at Sara's mother's urging, Chris volunteers to babysit the eight-year-old. The small group plans a simple night that could lift Sara's spirits. It feels like a manageable babysitting job, at least at first.
Brenda panics and heads to the downtown bus station
Brenda suddenly calls in a panic and bolts to a downtown Chicago bus station, leaving Chris and the kids to rethink their plan. The night is unfolding far beyond a quiet babysitting job. The group ends up deciding to hit the town in a rush of improvisation.
Cross-city ride begins on the highway
What starts as a simple trip to lift Sara's spirits turns into a cross-city adventure as the kids persuade Chris to drive them around. They pile into the family station wagon and head into the night. The highway becomes their moving stage, full of unpredictable trouble.
Handsome John Pruitt offers help for a price
A tow truck driver named Handsome John Pruitt arrives offering assistance with the flat tire if they help him out. The group realizes Chris forgot her purse back at the Andersons' house, complicating their predicament. Tension rises as the debt to be paid hangs over them.
Pruitt's trouble erupts into violence and a Cadillac hideout
Pruitt's personal crisis explodes when a call reveals a lover, and he shoots out a windshield while confronting the intruding infidelity. The group scrambles to shelter inside the adulterer's Cadillac as danger closes in. The car becomes both a sanctuary and a trap.
Joe Gipp steals the Cadillac; they flee to a South Side hideout
A car thief named Joe Gipp steals the Cadillac with the kids still inside. They escape to a South Side hideout where they briefly face the criminals again before slipping away. The night keeps pulling them into new, perilous corners.
Detained, then forced to perform at a blues club
The group is briefly detained but soon released into a blues club where the onstage band won’t let them leave until they perform. The music swells and the crowd starts to chant along with the makeshift performers. The chaotic night begins to feel like a community moment rather than a nightmare.
Bleak and crew close in; the kids slip away
Bleak and his associates close the net, tailing the group, but the kids manage to slip away through the club's maze of rooms and corridors. The chase continues as the group looks for a way home. The sense of danger remains constant as the night wears on.
Chicago L ride and hospital for Brad
The group splits, boards the Chicago L to reunite with Brenda, and ends up in a gang fight that leaves Brad injured. They rush to a nearby university hospital for a stitch, unsure how to explain the chaos they've caused. The hospital visit marks a sobering pause in their whirlwind journey.
Dan Lynch helps and drives toward Dawson's Garage
Donor Dan Lynch hears of Chris's predicament and generously donates to help, then drives them toward Dawson's Garage and drops them there, hoping to set things straight. The group expects to resolve the mess with the shop's help. The night keeps weaving between luck and danger.
Dawson's Garage standoff; Sara offers Thor helmet to gain release
At Dawson's Garage, the large blond owner with a sledgehammer holds the car for a small debt, but Sara offers him her toy Thor helmet and the car is released. The unlikely generosity buys them more time as the criminals close in. The garage scene underscores the odd camaraderie within the night.
Restaurant confrontation; Mike is with Sesame Blexer
The trio learns that Mike is with another girl, Sesame Blexer, at the restaurant they’d hoped to reach. Sara slips away to a toy store while Chris confronts Mike, and Brad again shows his loyalty with a bold stand. Daryl's bold kick sends Mike crashing into a table amid the chaos.
Office building pursuit; Bleak unconscious; Playboy note found
Bleak tracks Sara to an office building where she climbs out a window, and Joe knocks Bleak unconscious before handing over a Playboy magazine containing crucial notes. The criminals’ plans hang by a thread as the kids push toward safety. The stolen notes threaten their chances of escaping unscathed.
Brenda's rescue, return home, and a hopeful kiss
The kids rescue Brenda from the bus station and race home along Interstate 290, evading the Andersons’ pursuit. Back at the Andersons' house, Chris tidies up the chaos while Dan arrives with Sara's missing skate. In a quiet kiss with Dan, Chris signals a hopeful new chapter after the ordeal.
Adventures in Babysitting Characters
Explore all characters from Adventures in Babysitting (2016). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.
Chris Parker
A determined, quick-thinking teenager who takes charge to babysit Sara and navigate a cross-city misadventure. She improvises under pressure, balancing responsibility with risky situations while keeping the kids safe.
Sara Anderson
An eight-year-old neighbor who tags along and fuels the chaotic night with curiosity and resilience. She provides moments of mischief and courage as events spiral.
Brad Anderson
Sara’s older brother who steps up to help; his moments of bravado give way to protective instincts as the group tries to stay safe.
Joe Gipp
A car thief who steals the group’s ride, pulling them deeper into the criminals’ pursuit. He drives the chase and escalates the stakes with his unpredictable moves.
Bleak
The ruthless boss of the criminal operation, relentlessly chasing the kids through the city. He embodies the constant threat that elevates the night’s danger.
Dawson
The tall, blond-haired garage owner who initially blocks their escape but becomes a waypoint in the night’s twists.
Dan Lynch
A kindly donor who unexpectedly helps the kids by providing transportation, offering a rare moment of hope amid the chaos.
Adventures in Babysitting Settings
Learn where and when Adventures in Babysitting (2016) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.
Time period
1980s
Set in the late 1980s, the film captures the era’s fashion, music, and street sensibilities as a suburban babysitting night spirals into cross-city chaos. The night unfolds with improvised plans, near-misses, and a constant urgency to get everyone home safely. The period backdrop informs the visuals and tone, giving the adventure a distinctly retro feel.
Location
Oak Park, Illinois, Chicago
Oak Park, Illinois serves as the quiet starting point for a planned anniversary night that spirals into cross-city chaos. The action shifts from a calm suburban street to the bustle of downtown Chicago, weaving through highways and city blocks. The contrast between suburban tranquility and urban nightlife heightens the sense of danger and urgency throughout the night.
Adventures in Babysitting Themes
Discover the main themes in Adventures in Babysitting (2016). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.
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Resilience
The night tests Chris’s ability to stay calm under pressure and improvise when plans collapse. She must quickly adapt to evolving dangers while keeping the kids safe. The theme centers on steady leadership in the face of chaos.
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Adventure
The group’s misadventure turns the city into a stage where surprises lurk at every corner. Each new obstacle forces creativity and quick thinking, turning fear into action. The film channels a sense of teenage daring and discovery through urban exploration.
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Teamwork
Success hinges on cooperation among the kids and Chris, as they rely on each other to navigate dangers. Trust builds through shared risks, moments of courage, and collective problem solving. The ensemble ethic underscores how unity can transform a breakdown into a breakthrough.
Adventures in Babysitting Spoiler-Free Summary
Discover the spoiler-free summary of Adventures in Babysitting (2016). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.
In the quiet streets of a Midwestern suburb, teenage life buzzes with after‑school responsibilities and the inevitable clash of personalities. Jenny, a self‑confident and slightly competitive babysitter, has built a reputation for keeping the neighborhood’s little ones safe—at least in her own eyes. Across the cul‑de‑sac, Lola is equally determined, wielding a charm that makes parents trust her with their most precious cargo. Their rivalry, rooted in friendly one‑upmanship, has turned the simple act of babysitting into a subtle contest of wits and style.
When a sudden panic spreads through the community—a youngster slips away from supervision and disappears into the sprawling metropolis of Chicago—the two teens find themselves forced into an unlikely partnership. The city’s relentless energy, neon lights, and hidden corners contrast sharply with the orderly world they’ve known, promising a backdrop that is as exhilarating as it is intimidating. Their mission—locating the runaway child—quickly becomes a test of resourcefulness, forcing each to lean on the other’s strengths while navigating the unknown.
The film’s tone balances the urgency of a chase with the light‑hearted charm of youthful camaraderie. It captures the blend of anxiety and excitement that arises when familiar comforts are left behind, and the streets pulse with possibilities. As Jenny and Lola dart through bustling avenues, their rivalry softens into a tentative friendship, hinting at deeper insights about responsibility, trust, and the messy, often hilarious reality of growing up under the watchful eyes of a neighborhood that expects the best from its teenage caretakers.
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