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Parents

Play trailer Poster for Parents R,  1989,  1h 22m,  Mystery & Thriller/ Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Stream Now Watchlist 63% 16 Reviews Tomatometer 54% 2,500+ Ratings Popcornmeter
63% Tomatometer 16 Reviews 54% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Ten-year-old Michael Laemle (Bryan Madorsky) senses that something is not quite right with his family. Sure, his mother, Lily (Mary Beth Hurt), is the perfect 1950s housewife, and they have a comfortable life in the suburbs, where his dad, Nick (Randy Quaid), works at a mortuary. But what's with the enormous cuts of meat that his father brings home every night? What, or whom, do they come from? Michael takes his concerns to a school counselor (Sandy Dennis) who decides to come over for dinner.
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Critics Reviews

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Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Jan 1, 2000
2/4
Because it speaks to a terror that lurks deep within our memories, Parents has the potential to be a great horror film. But it never knows quite what to do with its inspiration. Go to Full Review
Richard Freedman Newark Star-Ledger Jan 6, 2026
Actor Bob Balaban's directorial debut "Parents," while black enough to suit the most morbid taste, is woefully unfunny. Go to Full Review
Alan Jones Radio Times Oct 30, 2025
4/5
If the horsemeat scare hasn't put you off eating beef, then Close Encounters actor-turned-director Bob Balaban's grim horror comedy certainly will. Go to Full Review
Eddie Harrison film-authority.com Jan 28, 2024
3/5
rises to a few effective shock moments while offering up a blunt analysis of the American dream. Something original in the horror canon, it isn’t quite as literate as might be expected, but it’s ideal fare for horror fans who want to dine off-menu. Go to Full Review
Terry Francis Southern Voice (Atlanta) May 9, 2023
Parents is rather over-spangled in film technique, and it finally degenerates into a slasher movie. But, again, roughly the first two-thirds are sharply drawn, and Balaban appears to be a true eccentric researching his way to his own personal style. Go to Full Review
Brian D. Johnson Maclean's Magazine Oct 11, 2019
Parents is not for the squeamish. Its sound track jostles with novelty tunes of the 1950s-from Chantilly Lace to Purple People Eater-but the humor only enhances the horror. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Rey G Nov 21, 2017 I give this a 87/B+.
Hermione M Aug 21, 2017 Another dreadful black comedy has a boy discovering his parents are cannibals using human meat secured from the father's job at the morgue for meals. See more
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Parents

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Cast & Crew

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Bob Balaban

Director

Randy Quaid

Nick Laemle

Mary Beth Hurt

Lily Laemle

Sandy Dennis

Millie Dew

Bryan Madorsky

Michael Laemle

London Juno

Sheila Zellner

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Parents

Parents (1989) Parents (1989) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Ten-year-old Michael Laemle (Bryan Madorsky) senses that something is not quite right with his family. Sure, his mother, Lily (Mary Beth Hurt), is the perfect 1950s housewife, and they have a comfortable life in the suburbs, where his dad, Nick (Randy Quaid), works at a mortuary. But what's with the enormous cuts of meat that his father brings home every night? What, or whom, do they come from? Michael takes his concerns to a school counselor (Sandy Dennis) who decides to come over for dinner.
Director
Bob Balaban
Producer
Bonnie Palef
Screenwriter
Christopher Hawthorne
Distributor
Vestron Pictures
Production Co
Vestron Pictures, Great American Films Limited Partnership
Rating
R
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 27, 1989, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$464.2K
Runtime
1h 22m
Sound Mix
Surround
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