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When a Stranger Calls

Summary: During a babysitting gig, a high-school student is harassed by an increasingly threatening prank caller.
Runtime: 1 h 27 min
MPAA: PG-13

Country: United States
Language: English
Movie budget: $ 15,000,000
Domestic: $ 47,860,214
International: $ 19,201,909

Box office:

Budget:$15MDomestic:$47.9MInternational:$19.2MWorldwide:$67.1M

Adaptation/remake:

based on urban legend, remake

Possible Big Business:

Production:

Screen Gems

N/A
44%11%
White88.89%Mixed / Other11.11%
3.20
BechdeltestPassed!

Commonsensemedia

Violence3/5
Language3/5

Dove

Sex1/5
Language2/5
Violence3/5
Drugs1/5

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Cast
Representation
Tags / Keywords
24 hour time span555 phone numberalarmalarm systemaloneambulanceamusement parkanswering a telephoneanswering machineaquariumarming an alarm systemarrestattacked by a strangerattempted murderbabysitterbabysitter in perilbabysittingbad guybased on urban legendbedbest friend best friend relationshipbig housebirdblack catbonfireboy in jeopardyboyfriend cheats on girlfriendboyfriend cheats on girlfriend with her best friendboyfriend girlfriend argumentboyfriend girlfriend relationshipbreaking upbreaking up with boyfriendbrother sister relationshipburglar alarm systemcall is coming from the same locationcaller idcar keycar troublecar won't startcarnivalcatcat eats a birdcell phonecell phone out of rangecharacter repeats someone else's dialoguecharacters murdered one by onechasecheating on a girlfriend with her best friendcheerleaderchildchild in jeopardychild's drawingchildrenclimbing down a treeclimbing through a windowclockcoloradoconflict between friendscordless telephonecorpsecreepy mancreepy strangercreepy telephone callcriminaldark housedead bodydead body in waterdeathdeath of frienddisconnected telephone calldoctordomestic servantdropping a flashlightdropping car keyseating a popsicleemergency phone numbersempty hospitalempty showerescapeescape attemptexpensive homefacial scarfairgroundfalling from a treefalling from heightfather child relationshipfather daughter relationshipfearfemale babysitterfemale protagonistferris wheelfirefire pokerfire truckfireplaceflashlightflip phonefoot chasefour word titlefriends like same boyfriendship between girlsgirl falls from a treegirl in jeopardygirl runninggoldfishgrindhouse filmgroundedgrounded by parentgrounded teenagerguest houseguesthousehair pullinghandcuffsharassmenthidinghiding a childhiding childhiding in a chesthiding in waterhigh schoolhigh school lockerhigh school studenthigh school track teamhome invasionhomicidal maniachorror movie remakehospitalhousekeeperhusband wife relationshipimitating a british accentimpaled in the handinsane manisolated housejewelryjewelry boxjump scarekilling spreeknifeknock at the doorlakelake houselate night phone calllaundry roomleaving message on answering machineletting a telephone ringlocking a doorloss of cell phone signalmad killermaidmaniacmid century modern housemissing boymissing childmissing childrenmissing girlmistmother child relationshipmotion activated lightmurdermurder of a housekeepermurder of best friendmurder spreemysterious callermysterious strangermysterious telephone callnameless characternecklacenightmarenightmare sequenceno cell phone signalominous musicone day timespanparakeetparanoiaparent child relationshipperson on firepet catphone billphone call to policepleading for mercypolicepolice carpolice officerpondpopsicleprank telephone callprotecting a childpsycho killerpsychological thrillerpsychopathpsychopathic killerpurseremakerich doctorrich familyringringing a doorbellringing telephonerunningrunning teenage girlscreamsecluded housesecurity systemserial killershadowy figureshowersleeping boysleeping childsleeping girlslow motion scenesmall birdstalkedstalkerstalkingstopwatchstrange noisestrangerstranger dangerstranger in the housesurprise endingsurvivalsuspensetalking to a strangerteen horrorteen slasherteenage alcoholicteenage girlteenage girl as protagonistteenage protagonistteenagertelephonetelephone calltelephone conversationtelephone numbertelephone terrorterrorthreatening telephone calltracing a telephone calltrack teamtrying on a necklacetrying on a ringtrying on jewelryunanswered telephone callunderage drinkingunderwater sceneunexpected visitorunknown callerunnamed characterurban legendviolencewaking up from a nightmarewalking trailwaterfront housewoods
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Parental Guide

Parental Guide: +add

This film gets a 3.2/5 family friendly score

MPAA CertificationNo MPAA rating found yet. Add Family Friendly Rating?

IMDb Rating

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0455857/parentalguide

last updated: 2024-10-25Update data

Commonsensemedia Rating

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/when-a-stranger-calls-2006

last updated: 2024-10-25Update data

Message
0/5

Babysitter is virtuous, protecting two young children against relentless stalker.

Violence
3/5

A disconcerting opening sequence (fairground images and screams, with no explicit violence, but a detective appears horrified by what he sees and bloody bodybags are removed from a house); in film proper, two bodies appear on screen (murders take place off); wind/storm outside is ominous; killer chases babysitter and kids, which leads to fighting (kicking and hitting), stabbing with a fireplace poker, throwing of furniture, bloodied and bruised face and limbs; cat eats a canary; another jump scene in an empty-seeming hospital room at film's end.

Sex
0/5

Discussion of a boyfriend's "cheating" (he kissed another girl while drunk); girls in close-fitting shirts; house features nude figures artwork (statues and paintings).

Language
3/5

Some strong language ("hell," "damn," two s-words, "a--hole," "skank," and "b---h").

Drugs
0/5

One girl who comes to visit suggests drinking tequila, but babysitter asks her to leave.

Dove Rating

https://dove.org/review/5366-when-a-stranger-calls-2006/
Faith
0/5

None

Sex
1/5

Teen talk about kissing

Language
2/5

S-1; A-2; B-1; OMG-2

Violence
3/5

Implied violent murder of children w/ bloody body bags; 2 dead bodies - no blood; Hand stabbed with fireplace poker - graphically shown; Killer and girl punch and fight.

Drugs
1/5

Implied alcohol use at teen bonfire

Nudity
0/5

None

Other
0/5

None

Methodology
Other sources
Global Consensus

Audience Reviews:

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