Drop Dead Fred

Drop Dead Fred is a 1991 black comedy fantasy film, directed by Ate de Jong, produced by PolyGram and Working Title Films and released and distributed by New Line Cinema. Starring Phoebe Cates and Rik Mayall, with Marsha Mason, Tim Matheson and Carrie Fisher, the film's plot revolves around a young woman who, facing setbacks in her life, finds herself reunited with her childhood imaginary friend who offers to help her overcome her problems in his very distinctive way. The film was a commercial flop on its opening weekend and received generally negative reviews, but went on to become a cult film.

Elizabeth Cronin, an unassertive, repressed woman who works as a court reporter in Minneapolis, finds that her husband Charles, whom she separated from, wishes to go ahead with a divorce so he can be with Annabella, a woman he met during their separation. After thieves steal her purse and car, causing her to arrive to work late and be fired, Elizabeth runs into her childhood friend Mickey Bunce. Their reunion leads her to recall past memories of her childhood, in which she had an imaginary friend called Drop Dead Fred who involved her in his chaotic adventures and gave her happiness, until she forgot about him.

After a pep talk from another friend, Janie, Elizabeth moves back home with her oppressive mother Polly, who believes that Elizabeth is to blame for Charles cheating on her and leaving her, and Polly urges her to change her appearance to get her husband back. In her old bedroom Elizabeth finds a jack-in-the-box that is sealed shut with tape. Upon removing the tape, she is shocked to find Fred trapped inside, and Fred is disturbed to find how much she has changed since childhood. Learning how unhappy she currently is, Fred offers to help her feel better, which she determines conducive to winning back Charles.

However, his methods cause problems: Elizabeth accidentally sinks Janie's houseboat, she wrecks havoc in a restaurant, and she is tricked into attacking a violinist in a shopping mall. Polly becomes worried over her recent behaviour, and takes Elizabeth to see a psychologist who specializes in children. While in the waiting room, Fred meets with other imaginary friends, who reveals that the psychologist prescribes medication that can kill them. After the visit, Elizabeth, feeling that Fred is not helping and convinced by her mother to believe he is not real, accepts the medication and uses it, slowly killing him.