House Arrest is a family comedy film directed by Harry Winer and released in 1996. The film stars Kyle Howard as Grover Beindorf, who along with his younger sister Stacy, played by Amy Sakasitz, decide to lock their arguing parents, Janet and Ned Beindorf, played by Jamie Lee Curtis and Kevin Pollak, respectively, in the basement until they reconcile. They then use a recording of their parents' arguing to convince their parents' friends that they should do the same, effectively embroiling the entire neighborhood in a series of home imprisonments.
As the parents are forced to spend time together in the basement, they slowly begin to rediscover the love they once had for each other. Meanwhile, the Beindorf children and their friends quickly realize that trapping their parents in the basement was not as simple as they originally thought. There are several close calls where the parents almost get free, and they start to fight back against their children's scheme.
The film explores the idea of the breakdown of the family unit due to divorce and shows the importance of communication and the value of the family unit. The children's actions have unintended consequences, as they learn that adults have complex issues that cannot be solved by locking them up.
The film features a talented ensemble cast, including Wallace Shawn, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Christopher McDonald, and Jennifer Tilly. Despite mixed critical reviews, the film has developed a cult following over the years, and is often remembered as a quirky, feel-good comedy that tackles serious themes in a light-hearted way.