Dennis the Menace is a 1993 American comedy film based on the Hank Ketcham comic strip. It was directed by Nick Castle and written by John Hughes. The plot concerns the misadventures of the mischievous child Dennis Mitchell (Mason Gamble) who menaces his next door neighbor George Wilson (Walter Matthau), usually hangs out with his friends Joey McDonald (Kellen Hathaway) and Margaret Wade (Amy Sakasitz) and is followed everywhere by his dog Ruff. Jeannie Russell, who plays Margaret in the 1959β1963 TV series, makes a cameo appearance.