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Top 20 Baseball Movies of All Time

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Ignacio Weil

Entertainment - May 2nd 2025, 00:00 GMT+2

Cropped the rookie — 20. The Rookie (2002)

"The Rookie" is one of those heartstring-tugging, dad-approved baseball movies that you can’t help but root for — much like the real-life story it’s based on. Dennis Quaid steps up to the mound (and the midlife crisis) as Jim Morris, a high school teacher who somehow goes from coaching teenagers to throwing 98 mph fastballs for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. It’s like a Disney fairy tale... because, well, it is a Disney fairy tale. Quaid delivers peak "dad vibes" while a young Jay Hernandez reminds us that the kids are, in fact, *the future*. If you ever needed proof that second chances aren't just for plot twists, this movie’s your go-to. | © Walt Disney Pictures

Cropped bang the drum slowly — 19. Bang the Drum Slowly (1973)

If you ever wondered what would happen if you mixed baseball with feelings so tender they'd make a stone cry, "Bang the Drum Slowly" has you covered. A pre-‘Godfather’ Robert De Niro stars as a not-so-bright catcher battling a terminal illness, and Michael Moriarty plays the pitcher who actually shows him compassion — a rare thing in any locker room. It’s a story about teammates becoming brothers and grown men doing the ugly cry, and we’re not ashamed to say it still wrecks us every time. De Niro’s raw, fumbling sincerity is a home run all on its own, proving he could steal scenes even when stealing bases wasn't exactly on the menu. | © Paramount Pictures

Cropped The Natural — 18. The Natural (1984)

Step aside, superheroes — Robert Redford’s Roy Hobbs is the real American myth. "The Natural" feels like a golden-hued fever dream where every pitch glows, every bat crack echoes into the heavens, and slow-mo runs are practically a spiritual experience. Redford, with his angelic hair and eternal squint, plays a man robbed of greatness in his youth, only to return decades later swinging a "Wonderboy" bat like King Arthur with his sword. Toss in Glenn Close as the ultimate good luck charm and Robert Duvall poking around as a scheming reporter, and you have yourself baseball’s version of the Iliad. And yes — that stadium-light-exploding scene? Iconic forever. | © TriStar Pictures

Cropped fear strikes out — 17. Fear Strikes Out (1957)

Before Anthony Perkins was creeping around as Norman Bates, he was creeping into our hearts as real-life baseball player Jimmy Piersall in "Fear Strikes Out." This is not your average, sunny diamond flick; it’s a psychological deep dive into pressure, breakdowns, and the terrifying realization that sometimes parents are the real monsters. Perkins delivers a raw performance, bouncing off Karl Malden’s relentless "tough love" portrayal of Piersall’s overbearing father. It's intense, uncomfortable, and weirdly riveting — like a thriller wearing a baseball uniform. And no, there are no singing peanuts or dancing mascots here — just raw human struggle. | © Paramount Pictures

Cropped The Bingo Long Traveling All Stars Motor Kings — 16. The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings (1976)

If you like your baseball served with a side of revolution and a heavy helping of charisma, "The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings" is an absolute treat. Billy Dee Williams — yes, Lando himself! — stars as Bingo Long, leading a barnstorming team of Black baseball players carving out their own destiny in the segregated 1930s. Add Richard Pryor in full comedic glory and a young James Earl Jones doing that James Earl Jones *thing* (you know, making every line sound like prophecy), and you get a lively, rebellious road trip with baseballs flying and dreams soaring. It’s joyful, it's scrappy, and it swings for the fences — and hits. | © Universal Pictures

Cropped Sugar — 15. Sugar (2008)

"Sugar" isn’t just another baseball movie; it’s a sly, heart-tugging curveball that sneaks up on you. Algenis Perez Soto plays Miguel "Sugar" Santos, a Dominican pitcher chasing that big-league dream in the good ol’ U.S. of A. But surprise — it’s way less about strikeouts and way more about culture shock, loneliness, and trying to order pancakes in English. Directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck weave a story so grounded and human you’ll forget you're watching a sports film at all. Plus, it shows you the side of baseball most movies don’t: the grit, the grind, and the heartbreak between innings. | © HBO Films

Cropped the bad news bears — 14. The Bad News Bears (1976)

Ah yes, "The Bad News Bears," where Walter Matthau plays Morris Buttermaker, the most gloriously inappropriate Little League coach to ever clutch a beer can in one hand and a catcher’s mitt in the other. This ragtag team of foul-mouthed kids and their grumpy leader basically invented the underdog sports movie formula. You also get Tatum O’Neal as the ace pitcher who throws like a dream and swears like a sailor, plus Jackie Earle Haley as the motorbike-riding bad boy. It's funny, it's shocking, it's slightly offensive in that "we could never make this today" way — and somehow, it’s still pure gold. | © Paramount Pictures

Cropped The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg — 13. The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg (1998)

Sure, baseball has a lot of legends, but "The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg" shines a light on one who swung not just for the fences, but for his entire culture. Directed by Aviva Kempner, this documentary about Detroit Tigers slugger Hank Greenberg blends interviews, old newsreels, and nostalgia in the most charming way. Greenberg wasn’t just a beast on the field — he was also a Jewish-American hero at a time when anti-Semitism was thicker than the peanut shells at Yankee Stadium. Cameos from celebrities like Alan Dershowitz and Dick Schaap pepper the film with extra insight, but honestly, Hank himself is the real star here. | © The Ciesla Foundation

Cropped Pride of the Yankees — 12. Pride of the Yankees (1942)

Grab a tissue (or ten), because "Pride of the Yankees" is the cinematic equivalent of a standing ovation with tears in your eyes. Gary Cooper steps into the cleats of Lou Gehrig, telling the sweet, sad story of the "Iron Horse" with a humility that hits just as hard today. Plus, real-life legends like Babe Ruth actually show up as *themselves*, which is the 1940s version of a Marvel cameo, honestly. It’s sentimental, it’s old-school patriotic, and it’s got that iconic "Luckiest man on the face of the earth" speech that will break even the coldest hearts wide open. | © RKO Radio Pictures

Cropped the sandlot — 11. The Sandlot (1993)

"You’re killin’ me, Smalls!" If you know, you know — and if you don’t, "The Sandlot" will fix that fast. This 90s classic is less about baseball and more about the endless summers of childhood, where legends are born, sneakers are ruined, and giant dogs are very real monsters. Tom Guiry plays new kid Scotty Smalls, Patrick Renna is the immortal Ham Porter, and James Earl Jones (yes, again!) blesses the movie with his commanding presence as the mysterious neighbor with a past. It’s endlessly quotable, weirdly profound, and guaranteed to make you crave a s'more immediately. | © 20th Century Fox

Cropped eight men out — 10. Eight Men Out (1988)

If you think baseball scandals started with steroids, "Eight Men Out" is here to say, "Hold my whiskey and watch this." Directed by John Sayles, this smart, brooding film dives into the infamous 1919 Black Sox scandal where *eight* Chicago White Sox players (including Charlie Sheen and John Cusack in peak youthful charm) conspired to throw the World Series. It’s a fascinating look at how greed, desperation, and some really shady gamblers can ruin America's pastime. Also, D.B. Sweeney as Shoeless Joe Jackson will break your heart, even if you can barely keep up with all the court scenes. | © Orion Pictures

Cropped major league — 9. Major League (1989)

Forget inspiration — "Major League" is here to make you laugh until you cry into your Cracker Jacks. Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen (again!), and Wesley Snipes all suit up for the fictional Cleveland Indians, a team so bad they make losing look stylish. With Bob Uecker stealing every scene as the hilariously jaded announcer ("Juuuust a bit outside"), this scrappy comedy hits a grand slam in the hearts of underdog lovers everywhere. You’re not just rooting for them to win — you're rooting for them to *keep existing* at all. Warning: repeated viewings may cause involuntary quoting of every single Uecker line. | © Paramount Pictures

Cropped field of dreams — 8. Field of Dreams (1989)

"If you build it, he will come" — and so will Kevin Costner, shoeless ghosts, and a whole lot of misty-eyed dads. "Field of Dreams" is the ultimate magical realism baseball movie, where cornfields grow ballparks and dreams aren’t just encouraged — they're mandatory. Costner is at his earnest best, Amy Madigan is the perfect no-nonsense wife, and James Earl Jones (seriously, was he contractually obligated to appear in every baseball movie?) delivers one of cinema’s greatest monologues about the soul of the game. It's weird, it's wonderful, and it’ll have you Googling how much farmland in Iowa costs by the final credits. | © Universal Pictures

Cropped Everybody Wants Some — 7. Everybody Wants Some!! (2016)

Richard Linklater’s "Everybody Wants Some!!" is technically about a college baseball team in 1980... but let’s be real, it’s mostly about partying, philosophical rambling, and the general aimlessness of young adulthood. The "spiritual sequel" to *Dazed and Confused*, it stars Blake Jenner, Glen Powell, and Zoey Deutch in a loose, sun-drenched joyride through the first wild days of freshman year. There's baseball, sure, but it’s mostly an excuse to flex headbands, tight pants, and a killer soundtrack. Think less "sports movie" and more "hanging out movie" — and honestly, when hanging out is this fun, who cares? | © Annapurna Pictures

Cropped angels in the outfield — 6. Angels in the Outfield (1951)

Before Tony Danza and Joseph Gordon-Levitt caught fly balls from heaven in the ‘90s remake, the *original* "Angels in the Outfield" was charming audiences with its black-and-white magic. Directed by Clarence Brown, it stars Paul Douglas as a grumpy, chain-smoking Pittsburgh Pirates manager whose team starts winning thanks to a few divine assists — visible only to a sweet little orphan girl played by Donna Corcoran. It's pure, syrupy 1950s wholesomeness, with just enough edge to make you wonder if even the angels are a little fed up sometimes. If your heart doesn't grow three sizes by the end, you're benched. | © Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Cropped 42 — 5. 42 (2013)

"42" isn't just a baseball movie — it's a full-on gut punch of history, heart, and heroism, starring the late, great Chadwick Boseman as Jackie Robinson. Watching Boseman handle racism, bad umpires, and worse insults with the kind of silent dignity that could silence an entire stadium is something truly special. Harrison Ford shows up too, grumbling and growling as Brooklyn Dodgers GM Branch Rickey, looking like he just walked out of a vintage whiskey ad. It's a film that reminds you that sometimes baseball is about a lot more than home runs — it's about changing the game *and* the world. | © Warner Bros. Pictures

Cropped moneyball — 4. Moneyball (2011)

If you thought baseball was just burly dudes swinging bats, "Moneyball" says, "Plot twist: it’s actually sexy math!" Brad Pitt brings effortless cool to Billy Beane, the Oakland A’s GM who revolutionizes the sport using computer stats and a whole lot of stubbornness. Jonah Hill, in a delightful turn as the nerdy, number-crunching Peter Brand, proves that sabermetrics can be as thrilling as a ninth-inning rally. It’s smart, funny, and somehow makes spreadsheets look heroic — truly a movie only Aaron Sorkin could co-write and make you *cheer* for on-base percentages. | © Columbia Pictures

Cropped a league of their own — 3. A League of Their Own (1992)

“There’s no crying in baseball!” Unless, of course, you're crying *because* "A League of Their Own" is just that good. Directed by Penny Marshall, this gem tells the story of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, led by Geena Davis as the impossibly perfect Dottie Hinson and Tom Hanks as the world’s crankiest (and drunkest) coach. Madonna and Rosie O’Donnell round out the team, proving that pop stars and stand-up comics can absolutely crush a double play. It's hilarious, heartfelt, and feminist without even trying too hard — a home run in every sense. | © Columbia Pictures

Cropped eephus — 2. Eephus (2024)

You didn’t think we could have a Top 5 without a fresh face, did you? "Eephus" sneaks onto the list like a trick pitch nobody saw coming. Directed by Carson Lund and packed with indie charm, this one’s all about a fading town, a quirky slow-pitch game, and the strange little ways baseball still keeps hope alive. It stars a beautifully scrappy ensemble of relative unknowns, but honestly, their raw, lived-in performances make you forget you're not watching your own uncles arguing about beer money. It’s funny, melancholy, and somehow feels like a memory you didn't even know you had. | © Omnes Films

Cropped bull durham — 1. Bull Durham (1988)

And here it is — the Big Kahuna of baseball movies. "Bull Durham" is part sports film, part rom-com, and part existential crisis, starring Kevin Costner as the philosophical minor league catcher Crash Davis. Tim Robbins is the rookie pitcher with more arm than brain, and Susan Sarandon is the sultry baseball groupie (or "muse," if you will) who mentors players on and *off* the field. Between the sexy dialogue, the musings about the Church of Baseball, and the general hot summer nights vibe, it's basically *poetry with curveballs.* If you ever wondered what "baseball sexy" looks like, this is the answer. | © Orion Pictures

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Baseball isn't just America's pastime — it's a source of some of the greatest stories ever told on film. Whether it's the underdog triumphs, the bittersweet nostalgia, or the legendary true stories, baseball movies capture the heart, grit, and spirit of the game like nothing else. In this ultimate guide to the top 20 baseball movies of all time, we dive into the films that have left an unforgettable mark on both the sports world and Hollywood. From timeless classics to modern masterpieces, these movies are essential viewing for any baseball fan or movie lover. Grab your glove and popcorn — it's time to step up to the plate!

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Baseball isn't just America's pastime — it's a source of some of the greatest stories ever told on film. Whether it's the underdog triumphs, the bittersweet nostalgia, or the legendary true stories, baseball movies capture the heart, grit, and spirit of the game like nothing else. In this ultimate guide to the top 20 baseball movies of all time, we dive into the films that have left an unforgettable mark on both the sports world and Hollywood. From timeless classics to modern masterpieces, these movies are essential viewing for any baseball fan or movie lover. Grab your glove and popcorn — it's time to step up to the plate!