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Baseball Movies

Harrison Ford as Branch Rickey in 2013's 42.
Harrison Ford as Branch Rickey in 2013’s 42.

Want to know the best Baseball Movies?  How about the worst Baseball Movies?  Curious about Baseball Movies did at the box office or which Baseball Movies picked up the most Oscar® nominations and Oscar® wins? Need to know which Baseball Movies movie got the best reviews from critics and audiences? Well you have come to the right place….because we have all of that information.

This page represents part 3 in a series of pages that are trying to identify the Top 400 Sports Movies Of All-Time. This page will look at the top 59 movies of baseball.  Movies are ranked by using a combination of box office results, reviews from audiences and critics and award recognition. 

To be considered for the page the movie had to be released at movie theaters so movies like Long Gone and 61 were NOT considered. If you see a movie not on the list, just put the title in the comment box and I will add the movie as long as it was released in theaters.  It is hard to argue that The Pride of the Yankees is not the best baseball movie. It sits on the top of the box office chart, 2nd on the critics/audience chart, on top of the Movie Score chart, and it received 11 Oscar® nominations to boot…pretty impressive

Babe Ruth as Babe Ruth and Gary Cooper as Lou Gehrig in 1942's Pride of the Yankees
Babe Ruth as Babe Ruth and Gary Cooper as Lou Gehrig in 1942’s Pride of the Yankees

Baseball Movies Movies Can Be Ranked 6 Ways In This Table

The really cool thing about this table is that it is “user-sortable”. Rank the movies anyway you want.

  • Sort Baseball Movies by the star of the baseball movie
  • Sort Baseball Movies by actual domestic box office grosses
  • Sort Baseball Movies by adjusted box office grosses using current movie ticket cost
  • Sort by how Baseball Movies were received by critics and audiences.  60% rating or higher should indicate a good movie.
  • Sort by how many Oscar® nominations and how many Oscar® wins each Baseball Movie received.
  • Sort Baseball Movies by Ultimate Movie Rankings (UMR) Score.  UMR Score puts box office, reviews and awards into a mathematical equation and gives each movie a score.
R Movie (Year) UMR Co-Star Links Adj. B.O. Worldwide (mil) UMR Score
R Movie (Year) UMR Co-Star Links Actual B.O. Domestic (mil) Adj. B.O. Domestic (mil) Adj. B.O. Worldwide (mil) B.O. Rank by Year Review Oscar Nom / Win UMR Score S
1 The Pride of the Yankees (1942)
AA Best Picture Nom
Gary Cooper &
Walter Brennan
10.5 452.1 452.10 9 84 11 / 01 99.4
3 Field of Dreams (1989)
AA Best Picture Nom
Kevin Costner &
Burt Lancaster
64.4 202.9 265.80 19 76 03 / 00 98.1
4 The Bad News Bears (1976) Walter Matthau 32.2 189.0 189.00 18 87 00 / 00 97.8
2 The Stratton Story (1949) James Stewart 10.3 298.8 298.80 8 78 01 / 01 97.2
5 A League of Their Own (1992) Tom Hanks &
Madonna
107.5 323.9 398.90 10 76 00 / 00 96.2
6 Take Me Out to the Ball Game (1949) Gene Kelly &
Frank Sinatra
8.3 241.2 320.20 16 75 00 / 00 95.9
7 Moneyball (2011)
AA Best Picture Nom
Brad Pitt &
Chris Pratt
75.6 119.2 173.70 47 89 06 / 00 95.9
8 The Natural (1984) Robert Redford &
Robert Duvall
48.0 178.4 178.40 15 74 04 / 00 94.9
9 Bull Durham (1988) Kevin Costner &
Susan Sarandon
50.9 154.8 154.80 18 83 01 / 00 94.6
10 The Rookie (2002) Dennis Quaid 75.6 162.9 173.90 36 78 00 / 00 93.0
11 Damn Yankees (1958) Tab Hunter 7.4 154.8 154.80 30 75 01 / 00 91.8
12 Major League (1989) Charlie Sheen &
Wesley Snipes
49.8 156.8 156.80 26 74 00 / 00 91.7
13 42 (2013) Harrison Ford &
Chadwick Boseman
95.0 146.1 149.90 37 74 00 / 00 90.3
14 The Babe Ruth Story (1948) William Bendix 6.3 197.4 197.40 41 57 00 / 00 89.9
15 It Happens Every Spring (1949) Ray Millland 5.1 149.4 149.40 56 66 01 / 00 87.7
16 The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training (1977) Jackie Earle Haley 35.3 198.1 198.10 25 50 00 / 00 87.4
16 Bingo Long's Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings (1976) Richard Pryor &
Billy Dee Williams
16.2 94.9 94.90 41 76 00 / 00 84.7
18 Angels in the Outfield (1951) Janet Leigh 4.2 104.7 119.00 85 69 00 / 00 83.2
19 The Sandlot (1993) James Earl Jones 32.4 97.9 97.90 49 68 00 / 00 81.3
21 Rookie of the Year (1993) John Candy 53.6 161.9 161.90 22 46 00 / 00 80.7
22 Brewster's Millions (1985) Richard Pryor &
John Candy
40.8 143.8 143.80 20 51 00 / 00 80.1
20 The Pride of St. Louis (1952) Dan Dailey 4.5 102.9 102.90 70 63 01 / 00 80.1
27 Angels in the Outfield (1994) Matthew McConaughey &
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
50.2 153.9 153.90 26 45 00 / 00 77.6
22 The Jackie Robinson Story (1950) Jackie Robinson 2.7 70.7 70.70 115 70 00 / 00 77.5
26 The Winning Team (1952) Ronald Reagan &
Doris Day
4.0 90.8 101.30 86 63 00 / 00 77.2
22 Fear Strikes Out (1957) Anthony Perkins &
Karl Malden
2.4 52.6 52.60 103 75 00 / 00 77.0
28 The Benchwarmers (2006) David Spade &
Rob Schneider
59.8 113.7 123.40 52 55 00 / 00 76.5
25 Bang the Drum Slowly (1973) Robert DeNiro 4.9 34.7 34.70 63 78 01 / 00 76.0
29 Fever Pitch (2005) Drew Barrymore &
Jimmy Fallon
42.1 82.2 98.50 71 63 00 / 00 75.0
29 Kill the Umpire (1950) William Bendix 2.3 59.5 59.50 138 70 00 / 00 74.7
31 The Battered Bastards of Baseball (2014)
Netflix
Kurt Russell 0.0 0.1 0.10 418 87 00 / 00 74.1
32 Eight Men Out (1988) Charile Sheen &
John Cusack
5.7 17.3 17.30 120 79 00 / 00 71.2
33 Million Dollar Arm (2014) Bill Paxton &
Jon Hamm
36.5 55.8 60.00 87 65 00 / 00 69.4
36 For Love of the Game (1999) Kevin Costner 35.2 86.9 113.90 57 55 00 / 00 68.7
34 Sugar (2008) Algenis Perez Solo 1.1 1.9 1.90 202 81 00 / 00 67.5
35 61* (2001)
HBO Movie
Directed by Billy Crystal 0.1 0.1 0.10 311 80 00 / 00 66.4
38 Trouble with the Curve (2012) Clint Eastwood &
Justin Timberlake
35.8 56.2 76.90 86 62 00 / 00 66.1
38 Hardball (2001) Keanu Reeves 40.2 89.0 97.60 62 51 00 / 00 65.7
38 Bad News Bears (2005) Billy Bob Thornton 32.9 64.2 64.20 84 59 00 / 00 65.0
39 Long Gone (1987)
HBO Movie
William L. Petersen 0.0 0.1 0.10 276 78 00 / 00 64.6
41 Soul Of The Game (1996)
HBO Movie
Blair Underwood &
Delroy Lindo
0.1 0.1 0.10 275 75 00 / 00 60.2
42 Running The Bases (2022) Brett Varvel 1.5 1.7 1.70 113 73 00 / 00 57.6
42 The Kid From Left Field (1953) Dan Dailey &
Anne Bancroft
2.3 48.6 48.60 151 59 00 / 00 57.4
43 Alibi Ike (1935) Olivia de Havilland &
Joe E. Brown
1.3 65.3 89.00 107 53 00 / 00 57.1
44 The Hill (2023) Dennis Quaid 7.7 8.4 8.40 103 68 00 / 00 52.9
44 Big Leaguer (1953) Edward G. Robinson 1.4 28.8 28.80 189 61 00 / 00 50.0
48 Mr 3000 (2004) Bernie Mac &
Angela Bassett
21.8 43.9 44.00 101 56 00 / 00 49.2
46 Casey At The Bat (1927) Wallace Beery 1.2 42.9 42.90 55 55 00 / 00 48.8
48 The Babe (1992) John Goodman 17.5 52.8 60.00 70 52 00 / 00 47.2
50 Chasing 3000 (2010) Ray Liotta 0.1 0.1 0.10 311 67 00 / 00 45.1
50 Cobb (1994) Tommy Lee Jones &
Robert Wuhl
1.0 3.1 3.10 192 64 00 / 00 40.8
50 High & Outside: A Baseball Noir (2017)
Film Festival Circuit Only
Ernie Hudson 0.1 0.1 0.10 268 64 00 / 00 37.9
52 Game 6 (2005) Michael Keaton &
Robert Downey Jr.
0.1 0.3 0.30 289 61 00 / 00 31.0
52 The Comrades of Summer (1992)
HBO Movie
Joe Mantegna 0.1 0.1 0.10 234 61 00 / 00 31.0
57 The Fan (1996) Robert DeNiro 18.6 52.7 119.40 87 44 00 / 00 30.1
54 Everyone's Hero (2006) Robin Williams &
Rob Reiner
14.5 27.6 31.60 136 51 00 / 00 29.3
54 Calvin Marshall (2009)
Film Festival Circuit Only
Steve Zahn 0.0 0.1 0.10 404 60 00 / 00 29.2
57 Pastime (1990) William Russ 0.3 0.8 0.80 208 59 00 / 00 27.5
57 Safe at Home! (1962) Roger Maris 2.0 33.3 33.30 97 48 00 / 00 27.4
59 Major League II (1994) Charlie Sheen &
Tom Berenger
30.6 93.8 93.80 45 27 00 / 00 25.7
61 Little Big League (1994) Timothy Busfield 12.3 37.6 37.60 101 45 00 / 00 22.8
62 The Perfect Game (2009) Cheech Marin 1.0 1.7 1.70 196 55 00 / 00 21.2
61 Mickey (2004) Harry Connick Jr. 0.3 0.6 0.60 243 54 00 / 00 19.2
65 Mr. Baseball (1992) Tom Selleck 20.9 62.9 62.90 64 34 00 / 00 18.0
63 Blue Skies Again (1983) Andy Garcia 1.5 5.8 5.80 125 52 00 / 00 17.9
64 You Gotta Believe (2024) Greg Kinnear 1.4 1.4 1.40 150 52 00 / 00 16.4
67 Talent for the Game (1991) Edward James Olmos 0.3 1.0 1.00 199 52 00 / 00 16.2
68 Bottom of the 9th (2019) Sofía Vergara 0.1 0.1 0.10 290 51 00 / 00 14.1
67 The Phenom (2016) Ethan Hawke &
Paul Giamatti
0.1 0.1 0.10 344 50 00 / 00 13.0
69 Spaceman (2016)
Film Festival Circuit Only
Josh Duhamel 0.1 0.1 0.10 286 50 00 / 00 12.6
71 Chance (2020)
Limited Release
Matthew Modine 0.1 0.1 0.10 89 49 00 / 00 11.8
71 The Final Season (2007) Sean Astin 1.2 2.1 2.10 211 46 00 / 00 9.9
71 Trading Hearts (1988) Raul Julia 0.0 0.1 0.10 303 47 00 / 00 9.3
73 Hustle (2004)
ESPN Movies
Tom Sizemore 0.0 0.1 0.10 336 44 00 / 00 6.6
73 The Bad News Bears Go to Japan (1978) Tony Curtis 7.1 37.9 37.90 73 31 00 / 00 5.6
75 Summer Catch (2001) Freddie Prince 19.8 43.7 43.70 100 25 00 / 00 3.6
77 Undrafted (2016) James Belushi 0.1 0.1 0.10 262 38 00 / 00 3.0
76 The Scout (1994) Albert Brooks &
Brendan Fraser
2.7 8.3 8.30 164 34 00 / 00 2.6
77 Major League: Back to the Minors (1998) Corbin Benson 3.6 9.5 9.50 157 31 00 / 00 1.4
78 Ed (1996) Matt LeBlanc 4.4 12.5 12.50 156 26 00 / 00 0.7
79 The Slugger's Wife (1985) Michael O'Keefe 1.9 6.6 6.60 145 26 00 / 00 0.6

Stats and Possibly Interesting Things From The Above Baseball Movies Table

  1. Twelve Baseball Movies crossed the magical $100 million mark.  That is a percentage of 20.68% of his movies listed.  Domestic top box office hit is The Pride of the Yankees (1942)…barely beating out A League of Their Own (1992).
  2. An average Baseball Movie grosses $54.80 million in adjusted box office gross.
  3. Using RottenTomatoes.com’s 60% fresh meter.  30 Baseball Movies are rated as good movies…or 50.84% of his movies.  Highest rated Baseball movie is Moneyball (2011).  Lowest rated Baseball movie is Ed (1996).
  4. Ten Baseball Movies received at least one Oscar® nomination in any category…..or 16.94% of the listed movies.
  5. Two Baseball Movies won at least one Oscar® in any category…..or 3.38% of his movies.
  6. An average Ultimate Movie Rankings (UMR) Score is 39.86.  14 of Baseball Movies’s movies scored higher that average….or 23.72% of his movies.  The Pride of the Yankees (1942) got the highest UMR Movie Score….Ed (1996) got the lowest UMR Score.
Tim Robbins and Kevin Costner in 1988's Bull Durham.
Tim Robbins and Kevin Costner in 1988’s Bull Durham.

My other Sports Movie Links

  • Top 100 Biggest Box Office Grossing Sports Movies
  • Top 100 Best Reviewed Sports Movies
  • Top 400 Sports Movies
  • Ranking Baseball Movies
  • Ranking Basketball Movies
  • Ranking Boxing Movies
  • Ranking Football Movies
  • Ranking Golf Movies
  • Ranking Hockey Movies
  • Ranking Olympics Movies
  • Ranking Racing Movies
  • Ranking Soccer Movies
  • Ranking Other Sports Movies  poker, surfing, rodeo, curling and others
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42 thoughts on “Baseball Movies”

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  1. Michael Fonda says:
    May 29, 2021 at 12:10 pm

    Looks like you missed one. “Rhubarb” (1951) has a whopping 6.9 approval rating on the IMDB. It’s about a fictionalized version of the Dodgers called the “Loons,” and ends up with the World Series. Hopefully, you’ll find this a convincing argument.

    Reply

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