Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- wistful
- earnest
- sentimental
- sports movie night
- romantic movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film earnest but overly sentimental, with its reflective baseball drama weakened by a lugubrious romantic story.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Billy Chapel faces the closing phase of his major league baseball career while reassessing his future.
Jane's planned move to London forces Billy to consider life without her and the priorities competing with their relationship.
Billy reflects on his life and baseball career as the relationship crisis unfolds.
Billy's self-conception and major life decisions are inseparable from his role as a baseball pitcher.
Films like For Love of the Game, and why
The Natural
shared baseball-centered sports drama, aging athlete, and reflective romantic stakes
Bull Durham
shared sports drama, emotional career crossroads, and mature romance
Field of Dreams
shared reflective sports narrative, personal sacrifice, and bittersweet romantic tension
Jerry Maguire
shared professional athlete protagonist, relationship conflict, and earnest melodramatic tone
Movie Details
- Director
- Sam Raimi
- Release Date
- 1999-09-17
- Runtime
- 138 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (486)
Cast
- Kevin Costner
- Kelly Preston
- John C. Reilly
- Jena Malone
- Brian Cox
- J.K. Simmons
- Vin Scully
- Steve Lyons
- Carmine Giovinazzo
- Bill E. Rogers
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- TNT, TBS, tru TV
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is For Love of the Game about?
- An aging Detroit pitcher must decide whether the final chapter of his baseball life can coexist with the woman he loves.
- What is For Love of the Game like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of For Love of the Game as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is For Love of the Game violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in For Love of the Game.
- What did critics think of For Love of the Game?
- Critics broadly found the film earnest but overly sentimental, with its reflective baseball drama weakened by a lugubrious romantic story.
- Which films are like For Love of the Game?
- Films with a similar feel include The Natural, Bull Durham, Field of Dreams, and Jerry Maguire.
- How long is For Love of the Game?
- For Love of the Game runs 138 minutes.
- Where can I watch For Love of the Game?
- In United States, For Love of the Game streams on TNT, TBS, tru TV.
