Bad News Bears
A hard-drinking former pitcher turns a hopeless group of young baseball misfits into an unlikely championship contender.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Mild
- irreverent
- witty
- crass
- family movie night
- sports movie marathon
What critics said
Critics generally found the remake entertaining and were especially receptive to Billy Bob Thornton’s performance, while many faulted its derivative premise, crass humor, and lack of originality.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The Bears are assembled from inept young players and must learn to cooperate against the polished Yankees.
Morris Buttermaker is a semi-inebriated former pitcher and professional exterminator whose coaching exposes his personal dysfunction.
Buttermaker’s drinking, cigar smoking, inappropriate conduct, and dry insults drive much of the comedy.
The inept Bears face the impeccable Yankees in a high-stakes little-league championship rivalry.
Films like Bad News Bears, and why
The Mighty Ducks
misfit children’s sports team, abrasive coach, underdog competition, and broad comedy
The Sandlot
kids’ baseball ensemble, friendship, nostalgia, and coming-of-age humor
Kicking & Screaming
unconventional coach, unruly young athletes, and feel-good team transformation
Little Giants
underdog youth sports comedy built around team bonding and comic incompetence
Movie Details
- Director
- Richard Linklater
- Release Date
- 2005-07-22
- Runtime
- 113 min
- Rating
- 5.8 / 10 (304)
Cast
- Billy Bob Thornton
- Greg Kinnear
- Marcia Gay Harden
- Sammi Kane Kraft
- Ridge Canipe
- Brandon Craggs
- Jeffrey Davies
- Timmy Deters
- Carlos Estrada
- Emmanuel Estrada
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Paramount Plus Essential, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus
- 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 Bad News Bears about?
- A hard-drinking former pitcher turns a hopeless group of young baseball misfits into an unlikely championship contender.
- What is Bad News Bears like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Bad News Bears as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Bad News Bears violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Bad News Bears as mild.
- What did critics think of Bad News Bears?
- Critics generally found the remake entertaining and were especially receptive to Billy Bob Thornton’s performance, while many faulted its derivative premise, crass humor, and lack of originality.
- Which films are like Bad News Bears?
- Films with a similar feel include The Mighty Ducks, The Sandlot, Kicking & Screaming, and Little Giants.
- How long is Bad News Bears?
- Bad News Bears runs 113 minutes.
- Where can I watch Bad News Bears?
- In United States, Bad News Bears streams on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Paramount Plus Essential, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus.
