The 10 Best Baseball Movies of All Time

Praised in cinema for generations, baseball is an all-American pastime that has inspired countless stories to be told. Through its long, dramatic timeline, baseball has directly influenced and referenced American history in terms of racism, sexism, and classism; all of which are major themes of the films on this list. With so many tragic, inspiring, and heartwarming stories stemming from the world of baseball, it is difficult to surmise just how big of an impact it has had on American culture and vice versa. Thanks to the movies mentioned here, some of the most unique and unexpected stories–fiction or non-fiction–represent some of the multitudinous ways baseball has shaped American culture. These are some of the best baseball movies of all time, but there are too many good films to fit on one list.

The Bad News Bears (1976)

Celebrated for its over-the-top, raunchy comedy chops, The Bad News Bears is a baseball comedy classic that proportionately offends and entertains. Stuck with a group of little league outcasts and underperformers, ex-minor league player Morris Buttermaker (Walter Matthau) recruits a talented female pitcher that changes the pace. Though the comedy is a bit outdated, Matthau’s performance as the bitter coach is reason alone to check this one out. 

Field of Dreams (1989)

A baseball movie that uniquely blends sports drama with fantasy, Field of Dreams is a starry-eyed, wholesome baseball movie for the whole family. Motivated suddenly by a detached voice telling him to build a baseball field in place of his corn, Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) unintentionally alienates himself from his town and his family in the pursuit of something greater than himself. Focused more on a family theme, this movie also brings to light some of the more passionate aspects of baseball culture. 

The Natural (1984)

A well-formulated drama brimming with talented actors, The Natural is a classic, must-see baseball movie for the ages. Back to baseball after a 16-year gunshot wound recovery period, Roy Hobbs (Robert Redford) begins to carry the worst team in the league with almost supernatural talent. Bringing more to the table than just another baseball movie, the care and passion that Redford had for this movie are reflected in his committed performance. 

Bull Durham (1988)

An absolute, out-of-the-park home run of a baseball movie, Bull Durham is also a crisply-written romantic comedy genre-blending to near-perfection. Blessed with their own minor league groupie Annie Savoy (Susan Sarandon), an immature, talented rookie and a witty, embittered veteran are subject to her attempts at teaching the religion of baseball and life balance. Endlessly charming and funny, its dialogue about relationships and minor league baseball is an unforgettably accurate representation of the two. 

Sugar (2009)

Giving insight into the immigration process for Dominican players to American baseball, Sugar is a poignant tale that successfully juggles varying themes and tones. Blessed with a wicked curveball, 19-year-old Miguel “Sugar” Santos (Algenes Perez Soto) is recruited to play for an Iowa minor league team, where he faces racism, language barriers, and culture shock. Simultaneously warming as it is breaking to the heart, Sugar is a fantastic character that exemplifies some authentic struggles of immigration. 

Moneyball (2011)

Getting a boost in quality from great performances and Aaron Sorkin’s phenomenal script, Moneyball is based on a true story that fundamentally changed the recruitment process in modern baseball. Faced with a financial inability to recruit any sought-after players, Oakland A’s manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) enlists the help of a young, Ivy-league grad to statistically analyze a way to form an unlikely, winning team. While this movie is not only a spectacular baseball story, it is also a great narrative of one man defying the odds of Goliath proportions. 

42 (2013)

A hard-hitting biopic of the great Jackie Robinson, 42 pays well-earned respect with a heartfelt performance from the late Chadwick Boseman. After Jackie Robinson (Chadwick Boseman) becomes the first-ever African-American man to play in the MLB, he must brush off blatant, unopposed racism and let his undeniably game-changing baseball talent do the talking. When it comes to the evolution of baseball through history and film, this project will be referenced as one of the standouts. 

A League of Their Own (1992)

A fictional story based on true events in history, A League of Their Own is a towering testament to the heart and soul of baseball. After a large portion of MLB players enlists for WWII, two sisters join the first-ever female professional baseball league in an attempt to keep the American public entertained. Highlighted by themes of sexism and gender discrimination, this movie combines some well-delivered comedy dialogue along with an authentic representation of what it was to be a woman in 1942.

The success of the film has ralso inspired the hit Amazon Prime show, A League of Their Own TV series, which offers one season so far.

Major League (1989)

Another baseball movie that sports the rag-tag team of misfits trope, Major League follows the classic formula that includes comedy, patriotism, and baseball. When the new Cleveland Indians owner intentionally recruits players for their lack of talent in order to move the team, the spirit of teamwork and baseball defies logic to thwart the master plan and helps them to become a contending team. Thanks to the light, familiar tone of comedy and camaraderie, everything about this movie makes it an instant classic in the baseball movie subgenre. 

The Rookie (2002)

Based on a true story that made Jim Morris a small-town baseball legend, The Rookie is a baseball movie driven purely by heart and a revived dream. Twelve years after a minor league career-ending shoulder injury, Jim Morris (Dennis Quaid) motivates the high school team he coaches to the playoffs with a promise that he’ll try out for the major leagues as a pitcher. Thanks to Dennis Quaid’s sincere, genuine performance as Morris, this story is solidified in the list of the best baseball movies ever.

Looking for more classic sports films? Check out our list of the best basketball movies of all time for more.