The 35 Best Baseball Movies of All Time & Where To Watch

Baseball is one of the sports watched by millions worldwide, even by those who don’t play. And there are a lot of baseball movies that have been made. Some of these are based on real-life stories, and some are entertaining despite being fictional. So here are the 35 best baseball films of all time and where to watch them!

Table of Contents

1. Facing Nolan (2022)

Director: Bradley Jackson
Cast: Nolan Ryan, George W. Bush, Iván Rodríguez, Randy Johnson
IMDb: 7.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
Where to Watch: Netflix, Prime Video, Vudu and Apple TV

Nolan Ryan’s numbers tell a tale but can’t fully express him.

Infamous fights where Nolan walloped Robin Ventura, who was 20 years younger and pitched with his jersey covered in blood, are just a few flashpoints that have permanently etched him into our collective consciousness.

Despite mythical moments and statistical brilliance, Ryan’s career is a study of extremes. In addition to having the most walks and wild pitches, he has also allowed the most grand slams and stolen bases.

Many current baseball commentators do not think he ranks among the best.

2. Moneyball (2011)

Director: Bennett Miller
Story by: Stan Chevin (based on the book by Michael Lewis)
Screenplay by: Aaron Sorkin and Steven Zaillian
Cast: Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Wright, Chris Pratt
IMDb: 7.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
Where to Watch: Netflix

Moneyball is a film that showcases the drafting of players for baseball teams. The film follows Billy Beane, who takes it upon himself to assemble a team of skilled players with a limited budget.

He decides not to use the regular selection methods and instead uses sabermetrics to hire players based on their value.

3. 42 (2013)

Director and Writer: Brian Helgeland
Cast: Chadwick Boseman, Harrison Ford, Nicole Beharie, Christopher Melonie, André Holland, Lucas Black, Hamish Linklater, Ryan Merriman
IMDb: 7.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 81%
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime, YouTube Movies

This biographical sports drama stars the late Chadwick Boseman as Jackie Robinson. Robinson attempts to make his mark in baseball amidst racial discrimination.

Jackie Robinson was the first person of color to break the baseball color line and the first player to win the Rookie Of The Year award after its inauguration.

42 is an inspiring baseball film; there’s much to learn from it!

4. Million Dollar Arm (2014)

Director: Craig Gillespie
Writer: Tom McCarthy
Cast: Jon Hamm, Aasif Mandvi, Bill Paxton, Suraj Sharma, Lake Bell, Alan Arkin, Madhur Mittal, Tzi Ma
IMDb: 7/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 65%
Where to Watch: Disney+, Amazon Prime

Million Dollar Arm is one baseball movie based on a brilliant true story. American sports agent J.B. Bernstein attempts to look for fresh baseball talent and hosts a contest in India.

Two youngsters, Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel, emerge as the contest winners and fly to the United States to begin training.

5. The Rookie (2002)

Director: John Lee Hancock
Writer: Mike Rich
Cast: Dennis Quaid, Rachel Griffiths, Jay Hernandez, Brian Cox, Beth Grant, Angus T. Jones
IMDb: 6.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 84%
Where to Watch: Disney+

The Rookie is based on the career of Jim Morris. Jim Morris became the oldest player to debut in the Major Baseball League at 35.

The film chronicles the challenges he faced and his eventual success. This movie can easily be entered into your watch list if you have a great love for baseball.

6. The Sandlot (1993)

Director: David Mickey Evans
Writers: David Mickey Evans and Robert Gunter
Cast: Tom Guiry, Mike Vitar, Patrick Renna, Chauncey Leopardi, Marty York, Brandon Adams, Grant Gelt, Shane Obedzinski, Victor DiMattia, Denis Leary, Karen Allen, James Earl Jones
IMDb: 7.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 63%
Where to Watch: Disney+

The Sandlot is a beautiful coming-of-age sports comedy film. The film follows a young boy, Scotty, who moves into a new neighborhood with his family.

He then experiences a series of adventures after he joins the local baseball team.

7. Trouble With The Curve (2012)

Director: Robert Lorenz
Writer: Randy Brown
Cast: Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams, Justin Timberlake, John Goodman, Matthew Lillard, Jack Gilpin, Scott Eastwood
IMDb: 6.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 51%
Where to Watch: Netflix

An aging baseball scout decides to go on a final scouting trip. He partners up with his estranged daughter, and they search for new baseball players together.

This movie can easily enter your watch list if you have a great love for baseball. This movie is a great journey.

8. Henry & Me (2014)

Director: Barrett Esposito
Writer: David I. Stern
Voice cast: Richard Gere, ChazzPalminteri, Danny Aiello, Cyndi Lauper, Paul Simon, Austin Williams, Lucie Arnaz, Hank Steinbrenner
IMDb: 6.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 80%
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime

This beautifully animated film revolves around a young boy named Jack suffering from a terminal illness. He has a dream of meeting his favorite baseball players.

A guardian angel named Henry pays a visit and takes Jack to a reality where he can meet baseball players from the present and the past.

Numerous former baseball players cameo in this film as themselves!

9. The Jackie Robinson Story (1950)

Director: Alfred E. Green
Writers: Arthur Mann and Lawrence Taylor
Cast: Jackie Robinson, Ruby Dee, Minor Watson, Louise Beavers, Richard Lane, Harry Shannon, Joel Fluellen
IMDb: 6.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 63%
Where to Watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime

It’s another film about Jackie Robinson, but this one stars Robinson as himself!

This documentary follows the life of Jackie Robinson as he became the first person of color to play in Major League Baseball. This movie can easily be entered on your watch list if you have a great love for baseball.

Also Read: 20 Best Boxing Movies of All Time For Sports Fans

10. The Battered Bastards Of Baseball (2014)

Directors: Chapman Way, Maclain Way
Writer: Todd Field and Bing Russell
Cast: Kurt Russell, Todd Field, Frank Peters, Joe Garza, Jim Bouton, Joe Garagiola
IMDb: 8/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
Where to Watch: Netflix

This baseball documentary baseball follows the now-defunct Portland Mavericks team, which actor Bing Russell owned.

Bing’s son Kurt Russell played for the Mavericks before becoming an actor. The film chronicles the team’s journey. If you are a team player, then this movie is made for you.

11. The Pride Of The Yankees (1942)

Director: Sam Wood
Writer: Paul Gallico
Screenplay by: Jo Swerling, Herman J. Mankiewicz
Cast: Gary Cooper, Teresa Wright, Babe Ruth, Walter Brennan
IMDb: 7.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime

This sports drama follows the legendary first baseman, Lou Gehrig, who played from 1923 to 1939 for the New York Yankees.

He died in 1941. This film was released a year after his death and is dedicated to him. This legendary first baseman has a huge fan following, and this story can make you cry.

12. Fear Strikes Out (1957)

Director: Robert Mulligan
Screenwriters: Ted Berkman, Raphael Blau
Cast: Anthony Perkins, Karl Malden, Norma Moore, Adam Williams, Perry Wilson, Peter J. Votrian
IMDb: 7/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 83%
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime

This sports drama follows the life of Jimmy Piersall, who was pressured into playing baseball by his father. Piersall also has bipolar disorder as a result and ends up being institutionalized, where he thinks over his father’s decisions.

A baseball player’s struggle can make you feel motivated towards life.

13. Field Of Dreams (1989)

Director and Writer: Phil Alden Robinson
Cast: Kevin Costner, Amy Madigan, James Earl Jones, Ray Liotta, Burt Lancaster
IMDb: 7.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 87%
Where to Watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime

A farmer in Iowa is inspired to build a baseball field on his cornfield. This leads to ghosts of great baseball players to come out and play on the field.

This movie is a journey where one can see a farmer’s struggle, which can motivate you towards life.

14. A League Of Their Own (1992)

Director: Penny Marshall
Story by: Kelly Candaele and Kim Wilson
Screenplay: Lowell Ganz, Babaloo Mandel
Cast: Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Madonna, Lori Petty, John Lovitz, David Strathairn, Garry Marshall, Bill Pullman
IMDb: 7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 78%
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime

A former baseball star who is now an alcoholic is forced to become a women’s professional baseball team manager. If someone likes the story of a person who messed up his life and then rebuilt his life, then you should watch this movie.

**15. 61* (2001)**

Director: Billy Crystal
Writer: Hank Steinberg
Cast: Thomas Jane, Barry Pepper, Anthony Michael Hall, Richard Masur, Bruce McGill, Chris Bauer
IMDb: 7.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 85%
Where to Watch: Disney+

This sports drama follows the careers of Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle as they both attempt to surpass Babe Ruth’s home run record of 60 single-season home runs.

This movie can easily be entered on your watch list if you have a great love for baseball.

16. Major League (1989)

Director and Writer: David S. Ward
Cast: Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen, Wesley Snipes, Corbin Bernsen, Margaret Whitton, Dennis Haysbert, James Gammon, Rene Russo, Bob Uecker
IMDb: 7.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 83%
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime

A baseball team’s new owner wants the team to lose matches so that she can move the team to Miami. She begins sabotaging the team to degrade their performance in the matches.

When the team’s players learn about her intentions, they try to win every game possible to get back at her.

17. The Natural (1984)

Director: Barry Levinson
Screenplay by: Roger Towne, and Phil Dusenberry (based on the book by Bernard Malamud)
Cast: Robert Redford, Robert Duvall, Glenn Close, Kim Basinger, Wilford Brimley, Barbara Hershey, Robert Prosky, Richard Farnsworth
IMDb: 7.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 82%
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime

This Oscar-nominated baseball movie revolves around Roy Hobbs, a middle-aged man who joins a struggling team and helps them succeed with his natural skills and his bat, made out of wood. It was the journey of an old young man who made his team win.

18. Ballplayer: Pelotero (2011)

Directors: Ross Finkel, Jonathan Parley and Trevor Martin
Writer: John Leguizamo
Cast: Jean Carlos Batista, Miguel Sanó, AstinJacobo, John Leguizamo
IMDb: 7.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 86%
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime and YouTube

This documentary focuses on the corruption that occurs during the drafting of players.

The film follows two players from the Dominican Republic and their challenges while making it to the Major Leagues. It is not a usual story; this is a documentary, so it is for core baseball players.

19. Everybody Wants Some!! (2016)

Director and Writer: Richard Linklater
Cast: Blake Jenner, Zoey Deutch, Ryan Guzman, Tyler Hoechlin, Glen Powell, Wyatt Russell
IMDb: 6.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 87%
Where to Watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime

This coming-of-age teen comedy takes place in 1980. The film follows a college fresher named Jake. Jake meets his baseball teammates, who are unruly yet fun.

This movie is especially for high school baseball players. A comedy movie can be on your watch list.

Also Read: The 10 Best Sports Anime Haikyuu Characters List

20. NO NO: A Dockumentary (2014)

Director: Jeff Radice
Cast: Larry Demery, Dock Ellis, Ron Howard
IMDb: 7.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
Where to Watch: Prime Video, Vudu and Apple TV

The narrative of Dock Ellis, who famously threw a no-hitter on LSD for the Pittsburgh Pirates, is told in first-time director Jeffrey Radice’s “No No: A Dockumentary,” which begins as a celebration of the crazy times that were the early ’70s and concludes with the reckoning of the years that came after he left baseball.

In between, Radice presents Ellis as a hybrid of Timothy Leary, Muhammad Ali, and Jackie Robinson while pausing to honor the 1971 Pittsburgh Pirates, who pushed baseball’s integration to the sport’s nth degree and won a World Series.

Even though the story of redemption in the movie is not particularly original, and the sense of chronology is somewhat strained, its subject is unquestionably distinctive.

21. Take Me Out To The Ball Game (1949)

Director: Busby Berkeley
Cast: Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Esther Williams, Betty Garrett
IMDb: 7.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
Where to Watch: Prime Video, Vudu and Apple TV

Baseball players Eddie O’Brien (Gene Kelly) and Dennis Ryan (Frank Sinatra) have a fondness for vaudeville while being important members of the Wolves.

In an attempt to gain a large wager on the Wolves losing a crucial game, a local bookmaker (Edward Arnold) offers Eddie the lead role in a recently produced musical.

Eddie is tempted to agree, but by doing so, he puts himself in danger of angering Dennis and the team’s owner, Esther Williams, who also happens to be his girlfriend.

22. The Bad News Bears (1976)

Director: Michael Ritchie
Writer: Bill Lancaster
Cast: Walter Matthau, Tatum O’Neal, Chris Barnes, Vic Morrow, Jackie Earle Haley, Joyce Van Patten, Quinn Smith
IMDb: 7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
Where to Watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime

An alcoholic and grumpy man who was once a minor league pitcher is recruited as a coach. He coaches a team called “The Bears,” who are a bunch of misfits.

This movie tells the story of a man who becomes a great leader after falling into the abyss.

23. Eight Men Out (1988)

Director: John Sayles
Screenplay by: John Sayles (based on the book by Eliot Asinof)
Cast: John Cusack, John Mahoney, Michael Rooker, Clifton James, Micheal Lerner, Christopher Lloyd, Charlie Sheen, David Strathairn, D. B. Sweeney
IMDb: 7.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 86%
Where to Watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime

Another baseball film that showcases corruption in the game. This film follows the Black Sox Scandal. In this scandal, eight Chicago White Sox team players deliberately lost the 1919 World Series.

This movie can easily be entered on your watch list if you have a great love for baseball.

24. Up For Grabs (2005)

Director and Writer: Michael Wranovics
Cast: Marty Appel, Barry Bonds, Patrick Hayashi
IMDb: 7.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime, Netflix

This documentary is based on one of the most unexpected and peculiar stories in the history of baseball. After a record-breaking home run is scored, two spectators in the crowd fight over who caught the ball first. This case later ends up in court!

25. Knuckleball! (2012)

Director: Ricki Stern, Annie Sundberg
Cast: Tim Wakefield, Jim Bouton, R.A. Dickey, Terry Francona
IMDb: 5.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
Where to Watch: Prime Video and Vudu

A baseball pitch known as a knuckleball or knuckler is thrown to reduce the ball’s spin while in flight, resulting in an unpredictable, erratic motion. The ball’s laminar flow transforms into a turbulent flow when air passes across a seam.

This modification adds A deflecting force to the baseball, making it tougher for catchers to complete catches and for pitchers to control the ball.

Umpires are also faced with difficulties since it is more difficult to distinguish between balls and strikes due to the ball’s erratic motion through the air. Knuckleballers are pitchers who specialize in throwing these fastballs.

26. Fastball (2015)

Director: Jonathan Hock
Cast: Kevin Costner
IMDb: 7.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
Where to Watch: Prime Video, Peacock, Vudu and Apple TV

In baseball and softball, pitchers most frequently use the fastball as a pitch. “Power pitchers,” like former big leaguers Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens from the United States, rely on speed to keep the ball from being hit.

They have thrown fastballs as fast as 108.1 mph (174.0 km/h) and 95-105 mph (153-169 km/h) (unofficially) to prevent the ball from being hit.

Pitchers that throw more slowly can give the ball movement or pitch it outside of the home plate, out of the reach of the batters.

Fastballs are frequently delivered with backspin so that the Magnus effect can push the ball upward. This results in it falling more slowly than anticipated, occasionally creating an optical illusion known as a rising fastball.

The batter perceives a rise in the pitch even though a human cannot throw a baseball quickly enough or with enough backspin to cause the ball to rise. This is because there is an unanticipated absence of natural drop on the pitch.

27. Sugar (2008)

Directors and Writers: Anna Boden and Ryan K. Fleck
Cast: Algenis Perez Soto, Karl Bury, Michael Gaston, Andre Holland, RaynielRufino
IMDb: 7.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
Where to Watch: Disney+

Miguel “Sugar Santos, an immigrant from the Dominican Republic, struggles to make it to the big leagues and tries to pull his family out of poverty.

This movie can easily be entered on your watch list if you have a great love for baseball.

28. Bull Durham (1988)

Director and Writer: Ron Shelton
Cast: Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins, Trey Wilson, Robert Wuhl, William O’Leary
IMDb: 7.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
Where to Watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime

A veteran player is hired to train a beginner who is dim-witted. Matters take a turn when they both get involved with the same girl who is a baseball fan.

This movie is a romantic baseball movie. If you are a fan of baseball and a lover of the romantic genre, then the movie must be on your watch list.

29. The Life And Times Of Hank Greenberg (1998)

Director and Writer: Aviva Kempfer
Cast: Reeve Robert Brenner, Hank Greenberg, Walter Matthau, Alam M. Dershowitz, Carl Levin, Stephen Greenberg, Joe Greenberg, Rabbi Max Ticktin, Bill Mead, Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth
IMDb: 7.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime

This documentary narrates the inspiring story of Hank Greenberg, who gave up his religion to pursue playing baseball. As a result, Greenberg faced a lot of antisemitism.

This movie can easily be entered on your watch list if you have a great love for baseball.

Also Read: 19 Best Sports Anime Haikyuu Episodes Of All Time, Ranked

30. The Phenom (2016)

Director and Writer: Noah Buschel
Cast: Johnny Simmons, Yul Vazquez, Sophie Kennedy Clark, Paul Giamatti, Ethan Hawke, Marin Ireland, Elizabeth Marvel, Louisa Krause, Allison Elliott, Paul Adelstein
IMDb: 5.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 79%
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime

A troubled rookie pitcher is still traumatized by the memories of his abusive father. As a result, he struggles to play on the field. A sports therapist helps him recover.

31. Cobb (1994)

Director: Ron Shelton
Screenplay by: Ron Shelton (based on the book by Al Stump)
Cast: Tommy Lee Jones, Robert Wuhl, Lolita Davidovich, Lou Myers, William Utay, J. Kenneth Campbell, Rhoda Griffis
IMDb: 6.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 65%
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime

This biographical film follows the book’s writer, Al Stump, who an ailing Ty Cobb calls to write his biography. Ty Cobb. Cobb was one of baseball’s greatest players ever.

Allegations of violence, racism, and erratic behavior tarnished his image in his later years.

32. Bang The Drum Slowly (1973)

Director: John D. Hancock
Screenwriter: Mark Harris (based on his book of the same name)
Cast: Robert De Niro, Michael Moriarty, Vincent Gardenia, Phil Foster, Heather MacRae, Ann Wedgeworth, Tom Ligon, Danny Aiello, Selma Diamond, Barbara Babcock, Patrick McVey
IMDb: 6.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime and Vudu

The film follows a close friendship between a hotshot extroverted pitcher, Henry, and a simpleminded catcher, Bruce. Tensions rise in the team as they are losing matches while Bruce gets diagnosed with cancer, which hinders him from playing.

33. Damn Yankees (1958)

Directors: George Abbott and Stanley Donen
Screenplay by: George Abbott and Stanley Donen (based on their play)
Cast: Tab Hunter, Gwen Veron, Ray Walston, Russ Brown, Shannon Bolin, Robert Schafer, Rae Allen
IMDb: 7.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 76%
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime

This baseball movie also happens to be a musical! This film follows a rivalry between the New York Yankees and Washington Senators teams. The film’s story is a modern adaptation of The Faust legend.

34. The Bingo Long Travelling All-Stars & Motor Kings (1976)

Director: John Badham
Screenplay by: Hal Garwood, William Johnson, and Matthew Robbins (based on the book by William Brashler)
Cast: Billy Dee Williams, James Earl Jones, Richard Pryor, Stan Shaw, Tony Burton,
IMDb: 6.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime

This is among the best sports movies in the era of racial segregation.

A top baseball pitcher decides to create his team after being fed up with the ill-treatment he received from his team owner.

The team achieves great success and is called to join the Negro Leagues.

35. The Perfect Game (2009)

Director: William Dear
Writer: W. William Winokur
Cast: Clifton Collins Jr., Cheech Marin, Moises Arias, Jake T. Austin, Ryan Ochoa, Carlos Padilla, Carlos Gómez, Jansen Panettiere, Emilie de Ravin
IMDb: 6.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 57%
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime

This inspiring film is based on the first team outside the United States to win the 1957 Little League World Series. The underdogs from Monterrey, Mexico, won consecutive matches before beating the heavily favored U.S. team.

This list of films is a great watch for all. It doesn’t matter whether you are a baseball lover or not, and you will greatly enjoy these films along with your friends and family! Happy Watching!