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
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 | 389.9 | 389.90 | 9 | 84 | 11 / 01 | 99.5 | |
| 2 | The Stratton Story (1949) | James Stewart | 10.3 | 257.7 | 257.70 | 8 | 78 | 01 / 01 | 97.5 | |
| 3 | Field of Dreams (1989) AA Best Picture Nom |
Kevin Costner & Burt Lancaster |
64.4 | 175.0 | 229.30 | 19 | 76 | 03 / 00 | 96.8 | |
| 5 | A League of Their Own (1992) | Tom Hanks & Madonna |
107.5 | 279.3 | 344.00 | 10 | 76 | 00 / 00 | 96.5 | |
| 7 | The Bad News Bears (1976) | Walter Matthau | 32.2 | 163.0 | 163.00 | 18 | 87 | 00 / 00 | 96.4 | |
| 6 | Take Me Out to the Ball Game (1949) | Gene Kelly & Frank Sinatra |
8.3 | 208.0 | 276.10 | 16 | 75 | 00 / 00 | 96.3 | |
| 7 | Moneyball (2011) AA Best Picture Nom |
Brad Pitt & Chris Pratt |
75.6 | 102.8 | 149.80 | 47 | 89 | 06 / 00 | 95.1 | |
| 8 | The Natural (1984) | Robert Redford & Robert Duvall |
48.0 | 153.8 | 153.80 | 15 | 74 | 04 / 00 | 93.4 | |
| 9 | Bull Durham (1988) | Kevin Costner & Susan Sarandon |
50.9 | 133.5 | 133.50 | 18 | 83 | 01 / 00 | 93.3 | |
| 10 | The Rookie (2002) | Dennis Quaid | 75.6 | 140.5 | 150.00 | 36 | 78 | 00 / 00 | 91.8 | |
| 11 | Damn Yankees (1958) | Tab Hunter | 7.4 | 133.5 | 133.50 | 30 | 75 | 01 / 00 | 90.7 | |
| 12 | Major League (1989) | Charlie Sheen & Wesley Snipes |
49.8 | 135.2 | 135.20 | 26 | 74 | 00 / 00 | 90.5 | |
| 13 | 42 (2013) | Harrison Ford & Chadwick Boseman |
95.0 | 126.0 | 129.20 | 37 | 74 | 00 / 00 | 89.4 | |
| 14 | The Babe Ruth Story (1948) | William Bendix | 6.3 | 170.2 | 170.20 | 41 | 57 | 00 / 00 | 88.3 | |
| 15 | It Happens Every Spring (1949) | Ray Millland | 5.1 | 128.8 | 128.80 | 56 | 66 | 01 / 00 | 86.8 | |
| 16 | The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training (1977) | Jackie Earle Haley | 35.3 | 170.9 | 170.90 | 25 | 50 | 00 / 00 | 85.6 | |
| 16 | Bingo Long's Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings (1976) | Richard Pryor & Billy Dee Williams |
16.2 | 81.9 | 81.90 | 41 | 76 | 00 / 00 | 84.4 | |
| 18 | Angels in the Outfield (1951) | Janet Leigh | 4.2 | 90.3 | 102.60 | 85 | 69 | 00 / 00 | 82.6 | |
| 19 | The Sandlot (1993) | James Earl Jones | 32.4 | 84.5 | 84.50 | 49 | 68 | 00 / 00 | 80.6 | |
| 20 | The Pride of St. Louis (1952) | Dan Dailey | 4.5 | 88.7 | 88.70 | 70 | 63 | 01 / 00 | 78.9 | |
| 21 | Rookie of the Year (1993) | John Candy | 53.6 | 139.6 | 139.60 | 22 | 46 | 00 / 00 | 78.1 | |
| 22 | Brewster's Millions (1985) | Richard Pryor & John Candy |
40.8 | 124.0 | 124.00 | 20 | 51 | 00 / 00 | 77.7 | |
| 22 | Fear Strikes Out (1957) | Anthony Perkins & Karl Malden |
2.4 | 45.4 | 45.40 | 103 | 75 | 00 / 00 | 77.1 | |
| 22 | The Jackie Robinson Story (1950) | Jackie Robinson | 2.7 | 61.0 | 61.00 | 115 | 70 | 00 / 00 | 77.0 | |
| 25 | Bang the Drum Slowly (1973) | Robert DeNiro | 4.9 | 29.9 | 29.90 | 63 | 78 | 01 / 00 | 76.5 | |
| 26 | The Winning Team (1952) | Ronald Reagan & Doris Day |
4.0 | 78.3 | 87.40 | 86 | 63 | 00 / 00 | 75.8 | |
| 27 | The Battered Bastards of Baseball (2014) Netflix |
Kurt Russell | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 405 | 87 | 00 / 00 | 74.8 | |
| 26 | Kill the Umpire (1950) | William Bendix | 2.3 | 51.3 | 51.30 | 138 | 70 | 00 / 00 | 74.1 | |
| 31 | The Benchwarmers (2006) | David Spade & Rob Schneider |
59.8 | 98.0 | 106.40 | 52 | 55 | 00 / 00 | 73.9 | |
| 32 | Angels in the Outfield (1994) | Matthew McConaughey & Joseph Gordon-Levitt |
50.2 | 132.7 | 132.70 | 26 | 45 | 00 / 00 | 73.9 | |
| 29 | Fever Pitch (2005) | Drew Barrymore & Jimmy Fallon |
42.1 | 70.9 | 85.00 | 71 | 63 | 00 / 00 | 73.5 | |
| 32 | Eight Men Out (1988) | Charile Sheen & John Cusack |
5.7 | 14.9 | 14.90 | 120 | 79 | 00 / 00 | 72.0 | |
| 31 | Sugar (2008) | Algenis Perez Solo | 1.1 | 1.6 | 1.60 | 203 | 81 | 00 / 00 | 69.1 | |
| 33 | Million Dollar Arm (2014) | Bill Paxton & Jon Hamm |
36.5 | 48.1 | 51.80 | 87 | 65 | 00 / 00 | 68.1 | |
| 35 | 61* (2001) HBO Movie |
Directed by Billy Crystal | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 308 | 80 | 00 / 00 | 66.8 | |
| 36 | For Love of the Game (1999) | Kevin Costner | 35.2 | 75.0 | 98.20 | 57 | 55 | 00 / 00 | 65.6 | |
| 35 | Long Gone (1987) HBO Movie |
William L. Petersen | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 274 | 78 | 00 / 00 | 65.0 | |
| 38 | Trouble with the Curve (2012) | Clint Eastwood & Justin Timberlake |
35.8 | 48.4 | 66.30 | 86 | 62 | 00 / 00 | 64.3 | |
| 38 | Bad News Bears (2005) | Billy Bob Thornton | 32.9 | 55.4 | 55.40 | 84 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 62.5 | |
| 38 | Hardball (2001) | Keanu Reeves | 40.2 | 76.7 | 84.10 | 62 | 51 | 00 / 00 | 61.9 | |
| 39 | Running The Bases (2022) | Brett Varvel | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.50 | 112 | 73 | 00 / 00 | 57.7 | |
| 42 | The Kid From Left Field (1953) | Dan Dailey & Anne Bancroft |
2.3 | 41.9 | 41.90 | 151 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 54.7 | |
| 43 | Alibi Ike (1935) | Olivia de Havilland & Joe E. Brown |
1.3 | 56.3 | 76.70 | 107 | 53 | 00 / 00 | 53.0 | |
| 44 | The Hill (2023) | Dennis Quaid | 7.7 | 7.7 | 7.70 | 103 | 68 | 00 / 00 | 52.3 | |
| 44 | Big Leaguer (1953) | Edward G. Robinson | 1.4 | 24.8 | 24.80 | 189 | 61 | 00 / 00 | 48.0 | |
| 46 | Casey At The Bat (1927) | Wallace Beery | 1.2 | 39.3 | 39.30 | 55 | 55 | 00 / 00 | 46.0 | |
| 46 | Mr 3000 (2004) | Bernie Mac & Angela Bassett |
21.8 | 37.9 | 37.90 | 101 | 56 | 00 / 00 | 45.9 | |
| 47 | Chasing 3000 (2010) | Ray Liotta | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 307 | 67 | 00 / 00 | 45.4 | |
| 48 | The Babe (1992) | John Goodman | 17.5 | 45.5 | 51.80 | 70 | 52 | 00 / 00 | 43.1 | |
| 50 | Cobb (1994) | Tommy Lee Jones & Robert Wuhl |
1.0 | 2.7 | 2.70 | 192 | 64 | 00 / 00 | 41.0 | |
| 50 | High & Outside: A Baseball Noir (2017) Film Festival Circuit Only |
Ernie Hudson | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 263 | 64 | 00 / 00 | 37.8 | |
| 52 | Game 6 (2005) | Michael Keaton & Robert Downey Jr. |
0.1 | 0.2 | 0.20 | 289 | 61 | 00 / 00 | 31.2 | |
| 52 | The Comrades of Summer (1992) HBO Movie |
Joe Mantegna | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 233 | 61 | 00 / 00 | 30.7 | |
| 54 | Calvin Marshall (2009) Film Festival Circuit Only |
Steve Zahn | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 395 | 60 | 00 / 00 | 29.1 | |
| 54 | Pastime (1990) | William Russ | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.70 | 208 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 27.7 | |
| 54 | Everyone's Hero (2006) | Robin Williams & Rob Reiner |
14.5 | 23.8 | 27.20 | 136 | 51 | 00 / 00 | 27.6 | |
| 57 | The Fan (1996) | Robert DeNiro | 18.6 | 45.4 | 103.00 | 87 | 44 | 00 / 00 | 26.1 | |
| 57 | Safe at Home! (1962) | Roger Maris | 2.0 | 28.7 | 28.70 | 97 | 48 | 00 / 00 | 24.6 | |
| 59 | The Perfect Game (2009) | Cheech Marin | 1.0 | 1.5 | 1.50 | 196 | 55 | 00 / 00 | 21.1 | |
| 58 | Little Big League (1994) | Timothy Busfield | 12.3 | 32.4 | 32.40 | 101 | 45 | 00 / 00 | 19.9 | |
| 61 | Mickey (2004) | Harry Connick Jr. | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.50 | 243 | 54 | 00 / 00 | 19.0 | |
| 62 | Major League II (1994) | Charlie Sheen & Tom Berenger |
30.6 | 80.9 | 80.90 | 45 | 27 | 00 / 00 | 18.6 | |
| 63 | Blue Skies Again (1983) | Andy Garcia | 1.5 | 5.0 | 5.00 | 125 | 52 | 00 / 00 | 17.6 | |
| 64 | Talent for the Game (1991) | Edward James Olmos | 0.3 | 0.9 | 0.90 | 198 | 52 | 00 / 00 | 16.1 | |
| 65 | Mr. Baseball (1992) | Tom Selleck | 20.9 | 54.2 | 54.20 | 64 | 34 | 00 / 00 | 14.1 | |
| 65 | Bottom of the 9th (2019) | Sofía Vergara | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 284 | 51 | 00 / 00 | 13.8 | |
| 67 | The Phenom (2016) | Ethan Hawke & Paul Giamatti |
0.1 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 367 | 50 | 00 / 00 | 12.9 | |
| 66 | Spaceman (2016) Film Festival Circuit Only |
Josh Duhamel | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 282 | 50 | 00 / 00 | 12.5 | |
| 68 | Chance (2020) Limited Release |
Matthew Modine | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 89 | 49 | 00 / 00 | 11.5 | |
| 68 | The Final Season (2007) | Sean Astin | 1.2 | 1.8 | 1.80 | 210 | 46 | 00 / 00 | 9.7 | |
| 71 | Trading Hearts (1988) | Raul Julia | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 297 | 47 | 00 / 00 | 9.0 | |
| 70 | Hustle (2004) ESPN Movies |
Tom Sizemore | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 332 | 44 | 00 / 00 | 6.5 | |
| 73 | The Bad News Bears Go to Japan (1978) | Tony Curtis | 7.1 | 32.7 | 32.70 | 73 | 31 | 00 / 00 | 4.7 | |
| 74 | Undrafted (2016) | James Belushi | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 259 | 38 | 00 / 00 | 3.0 | |
| 75 | Summer Catch (2001) | Freddie Prince | 19.8 | 37.7 | 37.70 | 100 | 25 | 00 / 00 | 2.8 | |
| 76 | The Scout (1994) | Albert Brooks & Brendan Fraser |
2.7 | 7.1 | 7.10 | 164 | 34 | 00 / 00 | 2.3 | |
| 77 | Major League: Back to the Minors (1998) | Corbin Benson | 3.6 | 8.2 | 8.20 | 157 | 31 | 00 / 00 | 1.4 | |
| 78 | Ed (1996) | Matt LeBlanc | 4.4 | 10.8 | 10.80 | 156 | 26 | 00 / 00 | 0.7 | |
| 79 | The Slugger's Wife (1985) | Michael O'Keefe | 1.9 | 5.7 | 5.70 | 145 | 26 | 00 / 00 | 0.5 |
Stats and Possibly Interesting Things From The Above Baseball Movies Table
- 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).
- An average Baseball Movie grosses $54.80 million in adjusted box office gross.
- 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).
- Ten Baseball Movies received at least one Oscar® nomination in any category…..or 16.94% of the listed movies.
- Two Baseball Movies won at least one Oscar® in any category…..or 3.38% of his movies.
- 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.
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
Academy Award® and Oscar® are the registered trademarks of the Academy of Motion Arts and Sciences.
If you do a comment….please ignore the email address and website section.
(Visited 8,297 times)
How does Genna Davis beat out Tom Hanks for the STARS slot?
Hey BryRog…you will be happy to know on updates..Mr. Hanks….is now the star
Nice baseball list, I will be checking out some of your other lists.
Thank you interesting….I hope you enjoy the sports pages…as always thanks for stopping by and checking out my page
I don’t know why I forgot about this movie. But you are missing one of the three musical movies that Sinatra and Kelly made together:
Take Me Out to the Ballgame. Kelly and Sinatra are minor league baseball players from the championship team who perform on the vaudville stage in the off season. Esther Williams inherits the team but everyone is expecting a man because her name is CJ. Williams is the love interest for Kelly. BEtty Garret is the love interst for Sinatra-something that happened more than once.
Hey Flora, as I try and wrap up this whole best sports movie hub….this morning I went to IMDB and typed in sports movies…and 1608 movies popped up. As I was scanning through their list….Take Me Out To The Ball Game showed up….and I was kicking myself for not including it….but I will be added the movie to the list very shortly…..another one I forgot that might interest you…1965’s This Sporting Life with Richard Harris. Thanks for suggesting the baseball musical.
Hey Flora…. Take Me Out to Ball Game has been added ….it moves all the way to #6 on this chart hard to believe that I left off the 13th biggest hit of 1949 off the charts…once again thanks for the heads up.
Great lines from the number 2 movie, my favorite is no crying in baseball, as well as one of the longest bathroom scenes ever. Major League is classic as well. charlie Sheen also shines in 8 Men Out
Hey ShaunBronco Man…..A League Of Their Own has some great moments…..it pretty much turned Tom Hanks career around…..he had lost some of his luster at the box office….but this movie but turned things around for him….Charlie Sheen was excellent in his three baseball movies….probably the steroids that he was taking…lol…thanks for the comments.
Nice list, I love Bull Durham. I could never get into Field of Dreams. But my favorite Costner baseball movie is For Love of the Game, it has a great love story. As for your worst movie, Ed, I agree 100% I got stuck watching that piece of garbage years ago during the peak of my best friend’s love crush on Matt LeBlank.
Hey KellyE, wow not sure how many people rank For Love of the Game over Field of Dreams and Bull Durham…but I respect your opinion. As for Ed, I am sure anybody that had to watch that movie wants to at least get that time back. Thanks for the comments.