Swing into the magic of baseball flicks where every pitch and play captivates our hearts.
From scrappy sandlot games to historic home runs, these stories transcend the diamond.
Eager to round the bases with the most epic baseball movies, shows, and documentaries ever made?
Best Baseball Movies, Shows, and Documentaries:
- The Sandlot (1993)
- Field of Dreams (1989)
- Moneyball (2011)
- A League of Their Own (1992)
- Bull Durham (1988)
- The Natural (1984)
- Major League (1989)
- 42 (2013)
- The Rookie (2002)
- Eight Men Out (1988)
- Bad News Bears (1976)
Table of Contents
#1 The Sandlot (1993)
- 🎬 Directed by: David Mickey Evans
- 🌟 Starring: Tom Guiry, Mike Vitar, Patrick Renna, Chauncey Leopardi
The Sandlot is a nostalgic coming-of-age sports comedy that captures the essence of childhood summers and baseball. Set in the early 1960s, it follows a group of young boys who spend their days playing baseball in an empty lot.
When the protagonist, Scotty Smalls, moves into town, he’s taken under the wing of the local baseball prodigy, Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez, and is introduced to the rest of the Sandlot gang. Group friendships, rivalries, and adventures ensue, including encounters with a legendary ball-eating dog known as “The Beast.”
Where to watch: Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Vudu
#2 Field of Dreams (1989)
- 🎬 Directed by: Phil Alden Robinson
- 🌟 Starring: Kevin Costner, Amy Madigan, James Earl Jones, Ray Liotta, Burt Lancaster
Field of Dreams is an iconic baseball fantasy drama based on W. P. Kinsella’s novel “Shoeless Joe.” The film follows Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella as he builds a baseball diamond in his cornfield after hearing a mysterious voice urging him to do so.
What unfolds is a magical journey through America’s pastime, touching on themes of redemption, family, and the enduring spirit of the game. The film’s most famous line, “If you build it, he will come,” has become deeply embedded in American pop culture.
Where to watch: Peacock, Amazon Prime Video, Vudu
#3 Moneyball (2011)
- 🎬 Directed by: Bennett Miller
- 🌟 Starring: Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Chris Pratt
Moneyball dramatizes the true story of Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane and his attempt to build a competitive team on a limited budget. By employing computer-generated analysis to draft his players, Beane defies conventional baseball wisdom and revolutionizes the game.
The film explores the challenges of changing an old-school system and the impact of sabermetrics on the sport of baseball, making it not only a film about sports but also about innovation and strategy.
Where to watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu
#4 A League of Their Own (1992)
- 🎬 Directed by: Penny Marshall
- 🌟 Starring: Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Lori Petty, Madonna, Rosie O’Donnell
A League of Their Own tells the fictionalized story of the real-life All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) formed during World War II. With men at war, a women’s professional baseball league springs into action, showcasing the talent and tenacity of the female athletes.
The film is a tribute to the pioneering women who faced sexism, personal challenges, and societal expectations, all while providing America with the beloved pastime of baseball.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, Apple TV
#5 Bull Durham (1988)
- 🎬 Directed by: Ron Shelton
- 🌟 Starring: Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins
Bull Durham takes a humorous and insightful look into the minor league baseball experience. Kevin Costner plays a veteran catcher assigned to the Durham Bulls to mentor a young, erratic pitcher (Tim Robbins) with a golden arm and a dull mind.
Susan Sarandon stars as a passionate baseball fan with an annual tradition of choosing one player to be her lover and protégé for the season. The film is widely praised for its witty dialogue and portrayal of baseball’s quirks and the lives of its players.
Where to watch: Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV
#6 The Natural (1984)
- 🎬 Directed by: Barry Levinson
- 🌟 Starring: Robert Redford, Glenn Close, Kim Basinger, Wilford Brimley
The Natural is adapted from Bernard Malamud’s novel of the same name. It features Robert Redford as Roy Hobbs, a mysterious and naturally talented player who arrives to try out for the New York Knights with a storied past.
Armed with his trusty bat “Wonderboy,” Hobbs seeks to fulfill his childhood dream of baseball stardom. The film is both a mythic tale and a meditation on the irrevocable loss of youthful dreams, blending sports drama and the classic hero’s journey into a cinematic home run.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, Apple TV
#7 Major League (1989)
- 🎬 Directed by: David S. Ward
- 🌟 Starring: Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen, Corbin Bernsen, Margaret Whitton
Major League is a comedic sports film about the Cleveland Indians, a team that is intentionally assembled to fail in order for the owner to move the franchise to Miami.
However, once the underdog team discovers the plan, they start winning just to spite her. The film features a cast of misfit characters and uses humor to look at the unlikely successes and the dynamics of a baseball team with nothing to lose.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, Apple TV
#8 42 (2013)
- 🎬 Directed by: Brian Helgeland
- 🌟 Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Harrison Ford, Nicole Beharie
42 is the powerful biographical film about Jackie Robinson, the legendary baseball player who broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier. Chadwick Boseman stars as Robinson, who donned the number 42 jersey for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, facing racism and hostility with courage and dignity.
Harrison Ford co-stars as Dodgers executive Branch Rickey, who made the decision to sign Robinson. The film is both an intimate portrayal of Robinson’s personal struggles and a broader commentary on the racial climate of the time.
Where to watch: HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, Vudu
#9 The Rookie (2002)
- 🎬 Directed by: John Lee Hancock
- 🌟 Starring: Dennis Quaid, Rachel Griffiths, Jay Hernandez
The Rookie is based on the true story of Jim Morris, a high school science teacher and baseball coach who makes a bet with his high school team: if they win the district championship, he’ll try out for the majors.
Dennis Quaid portrays Morris, whose once promising career in baseball was cut short by injuries. Morris discovers that he can throw a fastball over 98 miles per hour, leading to a major league contract and a second chance at his dream.
Where to watch: Disney+, Vudu, Amazon Prime Video
#10 Eight Men Out (1988)
- 🎬 Directed by: John Sayles
- 🌟 Starring: John Cusack, Clifton James, Michael Lerner, Christopher Lloyd
Eight Men Out recounts the true story of the 1919 Black Sox Scandal, where eight members of the Chicago White Sox conspired with gamblers to intentionally lose the World Series in exchange for money.
The plot unveils the motives, the deals, and the aftermath as the players are eventually tried in court, leading to lifetime bans from baseball. The film navigates the era’s ethical dilemmas and the tension between loyalty to teammates and integrity in sports.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, Apple TV
#11 Bad News Bears (1976)
- 🎬 Directed by: Michael Ritchie
- 🌟 Starring: Walter Matthau, Tatum O’Neal, Chris Barnes
Bad News Bears is a classic sports comedy featuring Walter Matthau as a grumbling, beer-guzzling, ex-minor-league pitcher who ends up coaching a youth baseball team of misfits and outcasts.
Facing challenges both on and off the field, he eventually gains the kids’ trust and respect while leading them to compete against highly skilled teams. Tatum O’Neal shines as a talented young pitcher who clashes with Matthau’s character. The film is known for its raw portrayal of childhood, its humor, and its unorthodox approach to the sport’s film genre.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, Apple TV
For those interested in the sport’s rich narrative, delve into our selection of the best baseball books.
FAQ
What is the best Baseball movie of all time?
“Field of Dreams” (1989) is the best Baseball movie of all time, featuring a magical story about baseball, dreams, and personal redemption.
What are some good Baseball movies?
“Moneyball” (2011), “Bull Durham” (1988), “The Sandlot” (1993), and “A League of Their Own” (1992) are good Baseball movies, each with its own unique take on the sport.
What Baseball movies, shows, and documentaries are on Netflix?
The best Baseball movies, shows, and documentaries on Netflix currently include “The Battered Bastards of Baseball” (2014), “Sandlot” (1993), and “Moneyball” (2011).
