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Sugar

Play trailer Poster for Sugar R 2009 1h 58m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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93% Tomatometer 137 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Like many young men in the Dominican Republic, 19-year-old Miguel "Sugar" Santos (Algenis Perez Soto) dreams of winning a slot on an American baseball team. Indeed, his talents as a pitcher eventually land him a slot on a single-A team in Iowa, but culture shock, racism and other curveballs threaten to turn Sugar's dream sour.
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Sugar

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Critics Consensus

Sugar is an exceptionally-crafted film -- part sports flick, part immigrant tale -- with touching and poignant drama highlighted by splendid performances.

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Critics Reviews

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Matt Singer The Rumpus 09/18/2017
Sugar is worth seeing not because it invalidates baseball's meritocracy, or because it makes us feel guilty for enjoying the national pastime, but because it shows us with empathy and insight how baseball players are more than what they do on the field. Go to Full Review Nicole Armour Film Comment Magazine 10/20/2014
Sugar's personal achievement is uplifting-and it's also cause for celebration when artists create just for the love of the game. Go to Full Review David Parkinson Empire Magazine 05/09/2014
3/5
This captures many moving moments and atmospheres in the diverse settings, bu the narrative arc isn't quite as engaging as it could be. Go to Full Review Marya E. Gates Cool People Have Feelings, Too. (Substack) 03/25/2025
I was really taken by how slick and emotional the film is, and by the striking lead performance for Algenis Perez Soto as the titular Dominican ballplayer, whose nickname is Sugar. Go to Full Review Joanne Laurier World Socialist Web Site 03/05/2021
Sugar is a bittersweet commentary about the cutthroat path to the American leagues for Dominican ballplayers. Go to Full Review Debbie Lynn Elias Behind The Lens 11/15/2019
A hopeful story, a heartwarming story, an entertaining story... Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Stephen C @bob25009 Jul 7 Based on a true story in 1 hour and 58 minutes. See more KB B @Okbullard 06/24/2024 This was an engaging sports movie with good acting and storyline. It had plenty of baseball but more than one heartfelt moments as well. It's definitely worth the watch. See more andrea c @Charst 09/07/2021 Ascesa e declino di un giovane talento del baseball; "Sugar" offre una visione molto completa e personale del complesso mondo che gira intorno allo sport professionistico. Il protagonista purtroppo rende un po' troppo macchinosi alcuni passaggi per la sua estrema introversia. Reso molto chiaro il problema del cambio di lingua; ed il finale è molto interessante, specialmente l'ultima scena. See more 02/25/2019 Not my type of film. See more 05/24/2018 If you love baseball, you'll love this movie. This is the story of a Dominican teenager who is picked up by the Kansas City Baseball Academy in the Dominican, signed to a minor league contract, and sent to spring training in Arizona. From there we follow him to his first team, and watch him deal with baseball struggles, an injury, learning English and learning a new culture. It's a coming of age movie as well as a baseball movie, and I recommend it. See more 07/26/2016 I enjoyed this movie, it turned out a bit different than I expected, but it was a Hollywood-ized movie into the struggles of immigrants. The French Toast thing is something I can relate to as a son of immigrants, LOL. I'd recommend the movie. See more Read all reviews
Sugar

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Cast & Crew

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Anna Boden

Director

Ryan Fleck

Director

Algenis Perez Soto

Miguel "Sugar" Santos

Rayniel Rufino

Jorge Ramirez

André Holland

Brad

Michael Gaston

Stu

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Sugar

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Movie Info

Synopsis Like many young men in the Dominican Republic, 19-year-old Miguel "Sugar" Santos (Algenis Perez Soto) dreams of winning a slot on an American baseball team. Indeed, his talents as a pitcher eventually land him a slot on a single-A team in Iowa, but culture shock, racism and other curveballs threaten to turn Sugar's dream sour.
Director
Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck
Producer
Paul Mezey, Jamie Patricof, Jeremy Kipp Walker
Screenwriter
Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co
HBO Films
Rating
R (Language|Brief Drug Use|Some Sexuality)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 3, 2009, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.1M
Runtime
1h 58m