The Bad News Bears

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3:08

The Bad News Bears

PG

1976

1h 42m

Kids & Family

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

90%

Tomatometer

105 Reviews

80%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Hard-drinking, ex-minor-league hopeful Morris Buttermaker grumpily agrees to coach a Little League team at the behest of lawyer-councilman Bob Whitewood, who has a vendetta against the league for excluding his marginally talented son from play. After failing with his new team of misfits, Buttermaker enlists feisty and gifted pitcher Amanda Whurlitzer to lead the charge -- but can he find the luck and patience to whip these outcasts into shape?

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Critics Consensus

The Bad News Bears is rude, profane, and cynical, but shot through with honest, unforced humor, and held together by a deft, understated performance from Walter Matthau.

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Audience Says

With irreverent charm, The Bad News Bears is the underdog sports classic that never gets old.

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Kevin Kelly

Boston Globe

Mar 26

"The Bad News Bears" is effectively directed by Ritchie, with his usual quick satiric swipes at American manners and mores, and John C. Alonzo's cinematography is fine.

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Martin Knelman

Globe and Mail

Mar 26

The Bad News Bears is a high because it gives us the pleasure of rooting for the Bears without having our intelligence insulted.

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Barbara Thomas

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Mar 26

Unfortunately, the film starts out with a lot of promise, but fails ultimately for lack of a suitable screenplay or enough redeeming benefits to cover up for the lack.

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Carol Hogg

Calgary Herald

Apr 6

Under the direction of Michael Ritchie both the tension and the comedy come through.

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Barry Westgate

Edmonton Journal

Apr 6

What is loses going around the bases, it makes up for in the dugout, so to speak.

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Michael Walsh

The Province (Vancouver)

Apr 6

The Bad News Bears is good news entertainment.

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Blake- N

@PBSAniDom 3d

The Bad News Bears is a true classic that still holds up as one of the most entertaining sports comedies of its time. What makes it so memorable is its balance of humor and heart, delivering laughs while also telling a grounded, relatable story. The characters feel real and flawed, which gives the film a charm that goes beyond a typical underdog story. It captures a raw, unpolished energy that makes it stand out from more polished modern films, and that authenticity is a big part of its appeal. The tone is bold for its time, yet it never loses sight of its core message. Even decades later, it remains fun, engaging, and easy to revisit. For me, it’s a 9/10 and a standout classic from 1976.

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Robert C.

@A8kman888 5d

Great movie for all ages.

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True R.

@Draftgrade Apr 27

An All Time Classic!!!

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Mark W

@MinneMark612 Mar 29

A masterpiece that couldn't be made today. One of the all time great sports movies and a great snapshot of life in the 70's when life was simpler.

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thiago s

@Thiagostone Dec 29

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Jul 7

The worldwide gross is $42,300,000.00 over a budget of $9,000,000.00.

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Michael Ritchie

Director

Walter Matthau

Coach Morris Buttermaker

Tatum O'Neal

Amanda Whurlitzer

Vic Morrow

Coach Roy Turner

Joyce Van Patten

Cleveland

Ben Piazza

Councilman Whitewood

The Bad News Bears: Official Clip - Cups & Supporters

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The Bad News Bears: Official Clip - There's Chocolate on the Ball

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The Bad News Bears: Official Clip - Do The Best You Can

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The Bad News Bears: Official Clip - Lupus Makes the Catch

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The Bad News Bears: Official Clip - I Don't Want Your Company

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The Bad News Bears: Official Clip - A Girl Ballplayer

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The Bad News Bears: Official Clip - Wait 'Til Next Year!

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The Bad News Bears: Official Clip - Throw the Ball, Joey!

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The Bad News Bears: Official Clip - Picking On Lupus

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Synopsis

Hard-drinking, ex-minor-league hopeful Morris Buttermaker grumpily agrees to coach a Little League team at the behest of lawyer-councilman Bob Whitewood, who has a vendetta against the league for excluding his marginally talented son from play. After failing with his new team of misfits, Buttermaker enlists feisty and gifted pitcher Amanda Whurlitzer to lead the charge -- but can he find the luck and patience to whip these outcasts into shape?

Director: Michael Ritchie
Producer: Stanley R. Jaffe
Screenwriter: Bill Lancaster
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures
Rating: PG
Genre: Kids & Family, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 7, 1976, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 1, 2013
Runtime: 1h 42m
Sound Mix: Mono