The Bad News Bears Go to Japan

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The Bad News Bears Go to Japan

PG

1978

1h 31m

Kids & Family

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

11%

Tomatometer

55 Reviews

28%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Led by Marvin Lazar (Tony Curtis), their latest in a string of bumbling coaches, beleaguered Little Leaguers the Bad News Bears head to Japan to face off against coach Shimizu (Tomisaburô Wakayama) and a team of the best young baseball talents in the country. While a scheming Lazar tries to scare up big-time television money, the now-teenage Kelly Leak (Jackie Earle Haley) falls for Arika (Hatsune Ishihara), a Japanese teenager who doesn't speak a word of English.

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Critics Consensus

The Bad News Bears Go to Japan strikes out with its scattershot gags, blatant commercialism, and a charmless turn by Tony Curtis, resulting in a cinematic foul ball that sorely misses the insightful wit of the original.

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Scott Cain

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Apr 27, 2026

[Tony] Curtis trots out every trick he ever knew, struggling to inject some humor into the picture. What a waste of a valiant performer!

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Michael Blowen

Boston Globe

Apr 27, 2026

"The Bad News Bears go to Japan" is a stale, unimaginative sequel that advertises its crass commercialism in every frame.

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Desmond Ryan

Philadelphia Inquirer

Apr 27, 2026

The film has been assembled with the sloppiness of a softball game where everyone drank too much.

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Jeanne Miller

San Francisco Examiner

Apr 27, 2026

1/4

It shows no trace of the wit, sensitivity and caustic insights into the fiercely competitive nature of American sports that characterized the original film.

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True R.

@Draftgrade Apr 27, 2026

Funny, fun, and entertaining!

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Mar 29, 2026

The worldwide gross is $7,300,000.00.

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Jun 24, 2022

All ages admitted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The greatest 01 hour: and 31 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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scott d

@Dillon55 Nov 23, 2020

Parts of the movie are good. It kind of lost its way. When it became a love story.

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Robert M

@Robert55 Sep 13, 2020

A big a fan of the original BNB with Walter Matthau, this version is just plain unwatchable and insulting to the spirit of the first. It wastes Tony Curtis's talents as well as any returning Bears. The dialogue is pointless and plot absurd.

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Apr 16, 2020

Typical third movie garbage

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John Berry

Director

Tony Curtis

Marvin Lazar

Jackie Earle Haley

Kelly Leak

Tomisaburô Wakayama

Coach Shimizu

Hatsune Ishihara

Arika

George Wyner

the Network Director

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Synopsis

Led by Marvin Lazar (Tony Curtis), their latest in a string of bumbling coaches, beleaguered Little Leaguers the Bad News Bears head to Japan to face off against coach Shimizu (Tomisaburô Wakayama) and a team of the best young baseball talents in the country. While a scheming Lazar tries to scare up big-time television money, the now-teenage Kelly Leak (Jackie Earle Haley) falls for Arika (Hatsune Ishihara), a Japanese teenager who doesn't speak a word of English.

Director: John Berry
Producer: Michael Ritchie
Screenwriter: Bill Lancaster
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount, Michael Ritchie Productions
Rating: PG
Genre: Kids & Family, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 30, 1978, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 6, 2014
Runtime: 1h 31m

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