The Dink

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2:22

The Dink

PG-13

2026

1h 42m

Comedy

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Watchlist

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Popcornmeter

75%

Tomatometer

89 Reviews

58%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

Washed up former tennis prodigy Dusty Boyd (Jake Johnson) has been reduced to coaching unruly children at his father Chuck's (Ed Harris) suburban country club. Desperate for his father's approval, Dusty blindly supports Chuck's vendetta against the new craze taking over the club: pickleball. But when Dusty reaggravates an old injury, taking away his ability to play tennis, he resorts to the unthinkable in the name of rehab. He not only tries pickleball, but, thanks in part to his enchanting new partner, Candace (Mary Steenburgen), he finds himself actually enjoying it. Torn between two worlds, Dusty is forced to finally face the ghosts of his past athletic failures, including his childhood nemesis, Andy Roddick (Andy Roddick). Ultimately, Dusty is drawn into a desperate battle for the future of the club, his father's affection and his very identity.

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Critics Consensus

Jake Johnson gives his all to pickleball in The Dink, a funny and easygoing enough comeback for the sports comedies of yore that leaves it all on the court with ample pizzazz.

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Audience Says

While not an overhead smash, The Dink’s game cast serves up enough good-natured humor to make it an enjoyable match.

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Martin Robinson

London Evening Standard

Jul 28

2/5

Apple TV’s new film The Dink, however, takes a disappointingly gentler approach in depicting the gentle American sport of pickleball when it should, surely, be taking a wrecking ball to it.

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Jared Richards

The Age (Australia)

Jul 27

2/5

Much like the gentle pickleball lob it’s named after, The Dink plods along lightly, pleasant enough but subdued.

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Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

Jul 25

2/5

Harris is typically effective as the sociopathic paterfamilias but it’s a familiar performance that, if not quite phoned in, could almost have been delivered over Zoom.

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Adrian Ruiz

But Why Tho?

2d

6/10

"Fine" becomes both The Dink’s most accurate description and its greatest limitation.

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Brett Arnold

Yahoo.com

4d

The Dink is a delightful comedy that sneaks up on you by being heartfelt to boot, thanks to the chemistry of its two stars.

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Alex Maidy

JoBlo's Movie Network

Aug 14

7/10

You will likely leave this film wanting to try your hand at the game, or it may even turn you on to cowgirl country music. The Dink definitely earns the laughs it puts out there and is better than I expected.

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Tom F

@RT55173143 2h

It’s nothing memorable, but it is funnier and smarter than this sort of thing usually is.

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Papineau F

@RT64384887 11h

Had to watch it twice, once with mum, and recommended to my PB friends, it did give me some ideas for better play on the court as well. Harkens back to the days of Caddy Shack, I love this movie. As a tennis and PB court gamer, it means way more if you a player… and watch closely, no shortage of laughs! I also notice this is no 1 movie on Apple tv in Aug 2026.

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Collin K

@Collin4123 1d

A really silly but very fun and enjoyable movie!

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Richard S

@RT47027366 2d

This movie is terrible! It’s not funny there is no plot nothing happens don’t waste your time

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Scott W

@RT65175074 2d

I didn’t expect much from this but it was a little better than I thought. Refreshing to have pickle ball is a storyline and it was humorous in parts.

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Wolfgang B

@WolfgangBremer 2d

I thought it was fun to watch, a little like Will Ferrell movies, with the main character at times being not that obnoxious. 😅 I personally am not involved in tennis or pickleball but the show made it seem fun and interesting, especially how the two opposing parties were dealing with it and with each other. I very much enjoyed Ed Harris’ performance and also the cameos. Good, fun popcorn movie, which makes you root for the underdog.

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Josh Greenbaum

Director

Jake Johnson

Dusty Boyd

Mary Steenburgen

Candace

Ed Harris

Chuck Boyd

Ben Stiller

Dr. Stone

Patton Oswalt

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Synopsis

Washed up former tennis prodigy Dusty Boyd (Jake Johnson) has been reduced to coaching unruly children at his father Chuck's (Ed Harris) suburban country club. Desperate for his father's approval, Dusty blindly supports Chuck's vendetta against the new craze taking over the club: pickleball. But when Dusty reaggravates an old injury, taking away his ability to play tennis, he resorts to the unthinkable in the name of rehab. He not only tries pickleball, but, thanks in part to his enchanting new partner, Candace (Mary Steenburgen), he finds himself actually enjoying it. Torn between two worlds, Dusty is forced to finally face the ghosts of his past athletic failures, including his childhood nemesis, Andy Roddick (Andy Roddick). Ultimately, Dusty is drawn into a desperate battle for the future of the club, his father's affection and his very identity.

Director: Josh Greenbaum
Producer: Ben Stiller, John Lesher, Rob Paris, Mike Witherill, Jake Johnson
Screenwriter: Sean Clements
Distributor: Apple TV
Production Co: Red Hour Films, Rivulet Media, Apple Original Films
Rating: PG-13 (Sexual Material|Strong Language)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 24, 2026
Runtime: 1h 42m

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