Baseball movies radiate nostalgia. That’s what makes America’s pastime and the silver screen a match made in heaven (or in Iowa with Kevin Costner, if you catch our drift). To celebrate this perfect pairing, we’ve handpicked the best baseball flicks and laid out how to stream them online.
Of course, baseball in film stretches all the way back to the silent era, so don’t hit the batsman if your favorite hardball film isn’t listed here. And if you’re curious about catching the most MLB action live on TV, swing over to our How To Watch MLB Games guide for a closer look at this season’s best TV providers.
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42 (2013)
In the mid-1940s, Brooklyn Dodgers owner Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford) is on a mission to bring the first black baseball player to Major League Baseball. Enter Jackie Robinson (Chadwick Boseman), a resilient and lightning-fast infielder tasked with paving the way for other black players.
42 is a fairly standard biopic, but it’s respectful to the source material, and Boseman shines in his portrayal of Robinson.
Where to stream 42
A League of Their Own (1992)
The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) was created during the height of World War II to maintain the popularity of baseball while many men were off serving their country. Set in 1943, A League of Their Own explores the early days of the AAGPBL through the lens of director Penny Marshall. It’s a charming film full of humor and sincerity, with an all-star cast led by Geena Davis, Tom Hanks, and Madonna.
If you like A League of Their Own, don’t miss the fantastic TV series adaptation streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Where to stream A League of Their Own
The Bad News Bears (1976)
An ex-player coaching a youth team seems to be a common storyline in sports films, but The Bad News Bears does it the best. In this case, Walter Matthau is the alcoholic ex-minor league pitcher tasked with coaching a ragtag team of misfit kids. Remembered for its many comedic moments, The Bad News Bears also has a lot of heart.
Where to stream The Bad News Bears
Bull Durham (1988)
Before Kevin Costner was headlining one of cable’s most popular TV shows, he made a name for himself through two baseball-oriented films during the late 1980s. One was Field of Dreams, and the other was Bull Durham. Typically regarded as the best baseball movie of all time, Bull Durham stands out because of how realistically it portrays the sport. It’s also a solid romantic comedy for those not all that into baseball.
Where to stream Bull Durham
Eight Men Out (1988)
The 1919 Black Sox Scandal remains one of baseball’s biggest controversies, and Eight Men Out brings it to life with gripping detail. John Sayles’ film follows the Chicago White Sox players who, frustrated by low pay, conspired with gamblers to throw the World Series. With a strong cast led by John Cusack and D.B. Sweeney, the movie balances historical accuracy with compelling drama. While it resonates most with baseball fans, its tale of greed and betrayal makes for an engaging watch.
Where to stream Eight Men Out
Field of Dreams (1989)
Iowan farmer Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) is having a bit of a mid-life crisis. When an otherworldly voice convinces Ray to build a baseball diamond in his cornfield, he’ll stop at nothing to figure out what it all means.
Field of Dreams is a love letter to the sport of baseball and one of the most sentimental father-son films ever made. It even inspired the MLB to hold event games next to the movie’s original filming location.
Where to stream Field of Dreams
Pro tip: Take your streaming game to the next level and check out our Best Streaming Services for Sports guide for a closer look at which services offer the best sports coverage.
Major League (1989)
When the Cleveland Indians’ new owner purposely assembles a team destined to fail, it’s up to the zany band of major league rejects to dig deep and prove the naysayers wrong.
Like many other movies featured in this list, Major League is a super-quotable film. Sure, it’s not the most sophisticated baseball flick out there, but you’ll still have a fun time no matter what. They even got uniforms and everything. It’s really great.
Where to stream Major League
Moneyball (2011)
Sometimes, what happens off the field is just as important as what happens on it. Moneyball highlights this viewpoint by focusing on the real-life story of Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt). Faced with a limited budget, Beane partners with economics graduate Peter Brand (Jonah Hill) to build a competitive roster in spite of the team’s financial struggles.
Where to stream Moneyball
The Natural (1984)
Like Field of Dreams, The Natural uses fantastical elements to tell a story that’s grounded in real-world major league baseball. Robert Redford leads a star-studded cast as Roy Hobbs, a talented up-and-coming baseball prodigy whose path to stardom abruptly comes to a halt after being shot by an obsessed fan. Hobbs mysteriously reemerges 16 years later to resume his journey in becoming one of the sport’s all-time greats.
Where to stream The Natural
The Pride of the Yankees (1942)
The Pride of the Yankees is the Citizen Kane of biographical baseball movies. Starring Gary Cooper as New York Yankees legend Lou Gehrig, the film follows Gehrig from his childhood to his famous farewell speech. If you reach the end of this movie without a tear in your eye, you might not be human.
Where to stream The Pride of the Yankees
The Sandlot (1993)
Kids’ sports movies were all the rage in the 1990s, and The Sandlot stands above them all. The film follows a group of young boys during the summer of 1962 as they bond over baseball. When Scott Smalls hits his first home run with a Babe Ruth–autographed ball, it’s up to him and his friends to retrieve the ball from the fenced-off residence of a dog known as “the Beast.”
Where to stream The Sandlot
More baseball movies to stream
There’s a whole lineup of great baseball movies that are still worthy of a shout-out. Whether you’re into dugout dramas or epic game-winning moments, here’s a quick list of extra recommendations to keep your baseball binge going strong.
- 61* (2001)
- Angels in the Outfield (1951)
- Bang the Drum Slowly (1973)
- The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings (1976)
- Everybody Wants Some!! (2016)
- Fever Pitch (2005)
- For Love of the Game (1999)
- Hardball (2001)
- Million Dollar Arm (2014)
- Mr. 3000 (2004)
- The Rookie (2002)
- Rookie of the Year (1993)
- Sugar (2008)
- Trouble with the Curve (2012)
