Ball of Fire (1941)
Kernel Score: 84% · 237 ratings · Rated NR
Genres: Comedy, Romance, Crime
Released: 1941-12-02
Runtime: 111 minutes
Where to watch Ball of Fire
- Stream: Prime Video, YouTube TV
- Free with ads: Kanopy, Hoopla, YouTube Free, Fawesome, Plex
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home
US availability, updated 2026-10-22.
Overview
A group of academics have spent years shut up in a house working on the definitive encyclopedia. When one of them discovers that his entry on slang is hopelessly outdated, he ventures into the wide world to learn about the evolving language. Here he meets Sugarpuss O’Shea, a nightclub singer, who’s on top of all the slang—and, it just so happens, needs a place to stay.
Ball of Fire parents' guide: all ages
Parents need to know that Ball of Fire is a classic screwball comedy about academics and a nightclub singer, with mild romantic themes typical of 1940s cinema.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official NR rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Ball of Fire
If you liked Ball of Fire, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Take the Money and Run (1969) — 78%
- Pillow Talk (1959) — 80%
- Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996) — 79%
Director
Cast
- Gary Cooper as Professor Bertram Potts
- Barbara Stanwyck as Sugarpuss O’Shea
- Oskar Homolka as Prof. Gurkakoff
- Henry Travers as Prof. Jerome
- S.Z. Sakall as Prof. Magenbruch
- Tully Marshall as Prof. Robinson
- Leonid Kinskey as Prof. Quintana
- Richard Haydn as Prof. Oddly
- Aubrey Mather as Prof. Peagram
- Allen Jenkins as Garbage Man
Ball of Fire FAQ
Is Ball of Fire good?
Ball of Fire has an 84% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 237 audience ratings.
Where can I watch Ball of Fire?
In the US you can stream Ball of Fire on Prime Video and YouTube TV, watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Hoopla, YouTube Free, Fawesome and Plex and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango At Home.
Is Ball of Fire OK for kids?
Ball of Fire is rated NR. Fresh Kernels suggests all ages. Parents need to know that Ball of Fire is a classic screwball comedy about academics and a nightclub singer, with mild romantic themes typical of 1940s cinema.
What movies are like Ball of Fire?
If you liked Ball of Fire, try Take the Money and Run, Pillow Talk and Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood.