Major League (1989)
87%RT Audience Score: 84%
Awards & Nominations: 1 nomination
Major League may be predictable and formulaic, but buoyed by the script’s light, silly humor — not to mention the well-built sports action sequences and funny performances
Major League is a classic sports movie that still holds up today. The film is a perfect blend of comedy and drama, with a talented cast that brings the story to life. While some critics may find it predictable or lacking in character development, the movie is undeniably fun and entertaining. Charlie Sheen’s performance as Wild Thing is a standout, and the absurdity of the Indians winning the pennant is part of what makes the film so enjoyable. Whether you’re a baseball fan or just looking for a good laugh, Major League is a must-see.
Production Company(ies)
DENTSU Music And Entertainment, Nibariki Nippon Television, Network
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Milwaukee County Stadium – 201 South 46th Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
MPAA / Certificate
R
Year of Release
1989
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Stereo
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 47m
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Language(s):English, Spanish, Japanese
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Apr 7, 1989 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 24, 2002
Genre(s)
Comedy
Keyword(s)
starring Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen, Corbin Bernsen, Margaret Whitton, James Gammon, Rene Russo, Wesley Snipes, directed by David S Ward, written by David S Ward, produced by Chris Chesser, Irby Smith, comedy, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Kevin Thomas, Dave Kehr, Elizabeth Maupin, Carrie Rickey, Angie Errigo, Richard Corliss, Allison Rose, John Ferguson, Roger Hurlburt, Kevin Carr, Peter Canavese, R MPAA rating, baseball, Cleveland Indians, Miami, showgirl, ticket sales, incompetent players, near-blind pitcher, injury-prone catcher, villainous tactics, can-do team spirit, potential winners, sports action sequences, funny performances, formulaic, predictable, light, silly humor, Paramount Pictures, Surround sound mix
Worldwide gross: $49,797,148
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $121,344,295
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 930
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 13,232,748
US/Canada gross: $49,797,148
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $121,344,295
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 625
US/Canada opening weekend: $8,836,265
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $21,531,963
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 615
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $11,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $26,804,492
Production budget ranking: 1,221
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $14,434,219
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $80,105,585
ROI to date (est.): 194%
ROI ranking: 641
Charlie Sheen – Ricky Vaughn
Corbin Bernsen – Roger Dorn
Margaret Whitton – Rachel Phelps
James Gammon – Lou Brown
Rene Russo – Lynn Wells
Director(s)
David S. Ward
Writer(s)
David S. Ward
Producer(s)
Chris Chesser, Irby Smith
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 nomination
Academy Awards
All Critics (40) | Top Critics (12) | Fresh (33) | Rotten (7)
Ward directs his actors as adroitly as he has written for them, and the vulnerability that he allows his three stars to reveal is really what makes the movie work.
May 6, 2014
Kevin Thomas
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
It skims along agreeable surfaces, expertly balancing its comedy with melodrama and fulfilling expectations right on schedule.
May 6, 2014 | Rating: 3/4
Dave Kehr
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
It has its moments, but it also has long, slow stretches where you feel like standing up and wandering around and maybe going out to hunt up a beer. That’s fine for baseball, but it’s not the way movies are supposed to work.
March 20, 2013
Elizabeth Maupin
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
Somebody should tell Ward that winning isn’t everything. Character is. And this is what his movie lacks.
March 20, 2013 | Rating: 2/4
Carrie Rickey
Philadelphia Inquirer
TOP CRITIC
If you’re looking for sophisticated wit keep going, but Major League is pleasant, undemanding fun.
March 16, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
Angie Errigo
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Major League doesn’t try too hard or aim too high, but it is pretty funny.
March 16, 2011
Richard Corliss
TIME Magazine
TOP CRITIC
It’s hard to believe that this fun, creative film is turning thirty years old but it still stands the test of time and is a joy to watch.
July 4, 2019 | Rating: 4.5/5
Allison Rose
FlickDirect
Amiable but predictable.
October 31, 2016 | Rating: 3/5
John Ferguson
Radio Times
Sheen, as an ace fireball pitcher called Wild Thing by the adoring fans, is excellent; so is Bernsen as a star-struck third baseman, whose portfolio is more important that a hard grounder in the hole.
March 20, 2013
Roger Hurlburt
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
The absurdity of the Indians winning the pennant in 1989 helped make the film a lot of fun, and it was a great little fantasy for Tribe fans back in the day.
November 23, 2009 | Rating: 3.5/5
Kevin Carr
7M Pictures
A meat and potatoes ’80s movie, that maybe doesn’t ‘taste great,’ but at least is ‘less filling.’ [Blu-ray]
May 24, 2009 | Rating: 2.5/4
Peter Canavese
Groucho Reviews
Sometimes funny comedy set in major league baseball with plenty of bawdy slapstick.
March 8, 2008 | Rating: 3/5
Steve Crum
Video-Reviewmaster.com…
Plot
Rachel Phelps is the new owner of the Cleveland Indians baseball team. However, her plans for the team are rather nefarious. She wants to move the team to Miami for the warmer climate and a new stadium. To justify the move, the team has to lose, and lose badly. So she assembles the worst possible team she can. Among these are a past-his-prime catcher with bad knees, a shrewd but past-his-prime pitcher, a young tearaway pitcher (and felon) with a 100 mph fastball but absolutely no control, a third baseman who is too wealthy and precious to dive, a voodoo-loving slugger who can’t hit a curve ball and an energetic-but-naive lead off hitter and base-stealer who can’t keep the ball on the ground. Against the odds, and after the inevitable initial failures, they iron out some of their faults and start to win, much to Ms Phelps’ consternation.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The casting in Major League is quite good, featuring Charlie Sheen, Corbin Bernsen, Bob Uecker, and Wesley Snipes.
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