Fred FontzOver the years, there have been a lot of great sports movies. Understandably, not all of those movies are kid-friendly.
So, today, we’re going to take a look at some of the best baseball movies that kids can watch.
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These are the best kids baseball movies:
1. The Sandlot (1993)
The Sandlot was an easy first place choice. It’s a classic that kids and parents will both enjoy. The movie is a throwback to the 1960’s which means there aren’t any cell phones or ipads involved, but that’s a running theme on this list.
The Sandlot features a group of young kids running around and playing baseball throughout their summer vacation. The boys are constantly together, playing baseball and getting into mischief. It’s a great example of what summer time used to be for young kids.
In the movie itself, kids will hear about Babe Ruth. Kids can also relate to making jokes, having a rivalry, and getting into trouble. The characters are well developed and relatable for all ages. There’s also a famous scene about loving s’mores.
There are definitely some corny jokes in this movie, but overall, it’s the best kids baseball movie you’ll find.
2. Angels in the Outfield (1994)
Angels in the Outfield is a great family movie, even if it focuses on a foster home throughout the movie. It offers the typical feel-good ending.
The movie features a great cast that includes Danny Glover, Christopher Loyd, Tony Danza, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
A young boy prays to God to help the Angels win the pennant. After that, Angels start to appear in the field; helping players make incredible plays and outperform their own talent. It’s a bit of a sappy movie, but it’s a great message.
Kids will find it appealing because it helps connect them to believing in something bigger than themselves and encourages them to try to be part of something good.
This movie really focuses on the fantasy of getting close to the players and helping your favorite team succeed.
3. Everyone’s Hero (2006)
Everyone’s Hero is one of the new movies on this list. It’s a great animated movie that features a talking baseballs and baseball bats for comic relief.
The movie is about a young boy named Yankee who goes on an adventure to beat the odds. After Babe Ruth’s bat is stolen, he does everything he can to find it and bring it back to Babe before the World Series.
Kids should enjoy the off-beat humor and the animation quality. There is also a strong undertone of believing children can do anything. Overall, this is a great movie to watch for the whole family.
4. Rookie of the Year (1993)
Rookie of the Year is one of our all-time favorite baseball movies. It’s completely unrealistic but that’s part of the fun!
A young boy named Henry gets hurt. Somehow, his injury allows him to throw a major league fastball. So, this movie is the story of how he becomes a Major League player.
This movie is knocked down on our list because of the language. It does offer a lot of heckling and name calling. There are also scenes that use language that isn’t ideal for younger kids. Overall, we’re willing to overlook that and keep this movie on the list.
Kids will love the idea of a 12-year-old being able to play in the major leagues. They’ll relate to the idea of be star struck when they meet their heroes. There’s plenty of humor in the movie and some of the banter in the movie is classic childish insults.
The movie offers plenty of positivity by focusing on family and friendships. It even looks at how fame and fortune can impact relationships.
Overall, this is a great feel-good movie that gives kids the freedom to dream.
5. Bad News Bears (2005)
Our final movie on this list is Bad News Bears. It’s a great movie that has become a bit of a franchise. The original has been re-made twice and has two follow-up movies to boot.
For what it’s worth, we actually prefer the 2005 re-make with Billy Bob Thornton. There are some adult themes including a lot of alcohol. Even in the original, there is some alcohol and choice language that isn’t ideal for kids.
If you can look past the alcohol, this is a great movie. Billy Bob Thornton seems right at home playing a down on his luck coach trying his hand as a coach. The kids offer a good amount of slapstick comedy as they overcome the woes of learning the game.
The movie offers themes that kids can learn from and relate to. The kids come together as a team for a greater cause. There are discussions of bullying and fighting. There is plenty of humor that parents will be able to enjoy as well.
Conclusion
So, there you have it. It’s a pretty short list, but there aren’t a ton of amazing kids movies focused on baseball.
What do you think of our list? Maybe you’re a huge fan of Air Bud: Seventh Inning Fetch. Maybe you really enjoyed Little Big League and the opportunity to imagine what it was like for a young kid to run an entire franchise.
We’d love to hear your thoughts. As always, thanks for reading!