The Bad News Bears Go to Japan

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The Bad News Bears Go to Japan

PG

Released Jun 30, 1978

1h 31m

Kids & Family

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

6%

Tomatometer

16 Reviews

28%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Led by Marvin Lazar (Tony Curtis), their latest in a string of bumbling coaches, beleaguered Little Leaguers the Bad News Bears head to Japan to face off against coach Shimizu (Tomisaburô Wakayama) and a team of the best young baseball talents in the country. While a scheming Lazar tries to scare up big-time television money, the now-teenage Kelly Leak (Jackie Earle Haley) falls for Arika (Hatsune Ishihara), a Japanese teenager who doesn't speak a word of English.

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Bob Thomas

Associated Press

The Bad News Bears go to Japan is agreeable warm-weather entertainment, a better sequel than most.

Jul 17, 2019

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Variety Staff

Variety

The dangers inherent in sequel-making are clearly apparent in The Bad News Bears Go to Japan.

Mar 26, 2009

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Tom Milne

Time Out

Dire.

Jan 26, 2006

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Jason Caro

Radio Times

Aside from Tony Curtis's star turn as a greedy hustler who takes charge of the titular Little Leaguers, there's little of note in this lifeless, pointless second sequel.

Rated: 1/5

May 29, 2013

Full Review

TV Guide

So much silliness has been substituted for the solid situations and characterizations of the original that it's hard to believe the same people had anything to do with both pictures.

Rated: 1.5/4

May 29, 2013

Full Review

Ryan Cracknell

Movie Views

So how much more can they get out of cussing kiddies playing baseball? Apparently an additional 91 minutes - 91 painful, horrendous, baseball-bat-to-the-crotch-three-times minutes.

Aug 24, 2010

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Audience Member

All ages admitted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The greatest 01 hour: and 31 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

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scott d

Parts of the movie are good. It kind of lost its way. When it became a love story.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

A big a fan of the original BNB with Walter Matthau, this version is just plain unwatchable and insulting to the spirit of the first. It wastes Tony Curtis's talents as well as any returning Bears. The dialogue is pointless and plot absurd.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

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Audience Member

Typical third movie garbage

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

04/16/20

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Audience Member

This movie was pretty bad a needs a worse rating

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

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Audience Member

Not much to recommend here.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

Full Review

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John Berry

Director

Tony Curtis

Marvin Lazar

Jackie Earle Haley

Kelly Leak

Tomisaburô Wakayama

Coach Shimizu

Hatsune Ishihara

Arika

George Wyner

the Network Director

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Synopsis

Led by Marvin Lazar (Tony Curtis), their latest in a string of bumbling coaches, beleaguered Little Leaguers the Bad News Bears head to Japan to face off against coach Shimizu (Tomisaburô Wakayama) and a team of the best young baseball talents in the country. While a scheming Lazar tries to scare up big-time television money, the now-teenage Kelly Leak (Jackie Earle Haley) falls for Arika (Hatsune Ishihara), a Japanese teenager who doesn't speak a word of English.

Director: John Berry
Producer: Michael Ritchie
Screenwriter: Bill Lancaster
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount, Michael Ritchie Productions
Rating: PG
Genre: Kids & Family, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 30, 1978, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 6, 2014
Runtime: 1h 31m

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