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Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story

Play trailer Poster for Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story PG-13 Released Jun 18, 2004 1h 32m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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72% Tomatometer 166 Reviews 76% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
Average Joe's Gym and its owner, Peter La Fleur (Vince Vaughn), are both down on their luck. A fancy competing gym called Globo-Gym, run by the maniacal health nut White Goodman (Ben Stiller), is about to put Average Joe's out of business unless Peter can raise $50,000 to keep his mortgage. To save the gym, Peter and a ragtag group of Average Joe's members and employees enter a dodgeball contest with a big cash prize. In response, White forms his own Globo-Gym team to rout the competition.
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Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story

Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story

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Critics Consensus

Proudly profane and splendidly silly, Dodgeball is a worthy spiritual successor to the goofball comedies of the 1980s.

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Critics Reviews

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Peter Travers Rolling Stone This masterpiece of modern cinema depends upon a single truism: A guy getting hit in the nuts a hundred times in a row is funny a hundred times. Rated: 4/4 Aug 14, 2007 Full Review Nev Pierce BBC.com Crude, daft and hilarious, Dodgeball is the best mainstream American comedy in years. Rated: 4/5 Aug 31, 2004 Full Review Empire Magazine Watching people being hit in the balls has never been so much fun. Rated: 4/5 Aug 28, 2004 Full Review Cory Woodroof 615 Film We need more studio comedies where Stephen Root is a lead cast member. Jun 9, 2022 Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com a few lapses aside, Dodgeball has its heart in the right place when it comes to embracing a team of lovable misfits overcoming ridiculous odds Rated: 3/5 Mar 2, 2022 Full Review Kate Robertson The Post NZ It's laugh-a-minute comedy at it's finest. What could be better? Sep 3, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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tommy J A fun movie for the entire family. Silly and suspenseful with lots of awesome cameos. Lance Armstrong and Chuck Norris!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/07/25 Full Review TheMovieSearch R Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story is one of those comedies that has cemented itself as a cult classic, and honestly, it’s easy to see why. From start to finish, this film is pure fun—outrageous, ridiculous, and endlessly quotable. It’s the kind of comedy that doesn’t take itself too seriously but still manages to keep you fully invested in the underdog tale at its core. I’ll admit it: I’m not typically a Vince Vaughn fan. But in this movie, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed his performance. He brings just the right amount of charm and sarcasm to hold the story together, and I found myself laughing right alongside him. Of course, what really makes the film stand out are the dodgeball sequences themselves. That whole “dodge, duck, dip, dive, and dodge” bit is not only hilarious but perfectly executed. The energy in those scenes, the physical comedy, and the way the absurdity ramps up just had me hooked. The screenplay deserves a lot of credit here. It’s sharp, witty, and knows exactly how to balance character-driven humor with over-the-top gags. Every member of the Average Joe’s team is distinct, quirky, and memorable—you either find yourself rooting for them, laughing at them, or both. Ben Stiller, meanwhile, is on another level entirely. His performance as White Goodman is pure comedic genius. He plays the villain with such obnoxious, over-the-top arrogance that you can’t help but laugh at just how ridiculous and awful he truly is. Now, to be fair, Dodgeball isn’t perfect. Some of the acting is uneven, and there are definitely moments where the absurdity gets pushed so far it borders on sloppy. But honestly, that’s part of the movie’s charm. It leans into the ridiculousness, and because of that, the flaws almost enhance the fun. The over-the-top performances, the silly plot twists, and the exaggerated stakes all come together in a way that makes it unforgettable. Even with its flaws, this is a comedy that still holds up years later. It’s endlessly quotable, surprisingly clever, and just plain fun. Whether you’re watching it for the first time or the fifteenth, it’s one of those movies that can still make you laugh out loud. Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story is the definition of a cult classic, and it’s absolutely worth checking out if you somehow haven’t seen it yet. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/26/25 Full Review Daniel O. True comedy the “I wanna burn “ line was crazy Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/06/25 Full Review Stephen C Funny in 1 hour and 32 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated PG-13 for Rude Humor, Language and Sexual Humor!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $114,300,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/30/25 Full Review Sam B Absolutely hilarious 10/10 must watch you will be laughing the whole time Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/03/25 Full Review Miller H Great comedy that is underrated. Peter Lafleur is a great character who learns that he has to actually try. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/26/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story

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Movie Info

Synopsis Average Joe's Gym and its owner, Peter La Fleur (Vince Vaughn), are both down on their luck. A fancy competing gym called Globo-Gym, run by the maniacal health nut White Goodman (Ben Stiller), is about to put Average Joe's out of business unless Peter can raise $50,000 to keep his mortgage. To save the gym, Peter and a ragtag group of Average Joe's members and employees enter a dodgeball contest with a big cash prize. In response, White forms his own Globo-Gym team to rout the competition.
Director
Rawson Marshall Thurber
Producer
Stuart Cornfeld, Ben Stiller
Screenwriter
Rawson Marshall Thurber
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Production Co
Red Hour Productions
Rating
PG-13 (Rude Humor|Language|Sexual Humor)
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 18, 2004, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 25, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$114.3M
Runtime
1h 32m
Sound Mix
Surround, DTS, Dolby SRD, SDDS
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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