Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

For Love of the Game

Play trailer Poster for For Love of the Game PG-13 Released Sep 17, 1999 2h 17m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
47% Tomatometer 96 Reviews 75% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Forty-year-old pitcher Billy Chapel (Kevin Costner) is practically a dinosaur by professional baseball standards, fast approaching the end of his career. But, as Chapel stands on the mound pitching the game of his life, his thoughts don't turn to his prized history in sports, but rather return again and again to his tumultuous relationship with Jane Aubrey (Kelly Preston), a single mom who has stood at his side through the good and the bad but is now on the verge of leaving him.
Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

Where to Watch

For Love of the Game

For Love of the Game

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Baseball wins, romance loses.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View All (96)
Michael Sragow The New Yorker For Love of the Game asks whether the same qualities that make an athlete a champion don't also destroy his happiness. The answer, unfortunately, is long-winded and redundant... But some of the baseball scenes are good. May 8, 2014 Full Review Michael Wilmington Chicago Tribune This is no perfect -- or even half-perfect -- game. It's another movie where conventions are subbed for life lessons, where the emotions are cued by golden oldies and where the motivation (at least on the studio's part) isn't love of the game but money. Rated: 2/4 May 8, 2014 Full Review Stephen Hunter Washington Post Here are two things that definitely don't go together: baseball and piano music. May 8, 2014 Full Review Danielle Solzman Solzy at the Movies It might not be Kevin Costner's best baseball movie but For Love of the Game is still a solid baseball film after 25 years. Rated: 4/5 Sep 17, 2024 Full Review Chuck Klosterman Akron Beacon Journal It's kind of like watching an actual baseball game: deliberate and slow, but occasionally perfect. Rated: 3/4 Oct 27, 2023 Full Review Mark Jackson Epoch Times "Bull Durham" is a more powerful movie than "For Love of the Game," so Kevin Costner might be better as a savvy minor league catcher than a hall-of-fame major league pitcher, but the fact is, Costner is simply and utterly baseballic. He's baseballerific. Rated: 4/5 Jun 10, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (1000+)
Sashimi S Excellent movie. Especially if you love baseball. Dont listen to the other negative critics. Its a heartfelt movie about life, love, and baseball. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/09/25 Full Review Jelisije J An enjoyable film that deals old star baseball player contemplating his life choices in baseball and the women who changed his life. Its a romantic sports baseball movie staring Kevin Costner......whats not to love? Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 07/05/25 Full Review Ed R An inspiring sports story turned romantic comedy that begins in the odd story of an odd plot. Unlike any other sports movie and not in a good manner. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 07/04/25 Full Review Audience Member A great Baseball movie that shows the humanity of the people we see as God, but are really just normal people who screw up and get their hearts broken. Really well acted and a great cast to back up Costner and Preston. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/26/25 Full Review Audience Member Great movie about aging Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/20/25 Full Review Jeffrey Q It's a baseball movie. Who doesn't love baseball?! Thought the pitcher / catcher storyline made the movie. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/04/25 Full Review Read all reviews
For Love of the Game

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

View All

Sam Raimi

Director

Kevin Costner

Billy Chapel

Kelly Preston

Jane Aubrey

John C. Reilly

Gus Sinski

Jena Malone

Heather Aubrey

Brian Cox

Gary Wheeler

More Like This

View All
Up at the Villa 45% 36% Up at the Villa Watchlist The Emperor's Club 50% 67% The Emperor's Club Watchlist The Cure 45% 84% The Cure Watchlist TRAILER for The Cure Stepmom 44% 75% Stepmom Watchlist A Cool, Dry Place 54% 59% A Cool, Dry Place Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All

For Love of the Game

For Love of the Game (1999) For Love of the Game (1999) For Love of the Game (1999) For Love of the Game (1999) For Love of the Game (1999) For Love of the Game (1999) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Forty-year-old pitcher Billy Chapel (Kevin Costner) is practically a dinosaur by professional baseball standards, fast approaching the end of his career. But, as Chapel stands on the mound pitching the game of his life, his thoughts don't turn to his prized history in sports, but rather return again and again to his tumultuous relationship with Jane Aubrey (Kelly Preston), a single mom who has stood at his side through the good and the bad but is now on the verge of leaving him.
Director
Sam Raimi
Producer
Amy Robinson, Armyan Bernstein
Screenwriter
Michael Shaara, Dana Stevens
Distributor
MCA/Universal Pictures [us], Universal Pictures, Universal Home Entertainment
Production Co
Beacon Communications, Tig Productions, Universal Pictures, Mirage Enterprises
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 17, 1999, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 19, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$35.2M
Runtime
2h 17m
Sound Mix
Surround
Most Popular at Home Now