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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
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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.
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For Love of the Game

For Love of the Game

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Critics Consensus

Baseball wins, romance loses.

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Critics Reviews

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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

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Russell H Cheesey and pretty entertaining Rated 3 out of 5 stars 07/15/25 Full Review Madeline M I can watch Kevin Costner in anything and by happy, but the romantic plot line and way too basic ending scene really sucked the goodness right out of this one for me. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 07/13/25 Full Review Rene R Simple. A simple guy. A simple dream. A simple movie. What is the need for every movie to be a an epic? The messages are incidental. The romance is what happens in the background and ends up in the forefront. Sometimes I want a to watch be entertained and enjoy a story I understand. This hits and touches all the bases. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/12/25 Full Review 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 Read all reviews
For Love of the Game

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Cast & Crew

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Sam Raimi

Director

Kevin Costner

Billy Chapel

Kelly Preston

Jane Aubrey

John C. Reilly

Gus Sinski

Jena Malone

Heather Aubrey

Brian Cox

Gary Wheeler

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For Love of the Game

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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
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