Common Sense Media Review
Lighthearted tween baseball comedy has language, sexism.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Sandlot
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 49 parent reviews
Parents say this film is a nostalgic celebration of childhood, focusing on friendship and adventure, making it appealing for kids, especially those who love baseball. However, many reviews caution that it contains questionable language, mild sexual content, and themes that may not be suitable for younger viewers, suggesting parental discretion and supervision when watching with children.
- nostalgic childhood
- friendship and adventure
- questionable language
- mild sexual content
- parental supervision
- great for baseball fans
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 88 kid reviews
Kids say this movie is a nostalgic, humorous classic that many consider great for kids, though it contains several inappropriate elements like sexism, objectification, and mild language. While some argue that it imparts valuable lessons about friendship and teamwork, others express concern over its negative portrayal of gender dynamics and behavior, suggesting it may not be suitable for younger audiences.
- nostalgic humor
- inappropriate elements
- sexism concerns
- friendship lessons
- not suitable for young audiences
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
After getting onto the local sandlot team purely by luck, new kid in town Scotty Smalls (Tom Guiry) spends a blissful summer developing his baseball skills with help from his teammates Benny (Mike Vitar), Yeah-Yeah (Marty York), Ham (Patrick Renna), Squints (Chauncey Leopardi), and the rest of the boys. But things take a serious turn at THE SANDLOT when the gang experiences what they believe is an omen that will give them bad luck. To infuse the team with good luck, Scotty runs home and grabs his stepfather's (Denis Leary) baseball. When Scotty hits the ball into the junkyard, the boys discover just how valuable it is and devise an elaborate scheme to retrieve it, a mission that requires getting past "The Beast," a terrifying guard dog owned by Mr. Mertle (James Earl Jones).
Is It Any Good?
This charming film is like Field of Dreams for the tween set. Like Dreams, The Sandlot features the winning presence of James Earl Jones and a look at times gone by. Both also attempt to leave viewers with a life-affirming message. At the same time, The Sandlot doesn't take itself too seriously. The kids are charming and can really play the game; there's also a refreshing lack of precocious, cynical types. While it trades in some of the stock clichés of baseball films, it does so with utter conviction and earnestness. And, for once, here's a sports film for kids that isn't about winning.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the appeal of sports movies like The Sandlot. What other similar films do you like?
Do you have to have been a kid in the 1960s to appreciate this movie? Why, or why not? What about it might appeal to kids of different generations?
How do the characters in The Sandlot demonstrate integrity, courage, and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths?
How did the kids misjudge Mr. Mertle and The Beast? What can you learn from people by talking to them and listening to their stories?
Movie Details
- In theaters : April 7, 1993
- On DVD or streaming : January 29, 2002
- Cast : James Earl Jones , Mike Vitar , Tom Guiry
- Director : David M. Evans
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Actor(s) , Indigenous Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Twentieth Century Fox
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Friendship
- Character Strengths : Courage , Integrity , Teamwork
- Run time : 101 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some language and kids chewing tobacco
- Last updated : March 12, 2026
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate