Angels in the Outfield

Movie review by Shannon Lucas, Common Sense Media
Angels in the Outfield Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 7+

Heartwarming movie about hope and baseball.

PG 1994 103 minutes
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Parents say

age 8+

Based on 5 reviews

Kids say

age 7+

Based on 9 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this film has a few mild swear words and one mild fistfight. The overall tone of the message is definitely appropriate for kids.

Community Reviews

John K.
John K. Adult
December 26, 2019
age 8+

I love this movie!

Lots of positive messages in this movie. It's got a fantasy angel spin on feel good sports movie, but at it's heart it's not really about sports at all. It's about 2 young foster kids looking for a family - desiring a place to belong, and finding someone that will love them. The repeated message of "It could happen" i.e. something good could happen) is repeated throughout the film, and it really hit home for me (no pun intended). Very touching, and some really fun performances by Danny Glover, Joseph Gordon Leavitt. Has an unusual amount of talk about God, and Faith for a Disney movie but it didn't bother me at all. These is a bit of swearing, but also a short message to go along with it. Also kind of awesome: Adrien Brody, Matthew McConaughey, Neal McDonough and Joseph Gordon-Leavitt before they became stars.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
fonzieg
fonzieg Adult
April 25, 2015
age 10+

Some great performances, but occasionally boring, it's only worth watching once!

It's not a great film at all, it does get boring when they keep shoving stuff about angels down our throats for like 70% of the movie, but some of the baseball sequences are quite cool and entertaining, and Christopher Lloyd, he's always awesome!
See all 5 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Roger (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a young boy who has lost his mother and been abandoned by his deadbeat dad. He lives with his best friend, J.P. (Milton Davis Jr.), in a foster home down the street from the Los Angeles' Angels baseball stadium. In response to his dad's comment that they can be a family again when the Angels win the pennant, baseball-crazy Roger makes a wish that they'll win. He soon discovers that angels, ones that only he can see, hear his wish and want to help. As the last-place team's luck starts to turn around, the presence of the angels help the team professionally and personally.

Is It Any Good?

This remake of the 1951 original is very family-friendly. Danny Glover does a great job as the baseball coach who begins to reform himself due to the presence of angels. The connection he develops with the two young boys is warm and believable. There are some touching moments, which might cause sensitive kids to cry. An added bonus for parents is watching current A-list stars like Matthew McConaughey and Adrien Brody play baseball teammates.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about foster homes, what they are and why children might live in one. There could also be a discussion about the definition of family and all the different forms that families can take, including adoption. Finally, families could talk about their own ideas about spirituality. While the film is about angels, the definition the movie gives is related to the concepts of faith and love rather than any religious view in particular.

Movie Details

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