Common Sense Media Review
Heartwarming movie about hope and baseball.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
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Angels in the Outfield
What's the Story?
In ANGELS IN THE OUTFIELD, Roger (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a young boy who has lost his mother and been abandoned by his deadbeat dad (Dermot Mulroney). Roger lives with his best friend, J.P. (Milton Davis Jr.), in a foster home down the street from the California Angels baseball stadium. When his dad comments that they can be a family again when the Angels win the pennant, baseball-crazy Roger makes a wish that the team will win. He soon discovers that angels, ones that only he can see, have heard his wish and want to help. Meanwhile, Roger starts to form an unbreakable bond with the team's grumpy yet tenderhearted manager, George Knox (Danny Glover). With the season winding down and the stakes rising, Roger must learn what miracles can and can't fix before time runs out.
Is It Any Good?
This heartwarming remake of the 1951 original is very family-friendly, though it does have emotional moments that might be a lot for particularly sensitive kids. In Angels in the Outfield, Glover does a great job as a 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. An added bonus is watching A-list stars like Matthew McConaughey and Adrien Brody play baseball teammates.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about foster homes in Angels in the Outfield. What are they? And why might children live in one? What makes a group of people a "family"? What kinds of different families can you think of?
Do you have spiritual beliefs? How do they compare with what you see in Angels in the Outfield? Do you think the movie expresses a specific religious view? What does it say about the concepts of faith and love?
How do the characters demonstrate compassion and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 15, 1994
- On DVD or streaming : April 2, 2002
- Cast : Christopher Lloyd , Danny Glover , Tony Danza
- Director : William Dear
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Buena Vista
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic )
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Teamwork
- Run time : 103 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : mild language
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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