Major League

Movie review by Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media
Major League Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 15+

Crowd-pleasing '80s underdog sports comedy.

R 1989 107 minutes
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Parents say

age 11+

Based on 6 reviews

Kids say

age 11+

Based on 14 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 R-rated sports comedy includes a great deal of foul language. In some scenes nearly every other word is an obscenity. The rest of the movie is pretty tame, however. You'll find some drinking and cigar-smoking, plus there are a couple of discreet love scenes and some glimpses of players' backsides in the locker room.

Community Reviews

daspuma
daspuma Adult
January 19, 2022
age 12+

Not original but fun

I liked it better the first time when it was called "Slap Shot".
Milt_Mason
Milt_Mason Adult
June 17, 2019
age 10+

A foulmouthed film with a good heart

There are a lot of cuss words in this movie. It has almost as many swears as my kids hear in a normal visit to my parent's house. It's a funny movie about a group of folks who do well because they work together as a team.

This title has:

Great messages
Too much swearing
See all 6 parent reviews

What's the Story?

When the greedy widow of the Cleveland Indians' owner decides she'd rather relocate the team to Miami, she assembles an awful roster to ensure game attendance is at an all-time low. The team starters are a bunch of has-beens and never-will-bes like over-the-hill catcher Jake Taylor (Tom Berenger), "wild thing" rookie pitcher Rick Vaughn (Charlie Sheen) and cocky base-stealer Willy Mays Hayes (Wesley Snipes), none of whom knows they've been set up to lose. After an unexpected winning streak, the team discovers the owner's plans and vows to win at all costs -- even praying to the Afro-Cuban player's (Dennis Haysbert) voodoo god Jobu, who accepts fine rum and cigar offerings.

Is It Any Good?

Major League is a refreshingly fictional and light story about a very real team: the Cleveland Indians. It's a nice change from all the feel-good sports flicks that are usually historical dramas about the first team to overcome racism, poverty, or devastating odds.

Sheen shines as the rockin' closer with a lot of attitude. As his foil, Corbin Bernsen is perfectly vain as the all-business pro athlete who's cashing in off the field but is checked out on the field. Even 18 years after its original release, the movie is still a fun, lightweight sports flick. When Berenger leads the team to a predictable championship victory, it's impossible not to grin.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about determination and overcoming obstacles. What starts out as a group of "losers" without a chance turns into the little team that could. How does the owner's lack of confidence affect the players? Why is it so compelling to root for the underdog? Kids: name your favorite sports movies.

Movie Details

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