Best movies like Rookie of the Year
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
12-year-old Henry Rowengartner, whose late father was a minor league baseball player, grew up dreaming of playing baseball, despite his physical shortcomings. After Henry's arm is broken while trying to catch a baseball at school, the tendon in that arm heals too tightly, allowing Henry to throw pitches that are as fast as 103 mph. Henry is spotted at nearby Wrigley Field by Larry "Fish" Fisher, the general manager of the struggling Chicago Cubs, after Henry throws an opponent's home-run ball all the way from the outfield bleachers back to the catcher, and it seems that Henry may be the pitcher that team owner Bob Carson has been praying for.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 30000
Genere: Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: inspirational, feel good, exciting, epic, freeze frame, hilarious, semi serious, humorous, funny, light
Best tv shows and movies like Rookie of the Year (1993):
Similar in 84%
Major League: Back to the Minors (1998)
Plot Summary:
At the behest of Roger Dorn -- the Minnesota Twins' silver-tongued new owner -- washed-up minor league hurler Gus Cantrell steps up to the plate to take over as skipper of the club's hapless farm team. But little does he know that Dorn has an ulterior motive to generate publicity with a grudge match between the big leaguers and their ragtag Triple A affiliate.
IMDB Rating: 4.7
IMDB Votes: 8000
Genere: Comedy, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: humorous, feel good, realistic, semi serious, road movie, unusual plot structure, entertaining, melancholic, splatter, idiotic
Similar in 80%
Ed (1996)
Plot Summary:
Jack Cooper (Matt LeBlanc) could be a world-class baseball pitcher if he didn't keep buckling under the pressure. He tries to keep his spirits up after he's traded to a minor league team but loses all hope when he discovers that Ed, one of his teammates, is a chimp. Ed used to be the team mascot, but was promoted to third base when the owners realized he had a talent for baseball. As Jack struggles to get used to his new surroundings, Ed helps him regain his confidence on and off the field.
IMDB Rating: 2.7
IMDB Votes: 9000
Genere: Comedy, Family, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, not serious, family comedy, offbeat, slapstick comedy, inspirational, scary, sexy, clever
Similar in 77%
The Bad News Bears Go to Japan (1978)
Plot Summary:
In this third film version of the Bad News Bears series, Tony Curtis plays a small time promotor/hustler who takes the pint-sized baseball team to Japan for a match against the country's best little league baseball team which sparks off a series of adventures and mishaps the boys come into.
IMDB Rating: 3.7
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Comedy, Family, Sport
Country: Japan, USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: humorous, family comedy, sentimental, feel good, realistic, semi serious, sexy, unusual plot structure, suspense, melancholic
Similar in 83%
Like Mike (2002)
Plot Summary:
Calvin and his friends, who all live in an orphanage, find old shoes with the faded letters MJ connected to a powerline. One stormy night, they go to get the shoes when Calvin and the shoes are struck by lightning. Calvin now has unbelievable basketball powers and has the chance to play for the NBA.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 22000
Genere: Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, not serious, touching, black comedy, hood, teen
Similar in 83%
Little Big League (1994)
Plot Summary:
When the owner of the Minnesota Twins passes away, he bequeaths the team to his preteen grandson. The newly minted head honcho quickly appoints himself manager, causing unrest in an organisation that struggles to take orders from a 12-year-old.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 11000
Genere: Comedy, Family, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 119 min
Plot tags: humorous, epic, touching, feel good, realistic, semi serious, independent film, scary, exciting, light
Similar in 85%
Go Karts (2020)
Plot Summary:
Jack is a charismatic larrikin who has just discovered the one thing he's really good at — go-kart racing. With the support of his mentor, Patrick, an old race car driver with a secret past, and his best mates Colin and Mandy, Jack must learn to control his recklessness if he is to defeat the best drivers in Australia, including the ruthless champion Dean, and win the National title.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Family, Sport
Country: Australia
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: entertaining, light, inspirational, feel good, humorous, romantic, teen
Similar in 78%
The Minis (2007)
Plot Summary:
Dwarfs playing basketball... with Dennis Rodman.
IMDB Rating: 2.6
IMDB Votes: 8000
Genere: Comedy, Family, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 76 min
Plot tags: humorous, semi serious, captivating, realistic
Similar in 88%
The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training (1977)
Plot Summary:
Sentimental sequel film finds the Bears, somehow, the little league champions of California. As a result, the team is invited to play a between-games exhibition at the Houston Astrodome with the local champs, the Toros. Kelly Leak, the Bears' star player, decides to rejoin the team and go with them to Houston to make amends with his estranged father, Mike.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Comedy, Family, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: family comedy, feel good, humorous, realistic, semi serious, inspirational, road movie, unusual plot structure, sweet, suspense
Similar in 87%
Bad News Bears (2005)
Plot Summary:
Morris Buttermaker is a burned-out minor league baseball player who loves to drink and can't keep his hands to himself. His long-suffering lawyer arranges for him to manage a local Little League team, and Buttermaker soon finds himself the head of a rag-tag group of misfit players. Through unconventional team-building exercises and his offbeat coaching style, Buttermaker helps his hapless Bears prepare to meet their rivals, the Yankees.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 23000
Genere: Comedy, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 113 min
Plot tags: stylized, touching, feel good, humorous, semi serious, funny, clever, talky, hilarious, exciting
Similar in 81%
The Sandlot: Heading Home (2007)
Plot Summary:
A successful professional baseball player gets his ego in check via an unreality check when he travels back in time to his boyhood sandlot ball-playing days.
IMDB Rating: 5.0
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Family, Sport
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: feel good, semi serious, humorous, saga
Similar in 75%
Brink! (1998)
Plot Summary:
Andy "Brink" Brinker and his in-line skating crew--Peter, Jordy, and Gabriella--who call themselves "Soul-Skaters" (which means they skate for the fun of it, and not for the money), clash with a group of sponsored skaters, Team X-Bladz--led by Val--with whom they attend high school in southern California. When Brink discovers his family is in financial trouble, he goes against the wishes of his parents and his friends and joins Team X-Bladz. Brink tries to lead a double life but will be able to pull it off?.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Drama, Family, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: feel good, captivating, exciting, semi serious, epic, realistic
Similar in 84%
Like Mike 2: Streetball (2006)
Plot Summary:
Another young boy with 'hoop dreams' finds an old pair of Michael Jordan's sneakers and can suddenly play ball like the greatest player in the world.
IMDB Rating: 4.1
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Comedy, Family, Sport
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: realistic, humorous, black comedy, semi serious
Similar in 75%
Soccer Dog: European Cup (2004)
Plot Summary:
Soccer Dog: European Cup opens with the titular hero, Kimble, escaping the clutches of an evil scientist, bent on performing animal experiments. Our plucky canine hero then falls into the hands of Zack (Jake Thomas), an American boy who's been brought to Scotland after the death of his mother to be reunited with the father he never knew, Brian (Nick Moran). After a bumpy introduction, father and son eventually connect by playing soccer together, and when the unusually nimble Kimble storms onto the field one day, their lives change forever.
IMDB Rating: 3.1
IMDB Votes: 560
Genere: Comedy, Family, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, semi serious, captivating
Similar in 81%
Home Run Showdown (2012)
Plot Summary:
Two little league teams take on their coaches' sibling rivalry, and end up doing battle in a place the baseball world never expected: in the outfield of the Home Run Derby.
IMDB Rating: 4.9
IMDB Votes: 292
Genere: Family, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: touching, feel good, humorous, semi serious, realistic, crying
Similar in 82%
D3: The Mighty Ducks (1996)
Plot Summary:
The Ducks are offered scholarships at Eden Hall Academy but struggle with their new coach's methods and come under pressure from the board to retain their scholarships before their big game against the Varsity team.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 28000
Genere: Action, Comedy, Drama, Family, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: epic, sincere, feel good, humorous, realistic, semi serious, exciting, inspirational, unusual plot structure, sweet
Similar in 87%
D2: The Mighty Ducks (1994)
Plot Summary:
After Gordon Bombay's hockey comeback is cut short he is named coach of Team USA Hockey for the Junior Goodwill Games. Bombay reunites the Mighty Ducks and introduces a few new players, however, he finds himself distracted by his newfound fame and must regather if the Ducks are to defeat tournament favourites Iceland.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 42000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 106 min
Plot tags: epic, hilarious, spectacular, feel good, humorous, realistic, semi serious, exciting, funny, light
Similar in 78%
Safe at Home! (1962)
Plot Summary:
A Florida boy (Bryan Russell) tells his Little League buddies that his father knows two New York Yankees (Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris).
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 357
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 84 min
Plot tags: uplifting, touching, feel good, humorous, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 89%
The Sandlot 2 (2005)
Plot Summary:
A decade has passed in the small town where the original Sandlot gang banded together during the summer of ’62 to play baseball and battle the Beast. Now comes the sequel, a campy romp back to the dugout where nine new kids descend on the diamond only to discover that a descendant of the Beast lives in Mr. Mertle’s backyard--a monster of mythical proportions known as "The Great Fear.".
IMDB Rating: 4.5
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Comedy, Family, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: touching, feel good, semi serious, sentimental, humorous, realistic, saga
Similar in 85%
Ladybugs (1992)
Plot Summary:
To climb the corporate ladder to success, a guy agrees to coach the company's all girl soccer team with the help of his secret weapon: his fiancee's son.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Comedy, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, sentimental, uplifting, offbeat, realistic, not serious, erotic, parody, funny
Similar in 87%
Necessary Roughness (1991)
Plot Summary:
When the Texas Southern Armadillos football team is disqualified for cheating and poor grades, the University is forced to pick from a team that actually goes to school. Will they even win a single game?.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 13000
Genere: Comedy, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: entertaining, light, inspirational, feel good, humorous, semi serious, funny, cult classic, exciting, realistic
Similar in 86%
Stick It (2006)
Plot Summary:
Haley is a naturally gifted athlete but, with her social behavior, the teen seems intent on squandering her abilities. After a final brush with the law, a judge sentences her to an elite gymnastics academy run by a legendary, hard-nosed coach. Once there, Haley's rebellious attitude wins her both friends and enemies.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 30000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Sport
Country: Germany, USA
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: feel good, teen, funny, inspirational, exciting, humorous, epic, cult classic, sexy, realistic
Similar in 84%
Tiger Town (1983)
Plot Summary:
Alex believed in his baseball hero Billy Young. When Billy's performance struggled, Alex's friends began to doubt Alex; and Billy began to doubt himself. Alex wants to prove to his friends, to Billy, and to himself that believing in someone can make the difference.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 313
Genere: Drama, Family, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: exciting, sincere, uplifting, touching, feel good, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 81%
The Bad News Bears (1976)
Plot Summary:
An aging, down-on-his-luck ex-minor leaguer coaches a team of misfits in an ultra-competitive California little league.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 25000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: inspirational, talky, intense, humorous, exciting, touching, feel good, clever, realistic, funny
Similar in 78%
The Mighty Ducks (1992)
Plot Summary:
After reckless young lawyer Gordon Bombay gets arrested for drunk driving, he must coach a kids hockey team for his community service. Gordon has experience on the ice, but isn't eager to return to hockey, a point hit home by his tense dealings with his own former coach, Jack Reilly. The reluctant Gordon eventually grows to appreciate his team, which includes promising young Charlie Conway, and leads them to take on Reilly's tough players.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 71000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: inspirational, humorous, sweet, light, sentimental, entertaining, feel good, exciting, uplifting, epic
Similar in 82%
Jump In! (2007)
Plot Summary:
Story revolves around a young boxer, Izzy Daniels, who trains to follow in his father's footsteps by winning the Golden Glove. When his friend, Mary, however, asks him to substitute for a team member in a Double Dutch tournament, the young man discovers a hidden passion for jump roping.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 8000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family, Romance, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 85 min
Plot tags: humorous, feel good, realistic, semi serious, teen
Similar in 79%
The Big Green (1995)
Plot Summary:
In a depressed Texas town, British foreign exchange teacher Anna attempts to inject some life into her hopeless kids by introducing them to soccer. They're terrible at first, but Anna and her football-hero assistant whip them into shape. As they work overtime, the pair help kids build their self-esteem and also get involved in solving family squabbles.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 11000
Genere: Comedy, Family, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: sentimental, light, inspirational, melancholic, touching, feel good, humorous, semi serious, entertaining, epic
Similar in 90%
Never Too Young to Dream (2001)
Plot Summary:
A group of kids have a dream: to play a football championship and to win. Their dream is going to be fulfilled by Don Pepe, an old guy with lots of expectations for his kids.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 392
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family, Sport
Country: Mexico
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: touching, feel good, humorous, semi serious, realistic
Similar in 88%
Cool Runnings (1993)
Plot Summary:
When a Jamaican sprinter is disqualified from the Olympic Games, he enlists the help of a dishonored coach to start the first Jamaican Bobsled Team.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 112000
Genere: Adventure, Comedy, Family, History, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: feel good, inspirational, funny, hilarious, humorous, sexy, uplifting, cult classic, motivational, sweet
Similar in 89%
The Sandlot (1993)
Plot Summary:
Scotty Smalls moves to a new neighborhood with his mom and stepdad, and wants to learn to play baseball. The neighborhood baseball guru Rodriquez takes Smalls under his wing. They fall into adventures involving baseball, treehouse sleep-ins, the desirous lifeguard at the local pool, the snooty rival ball team, and the travelling fair.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 100000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: feel good, funny, sentimental, teen, inspirational, sweet, witty, talky, humorous, semi serious
Similar in 78%
Angels in the Outfield (1994)
Plot Summary:
Roger is a foster child whose irresponsible father promises to get his act together when Roger's favourite baseball team, the California Angels, wins the pennant. The problem is that the Angels are in last place, so Roger prays for help to turn the team around. Sure enough, his prayers are answered in the form of angel Al.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 34000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: inspirational, touching, entertaining, light, sweet, emotional, humorous, feel good, epic, hilarious