Watch The Bad News Bears

The Bad News Bears is a classic comedy sports movie from 1976 that follows the progress of a ragtag baseball team made up of a group of misfit kids. The team is coached by a washed-up former minor league player named Morris Buttermaker (played by Walter Matthau), who is recruited to coach by a local councilman who wants to give the kids a chance to play baseball.

The movie is set in California and centers around the Bears, a team of kids who are the rejects of the youth baseball league. The team includes a mix of personalities, including Tanner Boyle (Chris Barnes), a foul-mouthed troublemaker; Timmy Lupus (Quinn Smith), a shy and unathletic kid; and Amanda Whurlitzer (Tatum O'Neal), a talented pitcher who happens to be a girl.

Morris Buttermaker is a former minor league player who, after getting fired from his job as a pool cleaner, agrees to coach the team for $100 a week. To help him out, he recruits a drunken ex-girlfriend and former swimming champion named Amanda Whurlitzer (Tatum O'Neal) to be the team's ace pitcher.

The team starts off badly, losing their first few games by huge margins. But Buttermaker refuses to give up on his team and devises a plan to improve their skills. He brings in a talented kid from another team, Kelly Leak (Jackie Earle Haley), to help them out. Kelly is a rebellious troublemaker who becomes an important part of the team, helping them to win games and learn important life lessons.

Throughout the movie, we see the Bears grow and mature as they learn the importance of teamwork, sportsmanship, and perseverance. As the team starts to win more games, they begin to believe in themselves and their ability to succeed. The team's dynamic changes as they become more confident, and Buttermaker becomes more invested in their success.

The movie is filled with memorable scenes and one-liners that have become iconic in pop culture. From Tanner Boyle's profanity-laced insults to Buttermaker's unconventional coaching methods, the movie is a hilarious and heartwarming look at a group of kids who come together to achieve something great.

The performances in the movie are excellent, particularly those of Walter Matthau and Tatum O'Neal. Matthau brings a gruff charm to the role of Buttermaker, playing the character as a lovable loser who is trying to find his place in the world. O'Neal, meanwhile, is impressive as the talented and confident Amanda, who serves as a role model for the rest of the team.

The movie is also notable for its portrayal of gender roles in sports. Amanda is the only girl on the team, and her talent and confidence challenges the boys' assumptions about what girls can do. As the team learns to work together, they begin to see Amanda not as a girl, but as a valuable teammate who can help them win games.

The Bad News Bears is a classic sports movie that continues to be popular with audiences today. Its mix of humor, heart, and memorable characters make it a movie that is fun for the whole family. Whether you're a fan of baseball, comedy, or just great movies in general, The Bad News Bears is a must-see film that has stood the test of time.

The Bad News Bears is a 1976 kids & family movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 42 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3 and a MetaScore of 84.