Bull Durham

Name: Bull Durham
Genre: Sport, Comedy, Romance
Released: June 15, 1988
Duration: 108 min
Rating: 73
Cast: Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins

1988

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 16 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 72 Ratings

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8.4

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8.4	User Score Universal acclaim based on 72 Ratings

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Bull Durham

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Movie Details & Credits

Orion Pictures Corporation | Release Date: June 15, 1988 | R

Starring: Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins

Summary: A romantic love story set in the dirt and grit of minor league baseball. Sarandan is a groupie for the Carolina Durham Bulls who chooses a protege each season to school in the art of love. This season she picks the team's untameable pitcher but eventually abides her true passion, the team's catcher, Costner. (MGM)

Director: Ron Shelton

Genre(s): Sport, Comedy, Romance

Rating: R

Runtime: 108 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Mike Clark

Though his film is like no other baseball movie, it may remind you of Paul Newman's hockey comedy Slap Shot: a knowing look at sport's underbelly - punctuated by jelly-belly laughs. [15 June 1988]

Hal Hinson

It eases up on you, lazy as a cloud, and carries you off in a mood of exquisite delight. To borrow W.P. Kinsella's phrase, it has the thrill of the grass. Read full review

Sheila Benson

It's just that when a movie is this close, with so much of the sports flavor (co-producer Thom Mount is co-owner of the real Durham Bulls), you like to see it perfect. [15 June 1988]

Brad Laidman

The best movie ever made about baseball, and it's not even really that close... "Major League" was funny, but Bull Durham is funny, literate, romantic, and overwhelmingly adherent to the idiosyncracies of the game. Read full review

David Sterritt

Even if baseball isn't your favorite sport, or if you don't like sports much at all, you'll find something to catch your attention in this smartly made (if unblushingly vulgar) new comedy. [7 July 1988]

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Non Credited)

Featuring outstanding lead performances by Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon, and Tim Robbins; a witty, literate script; and an insider's familiarity with life around minor league baseball--Bull Durham is both one of the best films ever made about the national pastime and a charming romantic comedy. Read full review

Gerald Nachman

In a word, bull - cruddy, foul-smelling and fly-specked, an excuse for a series of cheap sex scenes and single-entendre gags. [15 June 1988]

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User Reviews

Compi24

Feb 8, 2019

Baseball lifers will get -- and probably already have gotten -- a kick out of the many specific truisms littered throughout this light, yet refreshingly sardonic romp through minor league baseball. As a fan of the sport myself, I found it to be an ultimately rewarding experience. As a fan ofBaseball lifers will get -- and probably already have gotten -- a kick out of the many specific truisms littered throughout this light, yet refreshingly sardonic romp through minor league baseball. As a fan of the sport myself, I found it to be an ultimately rewarding experience. As a fan of filmmaking, however, I found it to be slightly less so. The dialogue is supremely sharp and the authenticity behind the story is evident, but I just couldn't nail down these characters' motivations, attitudes, and traits. I suppose that helps in that I couldn't necessarily tell what was going to happen next. But I also ended feeling as though I didn't really ever know any of these people. And my emotional investment in them took a subsequent hit as well. An enjoyable movie overall, but a fleeting experience as well, I fear.… Expand

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dc127

Aug 24, 2015

I loved all of the baseball aspects of the movie. Both Costner and Robbins were great. I disliked every moment Sarandon was on the screen. She just rubs me the wrong way. She has no chemistry with any of the other characters.

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royalguy07

Feb 20, 2023

This one missed the mark a little for me. Besides Crash and Nuke the rest of the team is pretty limp personality wise. Costner is good and is clearly actually good at baseball, but his big speech in the movie is I dunno, completely insane??

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