Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen , based on child development research. How do we rate?
age 15+
Crowd-pleasing '80s underdog sports comedy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
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Language
a lot
This is major-league cursing: More than two dozen "F"-words and "s--t," along with "ass," "Goddamn," "dick," and one "motherf--ker." There's even cursing in Spanish, courtesy of Cerrano.
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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
some
The guys drink cocktails and beer. Cerrano (and Jobu) smokes cigars and drinks rum.
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
some
There's asexual partial nudity in the team locker room (bare butts are visible). The female team owner slaps a couple of players' butts. Two sets of characters have off-screen sex (the viewer sees just foreplay and afterglow). A player is caught cheating on his wife in a televised news segment.
See AlsoMajor League | Rotten TomatoesDid you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.
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Violence & Scariness
some
Dorn and Vaughn push and shove each other, and in another scene Dorn punches Vaughn in the face. A couple of players give each other menacing looks.
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Products & Purchases
none
Major League Baseball: Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees
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Positive Messages
some
Even when faced with nearly impossible odds and no confidence from their owner, the ragtag team pulls together to give the season their best shot.
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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. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Major League
Parent and Kid Reviews
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- Parents say (7)
- Kids say (15)
age 11+
Based on 7 parent reviews
S Craig Y. Adult
April 4, 2024
age 13+
MAJOR LEAGUE is a GRAND SLAM!
While I wouldnt necessarily call this a family movie, it's pretty tame given the many other films out these days.I've probably watched this film over a dozen times, and have enjoyed it each and every time. Its endlessly rewatcheable, and will put a smile on your face each time.I rate it up there with other such great sports films such as Varsity Blues. Its an easy, fun, and yes, great sports film with a great soundtrack to boot!
Accurate P. Parent of 16-year-old
May 7, 2023
age 11+
PG-13 for strong language and brief sexual content
The F-word is used 15-20 times and there are a few scenes where characters have sex, but they cut away before any nudity is shown. The language is really the only reason it was rated R, but your kid could probably watch the movie and be fine. None of the F-words are used in a sexual context or anything. "Pansy" is also used once, but really who cares.
Rate movie
See all 7 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?
Our review:
Parents say (7):
Kids say (15):
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
- In theaters: April 7, 1989
- On DVD or streaming: April 10, 2007
- Cast: Charlie Sheen, Corbin Bernsen, Tom Berenger
- Director: David S. Ward
- Studio: Paramount Pictures
- Genre: Comedy
- Run time: 107 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- Last updated: September 19, 2024
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Major League
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