Moneyball poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Wright, Chris Pratt ... see more see more... , Stephen Bishop , Brent Jennings , Ken Medlock , Tammy Blanchard , Vyto Ruginis , Jack McGee , Nick Searcy , Glenn Morshower , Casey Bond , Nick Porrazzo , Kerris Dorsey , Arliss Howard , Reed Thompson , James Shanklin , Diane Behrens , Takayo Fischer , Derrin Ebert , Miguel Mendoza , Adrian Bellani , Tom Gamboa , Artie Harris , Barry Moss , Bob Bishop , George Vranau , Phil Pote , Art Ortiz , Royce Clayton , Marvin Horn , Brent Dohling

Based on a true story, Moneyball is a movie for anybody who has ever dreamed of taking on the system. Brad Pitt stars as Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland A's and the guy who assembles t... read more read more...he team, who has an epiphany: all of baseball's conventional wisdom is wrong. Forced to reinvent his team on a tight budget, Beane will have to outsmart the richer clubs. The onetime jock teams with Ivy League grad Peter Brand (Jonah Hill) in an unlikely partnership, recruiting bargain players that the scouts call flawed, but all of whom have an ability to get on base, score runs, and win games. It's more than baseball, it's a revolution - one that challenges old school traditions and puts Beane in the crosshairs of those who say he's tearing out the heart and soul of the game. -- (C) Sony Pictures

Flixster Users

86% liked it

73,710 ratings

Critics

95% liked it

225 critics

PG-13, 2 hr. 13 min.

Directed by: Bennett Miller

Release Date: September 23, 2011

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: January 10, 2012

Get It:

Stats: 8,573 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

Moneyball Moneyball Moneyball moneyball moneyball Moneyball
Upload a Photo | View All Moneyball Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (8,573)

  • LWOODS04
    May 18, 2013
    LWOODS04
    review soon....
  • fb1019018362
    April 26, 2013
    fb1019018362
    Okay. This movie give me another preapective of money. A good prespective.
  • binky013
    March 11, 2013
    binky013
    I'm a big baseball fan . . . I can't understand how they could make such a great story so boring. And adding in the family nonsense only detracted from the real importance of the story being told. It's a new system jockeying for position with the old tried and "true" -- sometim... read morees -- method of nose to the ground scouting. And you know what? Mathematical percentages about a player's and his team's success has a rightful position in the mix. Not that it will ever replace good old fashion scouting, but it is at least as valid a tool. And this should be exciting, albeit for rabid baseball fans. But in this movie it's almost a non-event.
  • paulsandberg
    February 5, 2013
    paulsandberg
    It's hard for me to be objective with this film as 1) I'm a baseball fan, and 2) I remember that wacky season like it was yesterday (well, maybe the day before yesterday). After viewing this I pondered what someone who was not into baseball might think of this film - was there e... read morenough of the human element and the underdog effect to catch and hold the interest of a non sports fan? But then I realized... if you were NOT a sports fan, you probably wouldn't be interested in seeing Moneyball in the first place; so the question remains rather moot.

    From a filmmaker's point of view, the film is first rate all the way - from the pace and direction (which only occasionally fails to *ahem* keep its eye on the ball), to the seamless interspersion of archival film with the actors on the field as well as voiceovers from the guys actually announcing some of the contests (local Oakland broadcasters Greg Pappa and Glenn Kuiper). The film also has three terrific performances at its core as well as several wonderful bits of natural acting in small bit parts which make so many scenes seem as if you are really in the room as these career baseball scouts discuss the makeup of next season's team.

    The story, in case you are interested in such things, is simple and yet full of backstory which mirrors the great game itself. The small budget Oakland A's just took the mighty NY Yankees to the point of elimination in the playoffs. So of course the Yankees offer insane amounts of money to Oakland's best players, knowing that Oakland can't match their offer. Then the other bully in the league, Boston, gets into the act and so the carefully crafted team of A's general manager Billy Beane has been effectively gutted by the large payroll east coast teams.

    Rather than give up, Beane decides upon a radical plan that defies conventional baseball logic. It is this plan and its underdog aspects that are really what this film is about - how a new and different perspective can be met with skepticism by the established order, and how those shrewd enough to understand and accept it are therefore a leg up on the dinosaurs who don't.

    The beautiful script, co penned by Steve Zallian and Aaron Sorkin, ably explores these deeper undercurrents while at the same time ratcheting up the tension of a real baseball season, subtly reminding us why this particular one is so important to the players involved.

    Brad Pitt portrays Billy Beane, and he absolutely owns the role. Totally in the moment throughout the film, this is a masterful Oscar worthy work. The totally natural way he and co-star Jonah Hill work off of each other makes you totally forget that you are watching actors portraying characters. The same can be said for the understated performance of Seymore-Hoffman as the A's manager - the script does a beautiful job of shorthand in the verbal jousting between he and Beane; a terrific example of less often being more.

    In a way you can call this a biopic, as it is based on a non fiction book. I know the sequence of events is certainly true, and can even tell you where I was when Hatteberg hit that dramatic home run that put Oakland in the record books (I was gigging at a sports bar that had the game going on a big screen tv). Many have said that this film belongs in the Parthenon of great sports films - but really, while it is about sports on the surface, it is the undercurrent story of human will and heart that make this film a winner.
  • cosmo313
    November 1, 2012
    cosmo313
    It seems odd that a movie based on a non-fiction book that is very heavy on statistics and number crunching could be an enjoyable, engrossing, and wonderful piece of cinema, but this movie is the proof.

    Based on the aforementioned book of the same name, this is the true story of... read more how Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane, with the help of an Ivy League educated economist defied conventional wisdom and the system by using stats and outside the box thinking to create a successful baseball team on a meager budget during their 2002 season.

    Despite having a very limited budget, Beane (Brad Pitt) and economist Peter Brand (Jonah Hill) discovered that they could theoretically have a winning team by focusing on players with records of high on base percentages. There's a but more to it, and the movie is great at making everything understandable, and yeah, this gamble did pay off, and for better or worse, did change the game of baseball.

    To help make such dry seeming material more accessible and entertaining, the film does focus on the human element a lot as well, mostly the relationship between Beane and his young daughter, and little bit on Beane and his ex-wife, as well as some flashbacks which flesh out why Beane is the type of manager and thinker he is.

    This is definitely a sports drama, but it's not really a baseball movie, at least not in the conventional sense. Most of the focus is on the behind the scenes stuff, with many, many, many scenes of talking, but there's some game footage too, although a lot of it is in the form of stock footage from various audio and video archives. How they are edited into the rest of the film is one of the areas where the movie really shines.

    There's creative editing, sound design, and some excellent cinematography that really make this world come alive. It's all very low key, yet quite striking, too. This is some really effective and groundbreaking direction, and it might have really been the best possible way to adapt the material. The performances are also quite nice too, with Pitt bringing a great sense of wisdom and experience to the role, and Jonah Hill (pre-weight loss) really shining in a superb dramatic turn. He's treaded dramatic territory before, but it's here where he really gets his feet wet, and he does so without a hint of drowning. Hoffman is also good as the field manager, but he could have been used a little more.

    Despite all this wonderful stuff, which also includes a high degree of realism and accuracy, the film isn't totally flawless. It is fairly long, and rather slow at times, and while this wasn't really a problem with me, it could be for others. Given that this is a period piece, it is to the film's credit that it remains gripping even if the ending is known, but the film does tend to play up the underdog aspect of things maybe a little too much a bit too often.

    Aside from that though, this unlikely adaptation, like the story it's about, proves to be quite a success.
  • fb7018436
    September 8, 2012
    fb7018436
    Science, a great script and Brad Pitt come together for a great tale of the underdog changing a sport forever.
  • fb1442511448
    August 25, 2012
    fb1442511448
    A crisp and sharp film that illustrates the hardships and triumphs in the world of professional baseball. Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill team up to bring the true story of baseball galore to life and award-winning is an understatement to describe the emotion the film brings about. 4/5
  • fb1664868775
    July 22, 2012
    fb1664868775
    For sure the best film about baseball I've seen. Great performance from Brad Pitt but really the whole cast shines.
  • fb100002384654145
    July 7, 2012
    fb100002384654145
    A pretty intriguing and unique take on a baseball story. One thing the film does beautifully is showing the anguishing and grueling struggle Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill have to go through in trying to save a baseball team. Pitt is very likable in the lead role and Hill delivers his ... read morebest performance to date (Not Oscar worthy, but still fine). Despite it's slightly bloated runtime, both sports fans and non-fans alike should find something to enjoy about this film.
  • katykern8261
    May 30, 2012
    katykern8261
    Directed by Bennett Miller, Michael De Luca Productions, 2011. Starring Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Robin Wright, and Philip Seymour Hoffman.

    Genre: Biography, Drama, Sport

    Question: Did you ever have an idea that is absolutely insane but you know deep in your soul it will work?... read more Sure, nearly every one around you knocks you down especially when the idea doesn't take off right away. However, you stick to your guns and eventually there is some sort of payoff. In a nutshell - that is Moneyball - the latest Brad Pitt film.

    Well, I saw Moneyball yesterday, but I will admit that I was unsure about seeing it until someone asked me about it. It is not my normal genre to see, a sports film, but I was pleasantly surprised at the moral of the story. I felt a deep connection to it somehow. Currently, I am delving into a dream of becoming a professional movie reviewer; however, my style of reviewing is not the norm. Success has not arrived...yet. Being a certain age or having some wisdom I realize struggle is part of dreaming and nothing is going to stop me from obtaining my goal.

    So, if you have ever had a dream - even a crazy one - you should see Moneyball.

    This isn't a typical baseball tale. The story is not about achieving absolute greatness either. That only happens in the movies, and with that, so often it skews our realities when we pursue our dreams. It was completely refreshing to see a story with a real outcome. Of course, it is based on the true story of the 2002 Oakland A's and how the General Manager, Billy Beane (played by Brad Pitt), tried something completely radical to improve the team. Is this the full reality of what happened? I cannot answer that.

    I can tell you I was unaware of how the business of baseball worked but got a crash course with this movie. Some baseball teams have deep pockets while others have mere pittance to put their team together. That detail was surprising to learn and the Oakland A's, apparently, had the bottom of the barrel type of budget. So, Billy Beane (Brad Pitt), found a young Yale graduate (Jonah Hill) who devised a mathematical scenario for a winning season. As I said it was a radical approach. However, those two believed in this new theory, called Moneyball, but discovered roadblocks left and right.

    Brad Pitt played the ex-baseball player turned general manager. This was not a typical character for him and I rather enjoyed the performance. Some are even buzzing about nominations. Now there were no elaborate pep-talks with an emotional melody playing in the background or even an overwhelming breakdown moment that the Academy usually looks for to nominate. He was just a man who loved baseball and his team and wanted to....wait! I can't tell you that. You have to see for yourself.

    I won't say anymore about the story but know this is not a fast paced movie. I should also say it is not a typical underdog story either. There was some humor in Moneyball that I wasn't expecting especially between the two lead actors. In fact, I was grinning for almost the entire movie. But I will say towards the end I had some mixed emotions. You will just have to see for yourself to understand what I mean.

    Moneyball is worth the price of the ticket. You might want to grab your kids (PG-13) to show them a tale of someone who pursues a dream despite the obstacles.

    My favorite part: The scenes between Brad Pitt's and Jonah Hill's characters. Oh, and when the daughter sings in the guitar store.

    My least favorite: Perhaps towards the end when my emotions kept going back and forth of liking then not liking then liking, etc..at what was happening.

    Rating: PG-13
    Length: 133 minutes

    Rating: 8 out of 10

View All Moneyball Reviews

Critic Reviews

Tom Huddleston
November 22, 2011
Tom Huddleston, Time Out

As an example of smarter-than-average Hollywood fare - and a sly dig at modern sporting politics - 'Moneyball' has all the key bases covered. Full Review

David Denby
September 27, 2011
David Denby, New Yorker

One of the most soulful of baseball movies -- it confronts the anguish of a very tough game. Full Review

J. R. Jones
September 23, 2011
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader

The real protagonist of Moneyball, however, is Beane himself, played with great charisma by Brad Pitt. Full Review

Peter Rainer
September 23, 2011
Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor

[Pitt] provides ballast and a swaggering humor to a movie that, too often, strives to be The Social Network of baseball movies. Full Review

Lisa Kennedy
September 23, 2011
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post

Pitt, who has a producing credit, is not the sole reason this tremendous -- yet intimate -- sports tale soars over the fences. The bench is deep. And the script has a powerful but finessed swing. Full Review

Tom Long
September 23, 2011
Tom Long, Detroit News

Moneyball turns an unlikely subject interesting, making a professional sport the nexus where past and future collide. Full Review

Rick Groen
September 23, 2011
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

Moneyball is exactly like moneyball -- infused with intelligence, amusing in its attacks on false gods, but way easier to admire than to love. Full Review

Stephen Whitty
September 23, 2011
Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger

A well-written, sharply acted film that's guaranteed to garner attention. Full Review

Peter Hartlaub
September 23, 2011
Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle

Naysayers have been claiming for years that the Moneyball book wouldn't work as a movie. But ultimately, it's the cinematic touches that keep this film version from becoming something exceptional. Full Review

Ann Hornaday
September 23, 2011
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

Like a cold beer under a bluebird sky; like a flawless line drive on a warm summer's day; like a long, languorous seventh-inning stretch - "Moneyball" satisfies. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Flight
    Flight (67%)
  • 21
    21 (67%)
  • A League of Their Own
    A League of Their Own (83%)
  • The Blind Side
    The Blind Side (88%)

More Movies like Moneyball

Facts

Submit a Fact | View All
    • Peter Brand: I think he was gonna say something else.
    • Billy Beane: When you get the answer you're looking for, hang up.
    • Billy Beane: Listen, man. I've been in this game a long time. I'm not in it for a record, I'll tell you that. I'm not in it for a ring. That's when people get hurt. If we don't win the last game of the series, they'll dismiss us. I know these guys, I know the way think, and they will erase us. And everything we've done here, none of it will matter. Any other team wins the world series, good for them. They're drinking champagne, they'll get a ring. But if we win, on our budget with this team, we'll change the game. And that's what I want, I want it to mean something.
    • Billy Beane: We want you at first base, it's not that hard. Tell him Wash'
    • Ron Washington: It's incredibly hard.
    • Grady Fuson: Now you need to have a little bit of faith and let us do the job of replacing Giambi.
    • Billy Beane: Is there another first baseman like Giambi?
    • Scout Martinez: No, not really.
    • Scout Artie: And if there was could we afford him.
    • Scout Barry: Nope.
    • Billy Beane: Then what the f**k are you talking about man! If we try to play like the Yankees in here, we will lose to the Yankees it there.
    • Grady Fuson: Boy that sounds like some fortune cookie wisdom to me Billy.
    • Billy Beane: No, that's just logic.
    • Scout Pote: Who's Fabio?
    • Scout Pote: He's the short stop, the short stop from Seattle.
    • Billy Beane: I'm not gonna fire you Gary.
    • Grady Fuson: Fuck you.
    • Billy Beane: Alright now I'm gonna fire you.
    • Billy Beane: If we play like the Yankees in here, were gonna lose to 'em out there.
Submit a Fact | View All

Moneyball : Watch Free on TV

Moneyball Trivia

More Moneyball Trivia

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for Moneyball. Want to create one?

Video Clips

Upload a Video |

All Moneyball Videos

Meet Other Fans

Add Moneyball to favorites

Recent News

Submit a Story |

View Moneyball News

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?