Balls Up (2026): Cast, Ratings & Ending
Balls Up is a 2026 action comedy directed by Peter Farrelly, starring Mark Wahlberg as Brad, Paul Walter Hauser and Daniela Melchior. It runs 1 hour 44 minutes. Critics gave it 23% on Rotten Tomatoes and 34 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 44m (104 min)
- Director
- Peter Farrelly
- Original language
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English
- Studio
- Amazon MGM Studios
- After the credits
- Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
What Is Balls Up About?
The premise of Balls Up without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
Marketing execs Brad (Mark Wahlberg) and Elijah (Paul Walter Hauser) go “balls out” by proposing a full‑coverage condom sponsorship for the World Cup. Their booze‑fueled celebration in Brazil ignites a worldwide scandal, sending them on a frantic chase from angry fans, dangerous criminals, and ruthless officials as they race to protect their reputations and survive long enough to get home.
Balls Up Cast & Characters
Mark Wahlberg leads the cast as Brad, with Paul Walter Hauser as Elijah and Daniela Melchior as Isabella Costa. Directed by Peter Farrelly; 20 actors are credited in all.
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Director Peter Farrelly
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Mark Wahlberg as Brad -
Paul Walter Hauser as Elijah -
Daniela Melchior as Isabella Costa -
Molly Shannon
Also Starring in Balls Up
· 16 more- Benjamin Bratt
- Sacha Baron Cohen
- Eric André
- Eva De Dominici
- Zen Gesner Reporter
- Antonio Alvarez Official
- Francesca Waters Mrs. Debel
- Hal Cumpston Eco Warrior PJ
- Jackson Tozer Jeremy
- Chelsey Crisp
- Matuse Fuad
- Connor Barton Eco Warrior
- Dan Silveira Araujo staffer
- Natyse Chan Party Girl
- Jayden 'Mozzie' Irving Leo Linguiça
- Isaac Priest
More from Peter Farrelly
More films directed by Peter Farrelly, best-rated first: Green Book, Dumb and Dumber, Stuck on You and Osmosis Jones.
Balls Up Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Balls Up 23% on Rotten Tomatoes and 34 on Metacritic. Our Echo Score gives it 30/100, strongest in sensory experience (45) and weakest in rewatch factor (30).
Balls Up Echo Score Breakdown
Overall, Balls Up struggles to deliver a satisfying comedy, with most critics and viewers citing weak storytelling and uninspired execution. Reviewers repeatedly mention a flat script, aimless pacing, and vulgar jokes that fail to generate lasting laughs. While a few audience members note occasional chuckles and enjoyed the closing song, these moments are outweighed by pervasive criticism of direction, acting, and limited replay value. Consequently, the film offers little lasting appeal.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 30
In terms of art and craft, the film’s direction and visual execution receive predominantly negative commentary. Critics describe the cinematography as generic and the editing as lacking momentum, while the production design offers no memorable details. The overall technical presentation is seen as uninspired, contributing little to the comedic intent.
- Character & Emotion 35
When evaluating character and emotion, reviewers focus on uneven performances and poor chemistry. Multiple critics note that Wahlberg appears miscast and that both leads deliver understated, often ineffective humor, while some audience members acknowledge brief moments of Hauser’s quirky charm. Overall, acting is described as subpar, diminishing any emotional resonance the film might have achieved.
- Story & Flow 30
The story and flow are repeatedly described as rudimentary and meandering. Critics point to a plot that offers little coherence, with jokes that feel forced and a pacing that quickly wanes, leading reviewers to label the script as flat and unoriginal. User comments echo this, noting a lack of narrative substance that hampers engagement.
- Sensory Experience 45
In the sensory domain, the film provides modest auditory highlights but otherwise lacks distinctive style. Reviewers mention an end‑credits song that some viewers found enjoyable, yet overall sound design and visual cohesion receive little praise. The limited sensory engagement contributes to the perception of the movie as a forgettable comedy.
- Rewatch Factor 30
Rewatch value is consistently low across commentary, with critics describing the comedy as quickly losing momentum and offering few memorable moments. Audience feedback cites a lack of lasting humor and limited incentive to view the film again, despite occasional isolated laughs. The overall impression is that the film provides little incentive for repeat viewings.
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Rotten Tomatoes 23% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 30%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 34 Metascore
User score 3.7
See on Metacritic
Balls Up Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in Balls Up from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Brad Lewison, Mark Wahlberg, and Elijah DeBell, Paul Walter Hauser, are a mismatched duo tasked with presenting a provocative new condom to Brazil’s Travel Ministry in hopes it becomes the official World Cup sponsor. Their invention, cheekily named The Testicle Sentinel, is a product that literally aims to cover the basics in a bold, satirical way. The pitch takes place before a room of executives where the ambitious plan seems to be on the fast track until an ecstatic celebration erupts chaos: Senhor Santos loses control, and the fallout costs all three of them their posts. The team watches in disbelief as The Testicle Sentinel—soon renamed Balls Up—falls behind a rival bid, effectively ending their shot at glory.
Full summary
The whole story of Balls Up, scene by scene, with the ending explained
How Well Do You Know Balls Up?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who plays the character Brad Lewison in the film?
Seen Balls Up?
Articles About Balls Up
Our article about Balls Up: “Balls Up (2026) Review & Critics Opinions – Reception, Fan Reactions, and Box Office Insight”.
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Opinions
Balls Up FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings and post-credit scenes of Balls Up, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Balls Up?
Balls Up runs 1 hour 44 minutes (104 minutes).
When was Balls Up released?
Balls Up was released on April 15, 2026.
Who directed Balls Up?
Balls Up was directed by Peter Farrelly.
More films by Peter Farrelly Who is in the cast of Balls Up?
Balls Up stars Mark Wahlberg as Brad, Paul Walter Hauser as Elijah and Daniela Melchior as Isabella Costa, among 20 credited actors.
How is Balls Up rated?
Balls Up has 23% on Rotten Tomatoes and 34 on Metacritic.
Does Balls Up have a post-credit scene?
Yes. Balls Up has an extra scene during or after the credits, so it is worth staying seated.
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