Hard Ball (2001): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Hard Ball is a 2001 sports drama directed by Brian Robbins, starring Keanu Reeves and Diane Lane. It runs 1 hour 46 minutes and earned $44.1 million worldwide on a $32 million budget. Critics gave it 41% on Rotten Tomatoes and 48 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.4/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 46m (106 min)
- Director
- Brian Robbins
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Paramount Pictures
- Budget
- $32M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Hard Ball About?
The premise of Hard Ball without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
In the tough neighborhoods of Chicago, a former gambler named Conor takes a surprising turn, becoming the coach of a Little League team. As he guides the kids through their games and challenges, he begins to question his past decisions and forms a connection with their teacher. Through the experience, Conor rediscovers purpose and finds unexpected camaraderie in the heart of the city.
Hard Ball Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- chicago illinois
- schoolteacher
- intergenerational friendship
- aimlessness
- asthmatic child
- baseball practice
- bar
- baseball pitcher
- dedication
- bartender
- selfishness
- tragic event
+38 more Show fewer
- redemption
- african american boy
- eulogy
- financial crisis
- little league
- little league baseball
- housing project
- boy
- baseball
- ticket scalping
- bookmaker
- funeral service
- death of a boy
- slow motion scene
- reference to sammy sosa
- baseball uniform
- classroom
- baseball team
- baseball coach
- baseball game
- baseball bat
- gambling debt
- sports team
- irish american
- shootout
- murder of a child
- betting
- based on book
- hug
- leather jacket
- coffin
- taxi
- boy wears eyeglasses
- hospital
- reference to a wrinkle in time
- t shirt
- reference to the notorious b.i.g.
- church
Hard Ball Cast
Keanu Reeves leads the cast, with Diane Lane. Directed by Brian Robbins.
-
Director Brian Robbins
Hard Ball Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Hard Ball 41% on Rotten Tomatoes and 48 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.4/10.
-
IMDb 6.4 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 41% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 70%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 48 Metascore
User score 5.6
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 65% User score
See on TMDB
Hard Ball Plot Summary
What happens in Hard Ball from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Connor O’Neill, a down-on-his-luck gambler, finds himself in a precarious situation after betting on his deceased father’s account, leading him to accumulate significant debt. To alleviate his financial burdens, he takes on the challenging role of coaching a baseball team comprised of troubled youths at the ABLA Housing Complex in Chicago. Initially, Connor plans to leave the team behind as soon as his debts are settled, but as he grows closer to the boys, he realizes that walking away is far more difficult than he anticipated.
Full summary
The whole story of Hard Ball, scene by scene
Hard Ball Box Office & Budget
Hard Ball grossed $44.1 million worldwide on a $32 million budget, 1.4 times what it cost. $40.2 million came from the US and Canada and $3.9 million (9%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$44.1M
1.4× its budget
- US & Canada
- $40.2M
- International
- $3.9M
- Budget
- $32M
Hard Ball Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Hard Ball.
How Well Do You Know Hard Ball?
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
What is Connor O'Neill's main financial issue at the beginning of the movie?
Cars in Hard Ball
21 cars on screen, including the 1991 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon and the 1999 BMW 740i E38.
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1991 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon Main role -
1999 BMW 740i E38 Important role -
1983 Cadillac unknown Minor role -
1991 Chevrolet Caprice Minor role
Hard Ball Also Known As
17 alternative titles, including “Sonuna Kadar” and “Хардбол”.
- Also known as
-
- Sonuna Kadar
- Хардбол
- 棒球教练
- 少棒小虎队
- 临时教练
- Hardball - O Jogo da Vida
- Tvrdá hra
- Aranytartalék
- משחק חזק
- Твърда игра
- El Reto
- 陽だまりのグラウンド
+5 more Show fewer
- 追梦高手
- Σκληρό Καρύδι
- 하드볼
- Krótka piłka
- 追夢高手
Seen Hard Ball?
Movies Like Hard Ball
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Little Big League, Home Run and All Square.
Hard Ball FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Hard Ball, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Hard Ball?
Hard Ball runs 1 hour 46 minutes (106 minutes).
When was Hard Ball released?
Hard Ball was released on September 14, 2001.
Who directed Hard Ball?
Hard Ball was directed by Brian Robbins.
More films by Brian Robbins Who is in the cast of Hard Ball?
Hard Ball stars Keanu Reeves and Diane Lane.
How much did Hard Ball make at the box office?
Hard Ball grossed $44.1 million worldwide ($40.2 million domestic, $3.9 million international) on a budget of $32 million.
How is Hard Ball rated?
Hard Ball has 6.4/10 on IMDb, 41% on Rotten Tomatoes, 48 on Metacritic and 65% on TMDB.
Does Hard Ball have a post-credit scene?
No. Hard Ball has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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