Chance Solem-Pfeifer Willamette Week Apr 14, 2025

The fact that Bull Durham savors the scuzzier side of the game makes it all the more romantic.

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Rachel Wagner Hallmarkies Podcast Apr 7, 2025

A sexy movie with great chemistry between its stars

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Dan Buffa Ramble On With Buffa (Substack) Aug 13, 2024 A

Crash was different, and that’s why he and the movie stand above most, if not all, baseball and sports films for me. Director Ron Shelton captured the minor league grind and added a bevy of edgy humor to the proceedings, starting with Costner’s aging pro.

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Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) Jul 7, 2022

Bull Durham is hit… I would even say a HOME RUN! [Full review in Spanish]

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Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Aug 10, 2021 4/4

Is Bull Durham the greatest sports movie ever made? Hey, no argument from me.

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Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com Sep 4, 2020 3.0/4.0

Writer/Director Ron Shelton clearly knows what he's doing here.

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Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Aug 31, 2020 9/10

Down-to-earth personalities and the honest, simple, funny dialogue are spot-on.

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Mark Jackson Epoch Times Jun 10, 2020 4.5/5

You 'd never find similar scenes to "Bull Durham" in, say, Europe, and not because they don't have our national pastime; they're just too sensible. You simply have to love America to be able to revel in our delightful, deep state of cultural silliness.

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Jack Garner Gannett News Service Mar 24, 2020 4/4

Bull Durham puts Shelton in the Hollywood big leagues, and he's hit his very first pitch over the scoreboard in centerfield.

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Tim Dirks Filmsite Sep 28, 2019 A+

Bull Durham (1988) is a humorous and intelligent romantic sports comedy-drama about a mediocre Carolina minor leagues baseball team - the Durham Bulls, from first-time director Ron Shelton. It is the quintessential modern sports film about America's...

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Sean Mulvihill FanboyNation.com Oct 29, 2018 5/5

Bull Durham is the greatest baseball film ever made. It captures the essence of the game. It's full of crackling dialogue that is endlessly quotable. It's absolutely hilarious at times and heartbreaking at others.

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Cathy Burke United Press International Dec 9, 2017

Writer-director Ron Shelton tells a wonderful story of how a veteran ballplayer and up-and-comer collide in the world of the minor leagues, and how they are loved by a baseball groupie who's also a philosopher and poet.

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Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Sep 7, 2015 B

Does an impressive job picking up the mundane world of bush league baseball in spirit.

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Margaret Pomeranz At the Movies (Australia) Nov 26, 2014

It's not just the screenplay, it's the performances and direction that make this film.

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Leah Rozen People Magazine May 6, 2014

Costner is charming as an aging catcher who decides it's time to hang up his mitt at Sarandon's place.

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Dan Geringer Philadelphia Daily News Jul 30, 2013

Bull Durham is the feel-good movie of the Summer of '88. The sooner you see it, the happier your summer's going to be. So what are you waiting for?

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John Marriott Radio Times Jul 29, 2013 4/5

A smart, witty character piece that eschews the stale sports flick formul

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Carrie Rickey Philadelphia Inquirer Mar 20, 2013 3/4

Screwball Annie and hardball Crash aren't playing the same game, which is Shelton's conceit as well as a possible screen-writing miscalculation.

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Jay Boyar Orlando Sentinel Mar 20, 2013

Ron Shelton, who wrote and directed the film, displays a knowledge of and affection for the national pastime. You can see it in the knowing detail he brings to even the minor characters.

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Candice Russell South Florida Sun-Sentinel Mar 20, 2013

Bull Durham is a jaunty, refreshing comedy that mixes sex The ambling pace and inventiveness of Bull Durham are the doing of Shelton, a filmmaker worth watching. This film is a tidy summing-up of one aspect of America`s favorite sport.

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