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Balls Up

Balls Up

Their survival takes a big pair.

2026104 minRMidcredits score: 9th percentile of all films
Director
Peter Farrelly
Starring
Mark Wahlberg, Paul Walter Hauser, Benjamin Bratt, Luciano Szafir

Two marketing executives go "balls out" and pitch a bold full‑coverage condom sponsorship with the World Cup. After their drunken celebration in Brazil sparks a global scandal, they must outrun furious fans, criminals, and power-hungry officials to salvage their careers and make it home alive.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Balls Up?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Balls Up streaming on Prime Video and to rent or buy on Prime Video.

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Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Balls Up?

Balls Up earns 2 badges, led by Overhyped and Fun.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood

Reception

Is Balls Up worth watching?

Balls Up's Midcredits score is the 9th percentile of all films, from 64K ratings across 6 sources. 20% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

9th percentile

Better received than 9% of films

16th percentile among Action10th percentile among 2020s
Acclaim (how much people like it)12th
Approval (how many liked it)9th

47 /100

12th percentile of all films

20th percentile among Action14th percentile among 2020s

Critics 34 · Audience 48

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

The crowd leans negative, with most ratings sitting in the bottom half of the scale.

Approval

How many liked it

20% liked it

9th percentile of all films

16th percentile among Action10th percentile among 2020s
20% rated it 7–1080% rated it 1–6

Critics 23% · Audience 29%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of audiences approved than critics.

Reach

How many have seen it

92nd percentile

64K ratings across platforms

86th percentile among Action93rd percentile among 2020s
TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 45% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

It is a juvenile, lowbrow comedy with vulgar gags and slapstick, but it fails to land consistently.

Detractors panned

  • uninspired, derivative script from usually sharp writers
  • leads underplaying, lacking comic energy
  • aimless structure with neither absurdity nor heart

What stands out

Acting35

Wahlberg miscast as wordsmith; Hauser's talent wasted

Dialogue35

few quotable lines, writers in uninspired mode

Humor30

juvenile jokes, low-hanging laughs but mostly flat

Pacing30

loses steam, aimless wandering

Plot and story30

absurd premise, episodic structure

Originality20

generic shock-shtick, derivative of better comedies

Effects and spectacle20

terrible visual effects

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 3 points apart
  • Under-30s vs over-30s even
  • Critics vs users 3 points apart
  • US vs non-US 2 points apart

Watch experience

What is Balls Up like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Easy laugh: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want something light that makes you laugh and does not take itself seriously.

It leaves you entertained. Skip it when you want something with weight.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Very little.

What it feels like

Easy laugh.

Moods
AbsurdThrillingTense
Heaviest: late
Raunchy humor
Register
Absurdist · 7% of films: Deliberately illogical; embraces nonsense.Irreverent · 1% of films
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film fully embraces its own stupidity, playing its absurd premise and crude humor with a knowing, self-mocking tone.
The rideThe film is a comedy chase that escalates in danger and stakes as it goes, according to reviews.
StructureThe story unfolds linearly from the initial mistake through escalating consequences to a resolution, following a conventional three-act structure.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Entertained.

FunFeel-good
Why it leaves you this wayThe film leaves the viewer entertained and grinning if they embrace the absurd nonsense.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).ComedyFarce
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11% (this title): Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% (this title) · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Comedy: Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony. · Farce: Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).

11% of films fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThe film follows two fired executives whose drunken antics at a soccer match escalate into a cross-country chase, built on absurd and chaotic events characteristic of a farce.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfFriendship
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27% (this title): Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% (this title) · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% (this title) · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Friendship · 9% of filmsSurvival
Observes its theme: Presents its theme neutrally, declining to judge.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe film centers on two friends forced to rely on each other while fleeing across the country, exploring loyalty under extreme circumstances.
StanceThe film neither celebrates nor condemns its protagonists' behavior — it simply watches them react to a ridiculous situation.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanIn transitRealistic
Orchestral modernPopRockSupportive music · original score · Dave Palmer
SettingAcross the United States after a soccer match gone wrong
MusicDave Palmer provides a genre-hopping score that matches the chaotic chase, likely blending orchestral cues with energetic pop and rock tracks.

Content guide

Is Balls Up okay for kids?

R

Balls Up is rated R: “Rated R for crude sexual material, drug content, language throughout, violence and graphic nudity” (MPAA). As of August 19, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at moderate (41/100), sexual content at moderate (56/100), language at severe (83/100), drug and alcohol content at intense (71/100) and frightening material at mild (33/100). Overall it is heavier than 51% of R-rated films.

Ratings in 9 other countries
  • UK15
  • Germany18
  • France18
  • Brazil16
  • Argentina+18
  • Poland18
  • SingaporeM18
  • Spain18
  • Taiwan18+
Overall
Intense · all five categories
Heavier than 71% of all filmsHeavier than 51% of R-rated films
Violence & Gore
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
light for an R-rated film
heavier than 21%
Sex & Nudity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 67%
Profanity
Severe
heavy for an R-rated film
heavier than 79%
Alcohol & Drugs
Intense
heavy for an R-rated film
heavier than 88%
Frightening / Intense
Mild
light for an R-rated film
heavier than 16%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is language and drug and alcohol content. Everything else sits at or below what R-rated films usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Balls Up have?

MovieCove's classifier found 2 depicted content warnings in Balls Up: Addiction or relapse (moderate), Kidnapping or confinement (mild). Each is backed by a verbatim quote from the parents' guide notes; a missing warning is not a guarantee of absence.

ModerateAddiction or relapse
MildKidnapping or confinement

Cast and crew

Who is in Balls Up?

Cast

2 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Mark Wahlberg
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.
Paul Walter Hauser
Benjamin Bratt
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.
Luciano Szafir
Best so far: Their highest-reaching film role to date — the title is too recent to say more.
Eva De Dominici
Daniela Melchior
Molly Shannon
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Chelsey Crisp
Eric André
Jackson Tozer
as Jeremy
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Balls Up?

Movies like Balls Up include Kingpin (1996), Dumb and Dumber To (2014) and Dumb and Dumber (1994). Of the 12 closest matches, several are films written by Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese, and most are buddy comedies.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

Peter Farrelly directed 6 of these 12. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Balls Up?

2.2K other films share the rarest tag below, kind of film: action comedy. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.