The Dink

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2:22

The Dink

PG-13

2026

1h 42m

Comedy

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Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

71%

Tomatometer

70 Reviews

54%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

Washed up former tennis prodigy Dusty Boyd (Jake Johnson) has been reduced to coaching unruly children at his father Chuck's (Ed Harris) suburban country club. Desperate for his father's approval, Dusty blindly supports Chuck's vendetta against the new craze taking over the club: pickleball. But when Dusty reaggravates an old injury, taking away his ability to play tennis, he resorts to the unthinkable in the name of rehab. He not only tries pickleball, but, thanks in part to his enchanting new partner, Candace (Mary Steenburgen), he finds himself actually enjoying it. Torn between two worlds, Dusty is forced to finally face the ghosts of his past athletic failures, including his childhood nemesis, Andy Roddick (Andy Roddick). Ultimately, Dusty is drawn into a desperate battle for the future of the club, his father's affection and his very identity.

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Critics Consensus

Jake Johnson gives his all to pickleball in The Dink, a funny and easygoing enough comeback for the sports comedies of yore that leaves it all on the court with ample pizzazz.

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Martin Robinson

London Evening Standard

3h

2/5

Apple TV’s new film The Dink, however, takes a disappointingly gentler approach in depicting the gentle American sport of pickleball when it should, surely, be taking a wrecking ball to it.

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Jared Richards

The Age (Australia)

1d

2/5

Much like the gentle pickleball lob it’s named after, The Dink plods along lightly, pleasant enough but subdued.

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Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

4d

2/5

Harris is typically effective as the sociopathic paterfamilias but it’s a familiar performance that, if not quite phoned in, could almost have been delivered over Zoom.

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Mark Meszoros

The News-Herald (Willoughby, OH)

4h

3/4

Love of the increasingly popular sport — which blends elements of table tennis, tennis and badminton and is played on a badminton-sized court — permeates the largely laugh-filled affair.

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Jeff Mitchell

Phoenix Film Festival

1d

2.5/4

‘The Dink’ is a sports comedy worth serving up.

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John Stark

Mac the Movie Guy

1d

76/100

It’s nice seeing Steenburgen front and center again, and I wish more actresses of her generation were given opportunities like this.

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Laith A

@laithalhashimi 4h

So many stars in such a bad movie?

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D L

@Pickleballfan 7h

Very silly, over-acted, and predictably plotted story that doesn't even get the pickleball action correct. Lead character is an over-the-top buffoon, but the actor can't pull it off like a Will Farrell can. There are some small laughs along the way but not nearly enough to make this worth watching. Such a disappointment as the fast-growing sport of pickleball cries out for a good movie treatment.

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Mirza M

@mirzabaig890 8h

An old school sports comedy with modern charm and a heartfelt spirit.

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Scott F

@Francisdiet 10h

Yeh it’s not going to be as good as happy Gilmore but Ed Harris and co make it very enjoyable It flies along and you smile and laugh and it has all the originally it needs It’s a 7/10 and u won’t hate it

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Allen A

@allenkau 11h

Can't believe Ben stiller did this to pickleball

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Charlotte G

@RT65711887 15h

Jake Johnson and Mary Steenburgen slightly elevate a sadly plodding script. I don’t think a single laugh line landed, with the exception of the always daffy deadpan delivery of standup (and standout) Aaron Chen as Johnson’s worshipful second banana. Oh yes - and John McEnroe’s snack-based sight gags. A waste of an hour and a half.

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Josh Greenbaum

Director

Jake Johnson

Dusty Boyd

Mary Steenburgen

Candace

Ed Harris

Chuck Boyd

Ben Stiller

Dr. Stone

Patton Oswalt

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The Dink: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Washed up former tennis prodigy Dusty Boyd (Jake Johnson) has been reduced to coaching unruly children at his father Chuck's (Ed Harris) suburban country club. Desperate for his father's approval, Dusty blindly supports Chuck's vendetta against the new craze taking over the club: pickleball. But when Dusty reaggravates an old injury, taking away his ability to play tennis, he resorts to the unthinkable in the name of rehab. He not only tries pickleball, but, thanks in part to his enchanting new partner, Candace (Mary Steenburgen), he finds himself actually enjoying it. Torn between two worlds, Dusty is forced to finally face the ghosts of his past athletic failures, including his childhood nemesis, Andy Roddick (Andy Roddick). Ultimately, Dusty is drawn into a desperate battle for the future of the club, his father's affection and his very identity.

Director: Josh Greenbaum
Producer: Ben Stiller, John Lesher, Rob Paris, Mike Witherill, Jake Johnson
Screenwriter: Sean Clements
Distributor: Apple TV
Production Co: Red Hour Films, Rivulet Media, Apple Original Films
Rating: PG-13 (Sexual Material|Strong Language)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 24, 2026
Runtime: 1h 42m