The Dink

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2:22

The Dink

PG-13

2026

1h 42m

Comedy

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Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

76%

Tomatometer

91 Reviews

58%

Popcornmeter

250+ 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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Audience Says

While not an overhead smash, The Dink’s game cast serves up enough good-natured humor to make it an enjoyable match.

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Kristy Puchko

Mashable

3 days ago

Greenbaum's brand of comedy is defiantly wacky, welcoming, and humane, never mean. So The Dink is sure to please, whatever your age or interest in its central sport.

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Lindsey Bahr

Associated Press

Sep 3, 2026

2.5/4

It is moderately successful in toeing the line between silly and heartfelt. And, to its credit, it doesn’t go so low as to make pickleball and its players the butt of every joke. There are some, to be sure; But it’s mostly done so lovingly.

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Martin Robinson

London Evening Standard

Jul 28, 2026

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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Adrian Ruiz

But Why Tho?

Aug 28, 2026

6/10

"Fine" becomes both The Dink’s most accurate description and its greatest limitation.

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Brett Arnold

Yahoo.com

Aug 26, 2026

The Dink is a delightful comedy that sneaks up on you by being heartfelt to boot, thanks to the chemistry of its two stars.

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Alex Maidy

JoBlo's Movie Network

Aug 14, 2026

7/10

You will likely leave this film wanting to try your hand at the game, or it may even turn you on to cowgirl country music. The Dink definitely earns the laughs it puts out there and is better than I expected.

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s P

@RT12718330 5 days ago

I loved this movie. Totally light hearted and I've never seen Jake Johnson before (sorry!) but he was amazing. Really really good. The entire cast was excellent, the movie was fun and I highly recommend it. Loved seeing Christine Taylor who is one of the most beautiful women around. See it. You won't regret it. Its fun!

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Mindy S

@ColoradoGal73 Sep 11, 2026

Fun movie with several moments that made me laugh out loud and the actors did a great job!

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Ry N

@RyGuy Sep 10, 2026

Former tennis pro injures his wrist and gets into pickle ball where he falls for his old ahh partner. The movie tries desperately to squeeze a laugh out of you but its delivery is cringy.

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Aaron C

@RT65603697 Sep 5, 2026

It was so funny I downloaded the TT app after using RzT for 20 years just to start Ibliked it. The Audttalian Aaron actor dude is hilarious. This movie is like Hot Rod or Superbad esque

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Benjamin W

@Code70 Sep 5, 2026

I thought this one worked well enough for me. Jake Johnson is a reliably funny figure, and this takes after a number of sports-comedy tropes that I’m a fan of. It especially felt influenced by Kicking & Screaming, which, while not popular, is certainly one I enjoy. Maybe it’s a little needlessly raunchy at times (raunch can be funny, but when it feels like it doesn’t need to be there, it puts a sour taste in my mouth), and the main plot? As predictable as it gets. But hey, a predictable, funny sports-comedy with a couple of solid leads? That’s a pretty good time, if you ask me.

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Veronica S

@BionicVero Aug 31, 2026

Way too predictable and cheesy! I gave 2 stars because of Aaron Chen’s sidekick role, which is the only who made me laugh.

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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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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

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