

The Rookie
2002, English. Directed by John Lee Hancock.
Sometimes dreams come back to life.
Jim Morris never made it out of the minor leagues before a shoulder injury ended his pitching career twelve years ago. Now a married-with-children high-school chemistry teacher and baseball coach in Texas, Jim's team makes a deal with him: if they win the district championship, Jim will try out with a major-league organization. The bet proves incentive enough for the team, and they go from worst to first, making it to state for the first time in the history of the school. Jim, forced to live up to his end of the deal, is nearly laughed off the try-out field--until he gets onto the mound, where he confounds the scouts (and himself) by clocking successive 98 mph fastballs, good enough for a minor-league contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Jim's still got a lot of pitches to throw before he makes it to The Show, but with his big-league dreams revived, there's no telling where he could go.
- Runtime
- 2h 7m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- English
- Rated
- G
Start now and it ends at ….
Popcorn Flick
Fun if you don’t overthink it.
6.8/10 from 514 TMDB viewer ratings.
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Cast & crew
- John Lee HancockDirector
- Dennis QuaidJimmy Morris
- Rachel GriffithsLorri Morris
- Jay HernandezJoaquin 'Wack' Campos
- Beth GrantOlline
- Angus T. JonesHunter Morris
- Brian CoxJim Morris Sr.
- Rick GonzalezRudy Bonilla
- Chad LindbergJoe David West
- Angelo SpizzirriJoel De La Garza
- Royce D. ApplegateHenry
- Russell RichardsonBrooks
- Raynor ScheineFrank
Details
- Released
- 25 March 2002
- Country
- United States of America
- Written by
- Mike Rich
- Budget
- $20M
- Box office
- $76M
Check ratings elsewhere
News & fan talk
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The Rookie: quick answers
Is The Rookie worth watching?
Our verdict is Popcorn Flick: Fun if you don’t overthink it. It scores 6.8/10 from 514 TMDB viewer ratings.
How long is The Rookie?
The Rookie runs 127 minutes (2h 7m).
Does The Rookie have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for The Rookie. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
The Rookie parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
The Rookie is rated G in India. That rating means it is generally fine for children.
Which OTT platform is The Rookie on?
The Rookie isn’t on a subscription OTT platform in India, but you can rent it or buy it online. (Checked 10 November 2026.)
What movies are like The Rookie?
If you liked The Rookie, try I Believe, You Gotta Believe, Twitches Too.
Who directed The Rookie?
The Rookie (2002) was directed by John Lee Hancock and stars Dennis Quaid, Rachel Griffiths, Jay Hernandez.