Ball of Fire
1941, English. Directed by Howard Hawks.
“I LOVE HIM because he doesn't know how to kiss—THE JERK!”
A group of academics have spent years shut up in a house working on the definitive encyclopedia. When one of them discovers that his entry on slang is hopelessly outdated, he ventures into the wide world to learn about the evolving language. Here he meets Sugarpuss O’Shea, a nightclub singer, who’s on top of all the slang—and, it just so happens, needs a place to stay.
- Runtime
- 1h 51m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- English
- Rated
- NR
Start now and it ends at ….
Worth the Hype
Clear your evening for this.
7.4/10 from 261 TMDB viewer ratings.
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Where to watch Ball of Fire
Ball of Fire is streaming on Amazon Prime Video and YouTube TV in India.
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Fandango At HomeAvailability in India as of 13 November 2026. Streaming data by JustWatch.
Cast & crew
- Howard HawksDirector
- Gary CooperProfessor Bertram Potts
- Barbara StanwyckSugarpuss O’Shea
- Oskar HomolkaProf. Gurkakoff
- Henry TraversProf. Jerome
- S.Z. SakallProf. Magenbruch
- Tully MarshallProf. Robinson
- Leonid KinskeyProf. Quintana
- Richard HaydnProf. Oddly
- Aubrey MatherProf. Peagram
- Allen JenkinsGarbage Man
- Dana AndrewsJoe Lilac
- Dan DuryeaDuke Pastrami
Details
- Released
- 2 December 1941
- Country
- United States of America
- Written by
- Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder, Howard Hawks
- Box office
- $2.6M
Check ratings elsewhere
News & fan talk
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Ball of Fire: quick answers
Is Ball of Fire worth watching?
Our verdict is Worth the Hype: Clear your evening for this. It scores 7.4/10 from 261 TMDB viewer ratings.
How long is Ball of Fire?
Ball of Fire runs 111 minutes (1h 51m).
Does Ball of Fire have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for Ball of Fire. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
Ball of Fire parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
Ball of Fire is rated NR in India. Check the rating guidance before watching with young children.
Which OTT platform is Ball of Fire on?
Ball of Fire is streaming on Amazon Prime Video and YouTube TV in India. (Checked 13 November 2026.)
What movies are like Ball of Fire?
If you liked Ball of Fire, try The Mad Miss Manton, The Cheap Detective, I Love You Again.
Who directed Ball of Fire?
Ball of Fire (1941) was directed by Howard Hawks and stars Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwyck, Oskar Homolka.