The Dink

Play trailer

2:22

The Dink

PG-13

2026

1h 42m

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

76%

Tomatometer

90 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.

Watch on Apple TV

Stream Now

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.

Read Critics Reviews

Audience Says

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

Read Audience Reviews

Lindsey Bahr

Associated Press

3d

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.

Go to Full Review

Martin Robinson

London Evening Standard

Jul 28

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.

Go to Full Review

Jared Richards

The Age (Australia)

Jul 27

2/5

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

Go to Full Review

Adrian Ruiz

But Why Tho?

Aug 28

6/10

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

Go to Full Review

Brett Arnold

Yahoo.com

Aug 26

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

Go to Full Review

Alex Maidy

JoBlo's Movie Network

Aug 14

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.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Aaron C

@RT65603697 23h

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

See more

Benjamin W

@Code70 1d

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.

See more

Veronica S

@BionicVero 6d

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

See more

Tom F

@RT55173143 6d

It’s nothing memorable, but it is funnier and smarter than this sort of thing usually is.

See more

Papineau F

@RT64384887 Aug 30

Had to watch it twice, once with mum, and recommended to my PB friends, it did give me some ideas for better play on the court as well. Harkens back to the days of Caddy Shack, I love this movie. As a tennis and PB court gamer, it means way more if you a player… and watch closely, no shortage of laughs! I also notice this is no 1 movie on Apple tv in Aug 2026.

See more

Collin K

@Collin4123 Aug 29

A really silly but very fun and enjoyable movie!

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Josh Greenbaum

Director

Jake Johnson

Dusty Boyd

Mary Steenburgen

Candace

Ed Harris

Chuck Boyd

Ben Stiller

Dr. Stone

Patton Oswalt

Skip

The Dink: Trailer 1

2:22

Now Playing

View more videos

View more photos

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

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings