The Dink

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2:22

The Dink

PG-13

2026

1h 42m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

72%

Tomatometer

75 Reviews

59%

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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Martin Robinson

London Evening Standard

2d

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)

3d

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)

6d

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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Simon Miraudo

Movie Squad (RTRFM 92.1)

8h

3/5

Jake Johnson, Mary Steenburgen and Aaron Chen are extremely affable in an earnest comedy that every so often shows flashes of extra life through an outrageously funny riff.

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Aaron Neuwirth

We Live Entertainment

14h

7/10

The Dink is a great example of how strongly I feel about Johnson’s continued efforts to play different variations of a burnout, and still make them likable.

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Chris Wasser

Irish Independent

15h

3/5

Steenburgen (a pro) and Johnson (ace company) are excellent value as ever, and this witty, good-natured film passes the time easily enough. But it’s constantly holding itself back.

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Jesse R

@JayRob42069 6h

Some funny moments, but some of the most predictable writing I’ve ever seen. No amount of cameos and A-Listers in the cast are going to make up for the lame plot and the stale jokes. You can tell Apple pumped money into it, but not very much made it to the actual film.

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Brittany B

@RT17811852 6h

So cute, so funny, so well written! A wonderfully pleasant instant classic! "Yes, I would like that opportunity!"

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Heather H

@hhindy12 9h

Jake Johnson and Mary Steenburgen have great chemistry! This movie was a fun one that I plan to watch again. Also dying from the mega-serious pickleballers in these reviews who seem personally offended that pickleball is being teased. I had no idea the fandom was that intense. But hey, tennis gets roasted too.

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Grant L

@Grantsters 10h

Absolutely hilarious! Came in with low expectations and was happily surprised.

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R T

@RT29850151 10h

Great writing and acting. Love the cast. Stiller brought something new.

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Colton S

@RT47928416 14h

I had a lot of fun with this movie! I love pickleball and I love comedy, and this baby has em both! Great acting from an all-star cast! The script was excellent! Sean Clements clearly understands the pickleball and tennis worlds and exactly how to make them funny. Also, love how the story subverts expectations. Overall a great time in front of the old tv screen, folks!

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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