# Angels in the Outfield (1994 film)
**Angels in the Outfield** is a 1994 American family sports-fantasy film directed by William Dear, in which an 11-year-old foster child named Roger prays for the last-place California Angels to win the pennant so that his family can be reunited, and a band of angels led by Al answers his prayers. It was produced by [Walt Disney Pictures](https://www.edgepedia.org/walt-disney-pictures) in association with Caravan Pictures and released on July 15, 1994.[1](https://d23.com/a-to-z/angels-in-the-outfield-film/) • [2](https://movies.disney.com/angels-in-the-outfield)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | July 15, 1994 (domestic); distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures[3](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0109127/) |
| Director / writers | William Dear; screenplay credited to Dorothy Kingsley, George Wells, and Holly Goldberg Sloan[2](https://movies.disney.com/angels-in-the-outfield) • [4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1055833-angels_in_the_outfield) |
| Runtime / rating | 103 minutes; rated PG[1](https://d23.com/a-to-z/angels-in-the-outfield-film/) |
| Origin | Remake of the 1951 MGM film *Angels in the Outfield*, which starred Paul Douglas[1](https://d23.com/a-to-z/angels-in-the-outfield-film/) |
| Box office | $8,916,463 domestic opening; $50,236,831 domestic gross[3](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0109127/) |
| Principal cast | Danny Glover (George Knox), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Roger), Christopher Lloyd (Al), Tony Danza (Mel Clark), Brenda Fricker (Maggie Nelson)[1](https://d23.com/a-to-z/angels-in-the-outfield-film/) |
| Filming | Many baseball stadium sequences shot at the Oakland Coliseum[1](https://d23.com/a-to-z/angels-in-the-outfield-film/) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
Roger ([Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://www.edgepedia.org/joseph-gordon-levitt)) is a foster child and the biggest fan of the California Angels, a struggling major-league team. His estranged father has told him, with grim humor, that the family has about as much chance of getting back together as the last-place Angels have of winning the pennant. When Roger prays for divine intervention, real angels answer, including a head angel named Al ([Christopher Lloyd](https://www.edgepedia.org/christopher-lloyd)). Only Roger can see or hear them, and he passes their winning tips to the team's hot-tempered, skeptical manager George Knox ([Danny Glover](https://www.edgepedia.org/danny-glover)). As the team climbs back into the pennant race, the story asks whether both prayers, a pennant and a family, can be answered.[1](https://d23.com/a-to-z/angels-in-the-outfield-film/) • [5](https://www.disneyplus.com/browse/entity-736800e6-bdf1-407f-9381-8269088c1c8d)
The supporting cast includes [Tony Danza](https://www.edgepedia.org/tony-danza) as player Mel Clark, Brenda Fricker as Maggie Nelson, who runs the foster home, Ben Johnson as Hank Murphy, and [Jay O. Sanders](https://www.edgepedia.org/jay-o-sanders) as broadcaster Ranch Wilder, an antagonist with an old grudge against Knox.[1](https://d23.com/a-to-z/angels-in-the-outfield-film/) • [6](https://www.royalsreview.com/2020/4/11/21217004/angels-in-the-outfield-1994-does-it-hold-up) The large cast also included early-career roles for [Adrien Brody](https://www.edgepedia.org/adrien-brody) and Matthew McConaughey as Angels players.[2](https://movies.disney.com/angels-in-the-outfield) • [7](https://time.com/2945816/little-big-league-anniversary/)
## Production and release
William Dear directed the film, which was produced in association with Caravan Pictures. Many of the baseball stadium sequences were filmed at the [Oakland Coliseum](https://www.edgepedia.org/oakland-coliseum).[1](https://d23.com/a-to-z/angels-in-the-outfield-film/) The screenplay credits carry over the writers of the 1951 original, Dorothy Kingsley and George Wells, alongside Holly Goldberg Sloan.[2](https://movies.disney.com/angels-in-the-outfield)
Unlike the 1951 MGM film, in which the angels were never shown on screen, the remake used special-effects angels bearing wings and halos.[8](https://www.tcm.com/articles/24041/angels-in-the-outfield-1951) The film opened domestically on July 15, 1994, grossing $8,916,463 in its opening and $50,236,831 overall, all of it in the domestic market.[3](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0109127/) One account describes it as only a moderate hit at the box office, but says its profits were enough for Disney to produce two *Mighty Ducks* sequels.[9](https://api.pageplace.de/preview/DT0400.9781453915004_A25607599/preview-9781453915004_A25607599.pdf) It was released on video in 1995.[1](https://d23.com/a-to-z/angels-in-the-outfield-film/)
## Reception and legacy
Critical response was mixed. Roger Ebert, the film critic of the *Chicago Sun-Times*, reviewed the film as a retread of the 1951 original about angels helping a losing team turn around its season through a little boy's faith.[10](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/angels-in-the-outfield-1994) A Los Angeles Times review called it a "Disney-Fied morality play" and the drippiest and goofiest of the era's angel pictures, while noting that the funny bits centered on the team's antics on and off the field.[11](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-07-15-ca-15799-story.html) Common Sense Media describes it as a heartwarming movie about hope and baseball, noting George Knox as a positive and complex Black lead played by Danny Glover.[12](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/angels-in-the-outfield)
The film sits within a broader [Disney family](https://www.edgepedia.org/disney-family)-sports cycle of the early 1990s that used the California franchise as its basis.[9](https://api.pageplace.de/preview/DT0400.9781453915004_A25607599/preview-9781453915004_A25607599.pdf) According to Disney's own member magazine, the film, inspired in part by the team's [Gene Autry](https://www.edgepedia.org/gene-autry)-era heritage, ultimately led [The Walt Disney Company](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-walt-disney-company) to purchase the Angels team in 1996.[13](https://disneyvacationclub.disney.go.com/media/dvc/languagespecific/eng/member/justformembers/disneyfilesmagazine/2015/Disney-Files-2015-FALL-web.pdf) A football-themed television sequel, *Angels in the Endzone*, followed in 1997.[14](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/50014-ANGELS-IN-THE-OUTFIELD) The film later became available on Disney+ and for digital purchase.[15](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/angels-in-the-outfield-1994)
## The 1951 original
The remake's source is the 1951 MGM comedy directed by [Clarence Brown](https://www.edgepedia.org/clarence-brown), in which angels help the [Pittsburgh Pirates](https://www.edgepedia.org/pittsburgh-pirates) win the pennant after reporter [Jennifer Paige](https://www.edgepedia.org/jennifer-paige) (Janet Leigh) prays for the team, and ill-tempered manager Guffy McGovern (Paul Douglas) is told he must mend his temper and language to receive their help.[14](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/50014-ANGELS-IN-THE-OUTFIELD) That film was shot largely on location in Pittsburgh, including at Forbes Field, and its world premiere was held there.[14](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/50014-ANGELS-IN-THE-OUTFIELD)
## References
1. [Angels in the Outfield (film), D23](https://d23.com/a-to-z/angels-in-the-outfield-film/)
2. [Angels in the Outfield, Disney Movies](https://movies.disney.com/angels-in-the-outfield)
3. [Angels in the Outfield (1994), Box Office Mojo](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0109127/)
4. [Angels in the Outfield, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1055833-angels_in_the_outfield)
5. [Angels in the Outfield, Disney+](https://www.disneyplus.com/browse/entity-736800e6-bdf1-407f-9381-8269088c1c8d)
6. [Angels in the Outfield (1994): Does it hold up?, Royals Review](https://www.royalsreview.com/2020/4/11/21217004/angels-in-the-outfield-1994-does-it-hold-up)
7. [Little Big League: The Most Underrated Baseball Movie of All Time, Time](https://time.com/2945816/little-big-league-anniversary/)
8. [Angels in the Outfield (1951), Turner Classic Movies](https://www.tcm.com/articles/24041/angels-in-the-outfield-1951)
9. [The ESPN Effect: Exploring the Worldwide Leader in Sports](https://api.pageplace.de/preview/DT0400.9781453915004_A25607599/preview-9781453915004_A25607599.pdf)
10. [Angels In The Outfield movie review, RogerEbert.com](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/angels-in-the-outfield-1994)
11. [Movie Review: 'Angels in the Outfield' a Disney-Fied Morality Play, Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-07-15-ca-15799-story.html)
12. [Angels in the Outfield, Common Sense Media](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/angels-in-the-outfield)
13. [Disney Files Magazine, Fall 2015, Disney Vacation Club](https://disneyvacationclub.disney.go.com/media/dvc/languagespecific/eng/member/justformembers/disneyfilesmagazine/2015/Disney-Files-2015-FALL-web.pdf)
14. [Angels in the Outfield (1951), AFI Catalog](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/50014-ANGELS-IN-THE-OUTFIELD)
15. [Angels in the Outfield streaming: where to watch online?, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/angels-in-the-outfield-1994)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Baseball and related bat sports › Baseball in culture and related bat-and-ball games › Baseball in film and television*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license