Eight Men Out
Seen it?1988 | 120 min | Drama, History
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (86% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a box office loss. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for history buffs. If you loved Air or Mank, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Thoughtful and character-driven.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Buck Weaver and Hap Felsch are young idealistic players on the Chicago White Sox, a pennant-winning team owned by Charles Comiskey - a penny-pinching, hands-on manager who underpays his players and treats them with disdain. And when gamblers and hustlers discover that Comiskey's demoralized players are ripe for a money-making scheme, one by one the team members agree to throw the World Series. But when the White Sox are defeated, a couple of sports writers smell a fix and a national scandal explodes, ripping the cover off America's favorite pastime.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
86% on Rotten Tomatoes, 71 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
6.8 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$6 million worldwide on a $6 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 138K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
The Hill Sunday Safe BetAnother sports historical drama, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
Air
Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed sports historical drama.
Mank
Saturday SpecialAnother historical drama, and a Saturday Special.
Munich - The Edge of War Sunday Safe BetAnother historical drama, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
Where Hope Grows
Weeknight WatchAnother sports drama, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks
Cast & crew
Directed by John Sayles
- John CusackBuck Weaver
- Clifton JamesCharles Comiskey
- Michael LernerArnold Rothstein
- Christopher LloydBill Burns
- John MahoneyKid Gleason
- Charlie SheenHap Felsch
- David StrathairnEddie Cicotte
- D. B. Sweeney'Shoeless' Joe Jackson
- Don HarveySwede Risberg
- Michael RookerChick Gandil