Fastball – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Fastball

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2016

72%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Kevin Costner narrates a surprisingly nerdy deep-dive into the physics, history, and human limits of baseball's fastest pitch.

7.4/10

89%

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Fastball

movie

2016

72%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Kevin Costner narrates a surprisingly nerdy deep-dive into the physics, history, and human limits of baseball's fastest pitch.

7.4

89%

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7.4/10

89%

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Screenwise Verdict

Here's the thing: if your kid loves baseball, this is a legitimately great watch—educational without being preachy, and it treats the science seriously. The critical scores back it up.

But let's be real: if your kid doesn't care about baseball, this will feel like watching paint dry. It's a documentary, not a Marvel movie, and it assumes you find the question 'how fast can humans throw?' inherently fascinating.

For the right audience (sports-loving kids 8-14, or baseball-obsessed families), it's a solid choice that sneaks STEM learning into screen time. For everyone else, it's a hard pass. Know your kid.

Age Fit

Best for ages 8-14 who already like baseball or sports science. Younger kids won't have the attention span or context; older teens might find it a bit simplistic unless they're serious baseball nerds. Adults who love the sport will genuinely enjoy it.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Documentary celebrates athletic excellence and scientific curiosity without negativity. Kevin Costner's narration and baseball legends sharing stories creates a respectful, positive tone. No interpersonal drama or toxic competition—just appreciation for a remarkable athletic feat.

Imaginative

Clever premise exploring the physics and human achievement behind a 396-millisecond event. Blends sports history with biomechanics and science in an engaging way. However, it's still a fairly straightforward documentary format without groundbreaking storytelling techniques.

Safe

Sports documentary with no concerning content. No violence, inappropriate language, or mature themes. Entirely appropriate for family viewing. The only 'danger' is getting hit by a fastball, which is discussed academically, not graphically.

Enriching

Genuinely educational—combines physics (velocity, biomechanics), baseball history, and human achievement. Strong critical reception (89% RT, 74 Metacritic, 7.4 IMDb) suggests quality execution. Inspires appreciation for both athletic skill and scientific inquiry. Entertaining for baseball fans but may feel niche for non-fans.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Sneaks real physics and biomechanics into sports content—kids learn about velocity, force, and human physiology without realizing they're in science class
Strong critical reception (89% on Rotten Tomatoes) suggests it's actually well-made and engaging, not just educational filler
Baseball legends and scientists share stories—great for sports-loving kids who need role models beyond just 'throw ball hard'
Explores the question 'who threw the fastest pitch ever?' with actual scientific rigor, teaching research methodology
Kevin Costner's narration lends credibility and warmth to what could've been dry material

⚠

What to Watch For

This is squarely for baseball fans—if your kid doesn't care about the sport, they'll tune out in minutes
Documentary pacing means no action sequences or flashy editing; some kids will find it slow
At 80+ minutes, it requires sustained attention span—better for older elementary and up

Conversation Starters

"If you could throw a ball 100 mph, what would you do with that skill?"
"The doc talks about 396 milliseconds—can you think of other things that happen that fast?"
"Who do you think threw the fastest pitch ever, and how would we even measure that from decades ago?"
"What other sports could we study with science like this—swimming? Running? Basketball?"

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