Little Big League – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Little Big League

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie1994

52%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A 12-year-old inherits the Minnesota Twins and becomes manager—sweet premise, painfully dated execution.

35%

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Little Big League

movie

PG, 1994

52%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A 12-year-old inherits the Minnesota Twins and becomes manager—sweet premise, painfully dated execution.

35%

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Screenwise Verdict

Here's the truth: Little Big League has a great premise that any sports-loving kid would dream about, and it's completely safe and wholesome. But it's also a textbook example of a 90s kids' movie that hasn't aged well.

The pacing drags, the humor lands with a thud, and even when it was released, critics weren't impressed (35% on Rotten Tomatoes tells you everything). A 6.2 on IMDb and 3.1 on Letterboxd means even nostalgic adults aren't rushing to rewatch it.

If you have a baseball-obsessed 9-year-old who's already burned through every other option, sure, throw it on. But for most modern kids, this will feel like homework. There are better sports movies (The Sandlot, Rookie of the Year) and better kid-empowerment stories out there that won't put everyone to sleep.

Age Fit

Best for ages 8-13, especially kids who love baseball and can tolerate slower-paced 90s family films. Older teens and adults will find it too corny and dated to enjoy, even ironically.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Models a kid navigating adult responsibilities with heart, showing teamwork and respect across age gaps. The premise is wholesome—a 12-year-old inheriting a baseball team—and the film emphasizes cooperation, though some adult characters initially resist taking orders from a child. Generally positive tone without meanness or cynicism.

Imaginative

The wish-fulfillment premise of a kid managing a major league baseball team is creative and taps into childhood fantasies. However, execution is fairly conventional—it's a straightforward sports comedy without much visual flair or narrative surprise. Doesn't invite active creativity or exploration beyond 'what if I was in charge?'

Safe

Very safe content for families. Common Sense Media rates it for age 11, and there's no violence, scary content, sexuality, or strong language flagged. It's a PG-era sports comedy with predictable conflicts and no surprise disturbing elements. The main tension is organizational drama, not trauma.

Enriching

Offers mild lessons about leadership, responsibility, and balancing childhood with adult duties. Baseball fans might enjoy the sport elements and cameos. However, the film doesn't dig deep into character growth or complex themes—it's light entertainment that won't spark much reflection or skill-building beyond 'follow your passion.'

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Pure wish-fulfillment for baseball-loving kids: imagine being the boss of a real MLB team
Wholesome family viewing with zero content concerns—no violence, scares, or inappropriate material
Shows a kid earning respect from adults through smarts and heart, not just luck
Might spark conversations about leadership, responsibility, and what it means to be taken seriously

⚠

What to Watch For

This is VERY 1994—slow pacing, corny dialogue, and production values that feel like a TV movie
Low critical scores (35% on RT) aren't a fluke; it's genuinely hard to sit through by modern standards
Baseball-centric plot means non-fans will check out quickly
The 'adults learning from a kid' trope is handled predictably without much depth

Conversation Starters

"If you could be in charge of any team or organization, what would it be and what would you change?"
"Do you think the players would actually listen to a 12-year-old manager? Why or why not?"
"What's harder: being a kid with adult responsibilities, or being an adult who has to listen to a kid boss?"
"Would you want to skip being a kid and jump straight to having a big job like this?"

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