If you are a bowling enthusiast or have been bowling for a long time, you know that this sport is jam-packed with drama and thrill. It should come as no surprise then that there are countless movies that revolve around this sport.
But what is the best bowling movie to watch or recommend to your friend? If you are looking to fill your wish list with bowling movies, you’ve come to the right place.
15 Best Bowling Movies of All Time
The overwhelming number of bowling movies out there can make choosing the perfect one a hassle.
We have carefully shortlisted 15 of the most thrilling and intense bowling movies for you. This is a comprehensive article describing the details and plots of some famous bowling movies, saving you precious time that you could instead spend bowling.w
Dreamer
Released back in 1979, Dreamer is a bowling masterpiece. It is a story of a young man in pursuit of becoming a professional bowler. The movie brings a rollercoaster of drama to its audience. The life of the bowler changes drastically as he gives up everything he has to chase his dream.
The movie features Tim Matheson and Susan Blakely. Tim Matheson plays the leading character of an extraordinary young guy from a small town. Dreamer will keep you hooked and is a great family-friendly option for your next movie night.
Kingpin
Kingpin is a movie that can hit you hard with its humor. It features Woody Harrelson, Randy Quaid, and Bill Murray. The story follows competing bowlers Ernie McCracken and Roy Munson.
Roy’s career comes to an abrupt end when pro bowler, Ernie MacCracken, comes after Roy following a defeat. It is a classic tale of revenge. As a result, Roy loses his hand.
If you are looking for a movie night with your bowling gang, Kingpin is a great choice. The movie is PG-13 and contains some adult scenes. However, if this doesn’t bother you, you are good to go.
Strikes and Spares
If you are passionate about bowling, this short film will take you places. Released in 1934, the film is only 9 minutes long and revolves around a professional bowler, Andy Varipapa, who shows the audience how to grip a bowling ball. He also explains how to throw the bowling ball in the proper form down the alley.
This is more of an informational short. It doesn’t have a rating, but you can learn bowling tricks from the past. Its short nature means you don’t need hours to watch it. Sit back, learn, and relax.
Life in the Bowling Lane
Get ready to see something extraordinary before you settle in to watch this movie. It is the story of a comic who went bowling after his date was canceled on him.
The story then takes you to a bowling center where the comic becomes friends with the bowling instructor. It keeps getting wild as the comic sees his hot date bowling with another man. To decide who gets the girl, the two men compete in a bowling match.
It’s a short movie coming in at 40 minutes, but it’s full of drama and excitement.
The Big Lebowski
The Big Lebowski is one of the greatest bowling movies today. The story begins with an avid bowler, “The Dude”, who becomes a victim of mistaken identity. The role is played by Jeff Bridges.
As a result, The Dude, along with his buddies, gets on a mission to make things right. The movie is R-rated, so keep that in mind before you choose who to watch it with.
Racing with the Moon
This 1984 drama stars Sean Penn and Nicolas Cage. They are set up as two friends whose lives are changed due to their passion and love for bowling. The struggle that the main characters face in the world of bowling connects with the viewers on an emotional level.
The film features great soundtracks and extraordinary performances to deliver the message of thriving in uncertain times. It’s a great watch to kindle the fire of progress and passion inside you.
Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama
Want some bowling with a touch of horror? Scratch that; this is a horror movie with a touch of bowling. It describes the story of a ritual carried out by sorority pledges and their boyfriends.
The ritual involves stealing a trophy from a bowling alley. But the catch is that they don’t know there is an imp in the trophy who does everything possible to destroy the thieves. This movie is an R-rated watch, so enjoy it at your discretion.
Overall, the movie isn’t about bowling itself but takes place in the bowling alley.
The Bowling Alley-Cat
Are you a Tom and Jerry fan? If you aren’t familiar with Tom and Jerry, they are a cat-and-mouse duo who are always in a competition to outsmart each other.
This short features both Tom and Jerry in a bowling alley, casually playing for fun. However, Jerry can’t resist teasing and taunting Tom. He keeps playing between the pins, preventing Tom from hitting them, while Tom tries to bowl Jerry up along with the pins.
Being a cartoon from 1942, this short is safe to watch for anyone.
Alley Cats Strike
If you are a Disney fan, this is the movie for you. With the creativity of Disney, Alley Cats Strike will keep you hooked the entire time.
The story revolves around a basketball championship locked in a tie. The teams then enter a bowling competition in two cities to compete for the title. But since there is only one trophy, there can only be a single winner.
It’s a family-friendly movie that you can relax and enjoy over the weekend.
Gutterballs
Gutterballs is a horror movie from 2008. A group of friends decides to head to the bowling alley late at night. Although this movie begins in the bowling alley, it eventually focuses on the teens surviving the brutal attacks.
This movie will keep you on your toes with thrilling sound effects and a touch of horror.
Gutterballs received an NC-17 rating for its content. So if you are easily offended, this movie isn’t for you.
Atom the Amazing Zombie Killer
This is another comedy-horror mix. Released in 2012, the movie revolves around a guy named Atom, who is passionate about bowling and horror movies. But corruption and violent rivals get Atom kicked out of his local league.
To add to the drama, Atom also suffers a head injury which makes him see everyone as a zombie. This leads him to believe the zombie apocalypse has started, and he needs to kill them all to save the world.
This movie doesn’t have a rating, but we suggest a mature audience for this movie.
A League of Ordinary Gentlemen
This is a must-watch documentary for any loyal bowling enthusiast. The movie showcases the media’s relationship with the sports world. The director follows four bowling pros for five months during the 203 PBA season. With a $120,000 prize motivation, this makes for some great excitement.
This movie illustrates the difference between the real world and what is shown in the media. The movie is rated PG-13. If you have hesitations regarding the foul language, you might want to reconsider watching it.
Strike: The Greatest Bowling Story Ever Told
This is the story of Bill Fong. A bowling enthusiast who works at a bowling shop during the day and watches bowling videos during the night. He also plays two games every week and is a member of four different leagues.
His dream is to become a bowling pro. The documentary isn’t rated, so please be aware of who you are watching it with.
The Flintstones
The Flintstones is a live-action movie featuring Fred, played by Jon Goodman. Many people are introduced to bowling through the prehistoric lens of the Flintstones Cartoon, but watching it as a live-action film brings a new thrill.
Grease 2
Ever heard the famous song “We’re gonna score tonight?”, it originated from this movie. Grease 2 is well known in the bowling circles and even beyond them, mostly because it features Michelle Pfeiffer way before she became a sensation.
The movie character’s local hangout happens to be a bowling alley. This means you get to see real bowling, a famous tune, and a well-known actress. This all adds up to a great movie-watching experience.
Conclusion
Now that you know all these amazing bowling movies, which one would you like to watch over the weekend?
Rest assured that whichever one you choose, you will be satisfied as a bowling lover!