Select Page

by | Sep 10, 2025 | Featured | 0 comments

“The Dink” to Debut with Apple: Everything We Know About Ben Stiller’s Upcoming Pickleball Picture 

by Kelly Campbell 

Grab your paddles and popcorn because we finally have an update on the highly anticipated pickleball comedy “The Dink.”

We first got word that our favorite sport will be hitting the big screen back last September, but haven’t gotten many updates since. Now, we officially know that Apple Original Films has acquired the rights to the film. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film is currently in post-production, confirming that we’re one step closer to a release date, which has been rumored to be in late 2025. 

Keep reading for the full scoop on “The Dink” and all the reasons it’s shaping up to be a smash hit. 

The Dink: Everything We Know So Far

A few weeks ago, news broke that The Dink has officially landed at Apple Original Films and will premiere on Apple TV. The upcoming comedy stars New Girl’s Jake Johnson as a former tennis pro forced to play pickleball to save a struggling club. 

“The Dink” was written by Sean Clements, directed by Josh Greenbaum and produced by Ben Stiller (Red Hour Films), Rob Paris and Mike Witherill (Rivulet Entertainment). The comedy was filmed in Los Angeles in late 2024 and is currently in post-production. Stiller and Apple have teamed up for numerous successful releases, including Severance, which had 27 Emmy nominations. 

In addition to Jake Johnson as the star, and Ben Stiller acting in a supporting role, notable cast members include: Ed Harris (The Truman Show, Apollo 13), Chris Parnell (SNL, 30 Rock, Anchorman), Chloe Fineman (SNL, Babylon), Mary Steenburgen (Elf, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape), Patton Oswalt (The King of Queens, Ratatouille, Parks and Recreation), Lynne Marie Stewart (Pee-wee’s Playhouse, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia), and Christine Taylor (Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Zoolander, The Brady Bunch Movie).

Pickleball in Entertainment

Pickleball in entertainment isn’t new, but it’s becoming increasingly common. 

Over the past few years of tremendous pickleball growth, we’ve seen a lot more pickleball in the media, but that’s mostly been limited to advertisements, scenes in television shows, or reality tournament specials. 

These are some of the most notable pickleball-in-entertainment examples: Stephen Colbert’s Pickled, 2025 Michelob Ultra Super Bowl Ad, The Wager, and Pickleball Paddle Battle. 

Despite greater media representation, we’ve yet to see a pickleball piece that has truly taken off and connected with non-pickleball-playing audiences. “The Dink” will bring pickleball to the limelight in a way that we haven’t seen yet, with a fictional storyline, comedic flair, and a star-studded cast that will likely connect with a much wider audience than any other pickleball special. The days of pickleball obscurity will soon be behind us. 

The Nostalgia Factor: “The Dink” Could Be a Fresh Pickleball Spin on Past Favorites 

Nowadays, remakes and sequels of past originals seem to be all the rage. “Freakier Friday”, “Lilo and Stitch: Live Action”, “Happy Gilmore 2”, “Ghostbusters: Afterlife”, “That ‘90s Show”, and “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” are a few examples. The nostalgia factor is a huge money maker in the movie industry. 

“Happy Gilmore 2”, released on Netflix this year, demonstrates a demand for sports comedies. Although we didn’t necessarily need a sequel, with cameos from stars like Post Malone, Travis Kelce, Bad Bunny, Eminem, and Steve Buscemi, it’s no surprise that 46.7 million opening-weekend viewers tuned in to watch a familiar favorite take on a new life, smashing Netflix records. 

That’s part of the reason we predict that “The Dink” will be a big hit. Ben Stiller’s “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story” came out in 2004. And while “The Dink” isn’t a sequel or remake for that film, there are many parallels to be made. Both are sports comedies about sports that aren’t necessarily taken seriously in the mainstream U.S. (although pickleball is obviously well on its way to getting there). 

At its prime, “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story” and it became an instant classic, one of the funniest movies ever. From “dodge, duck, dip, dive, and dodge” to “if you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball”, it’s still quoted and referenced often, over 20 years later. We hope that “The Dink” pulls from that familiar humor to give pickleball its breakout moment, similarly to dodgeball in 2004.  Plus, with a star-studded cast and Ben Stiller’s pull, no matter how the movie turns out, it’s sure to get some eyes on pickleball. If it reaches similar success to “Dodgeball”, it could solidify pickleball as a U.S. staple for years to come. 

“The Dink” offers the opportunity for pickleball to take on a new life. Depending on its success, the movie could bring even more attention to both professional and recreational dinkers while creating marketing opportunities that drive business to pickleball companies across the country. Think about movie merch and equipment sales that could potentially skyrocket around the movie’s release.

Sports movies hold a special place among audiences in the U.S.. Note these iconic sports films: “Field of Dreams”, “Remember the Titans”, “Rocky”, “Space Jam”, “The Sandlot”, “Miracle”. They personify teamwork, pull on the heartstrings, emphasize resilience and personal growth, and bring people together, highlighting the importance of discipline, passion, and unwavering dedication to the sports they portray. This is why they’re so well-loved: not just for the action on the field, but for the heart behind every play. While “The Dink” will be more comedic than some of these listed, it will put pickleball on its biggest stage yet and could become a cult-classic.

Time will tell just how impactful “The Dink” will be on pickleball growth and business, but as pickleballers, we’re thrilled to finally have a sports movie that’s ours.  

Sources

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *