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Trailer

Ball of Fire

1941Movie1 h 51 minNR

83

GreatGoodWatch score

Rotten Tomatoes

A romantic, wholesome comedy movie.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

Skip it if you want dark or edgy material

Where to watch

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Not for scares or brutality.

Movies with

Story

“I LOVE HIM because he doesn't know how to kiss—THE JERK!”

A group of academics have spent years shut up in a house working on the definitive encyclopedia. When one of them discovers that his entry on slang is hopelessly outdated, he ventures into the wide world to learn about the evolving language. Here he meets Sugarpuss O’Shea, a nightclub singer, who’s on top of all the slang—and, it just so happens, needs a place to stay.

Feels like

Classic Screwball Comedy
Quirky Romance
Witty Dialogue
Charming Ensemble Cast
Uplifting Story
Cultural Clash
Golden Age of Hollywood
Professor meets Showgirl

Crew

Directed by: Howard Hawks
Written by: Howard Hawks, Billy Wilder, Charles Brackett
Produced by: Samuel Goldwyn
Music by: Alfred Newman

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

December 2, 1941 · 1 h 51 min · NR

Released: December 2, 1941
Runtime: 1 h 51 min
Age rating: NR
Genres: Comedy, Romance, Crime
Original language: English
Made in: United States
Box office: $3 million
Available in: 29 countries

Tropes

William Telling, Getting Crap Past the Radar, Defrosting Ice King +9

William Telling
Getting Crap Past the Radar
Defrosting Ice King
Gibberish of Love
Leave the Two Lovebirds Alone
Single Woman Seeks Good Man
Third-Act Misunderstanding
Freudian Slip
Post-Kiss Catatonia
Mundane Made Awesome
Zip Me Up
Deadpan Snarker

12 of 92 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream Ball of Fire?"

Questions about Ball of Fire

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Ball of Fire?

In the United States, Ball of Fire streams on Prime and YouTube TV, and it is free with ads on Kanopy, Hoopla, Plex, Fawesome, and Tubi TV. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 26 other countries.

Is Ball of Fire worth watching?

83

GreatGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 83 (IMDb 7.7, Rotten Tomatoes 100%, and Metacritic 78). Critics rate it higher (89 out of 100) than audiences (79).

Is Ball of Fire okay for kids?

NR

Yes: it's rated NR in the United States, and the viewing guide lists it for kids.

Is Ball of Fire good for date night?

and 6 moreDate NightPartner WatchAdultsFamily Movie NightFriends Night

Yes: romance is 8 of 10, and the viewing guide lists it for date night.

Will Ball of Fire make me laugh?

Funny

Yes: the humor is mostly situational comedy (9 of 10) and sharp wit (8 of 10).

What tropes does Ball of Fire use?

William TellingGetting Crap Past the RadarDefrosting Ice KingGibberish of LoveLeave the Two Lovebirds AloneSingle Woman Seeks Good ManThird-Act MisunderstandingFreudian SlipPost-Kiss CatatoniaMundane Made AwesomeZip Me UpDeadpan Snarkerand 80 more

TV Tropes lists 92 tropes for it, including William Telling, Getting Crap Past the Radar, and Defrosting Ice King.