Kicking & Screaming

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2:28

Kicking & Screaming

PG

2005

1h 35m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

41%

Tomatometer

141 Reviews

44%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

As a child, Phil Weston (Will Ferrell) was never able to live up to the demands of his overbearing father, Buck (Robert Duvall), who wanted Phil to be an athlete. Now a parent himself, Phil has inherited his father's competitive nature, while his son, Sam (Dylan McLaughlin), has inherited Phil's lack of athletic talent. Serving as Sam's soccer coach, Phil hopes to turn his last-place team of losers into champions, so they can beat the rival team coached by Buck.

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Critics Consensus

The script is mediocre and fails to give Ferrell a proper comedic showcase.

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David Ansen

Newsweek

Feb 28, 2018

It's all kept light and funny, but underlying the broad sight gags is a movie that actually has something to say about competition, fathers and sons, machismo and caffeine.

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Stephen Garrett

Time Out

Aug 16, 2007

Will Ferrell has become the most unlikely embodiment of wholesome family fun since Fred MacMurray gave up film noir for My Three Sons.

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Keith Phipps

AV Club

Sep 26, 2005

This isn't the worst setup for a kiddie comedy, but it proves that Ferrell alone can't carry a film.

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Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Sep 13, 2020

3.0/4.0

As disjointed as the whole thing is, it's often funny and, on a certain level, endearing.

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Micheal Compton

Bowling Green Daily News

Nov 18, 2019

B-

There is a bit of heart in Kicking and Screaming, with Ferrell and Duvall both giving nice performances.

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Ellie Lucas

The Dispatch (Lexington, NC)

Jun 5, 2019

2/4

Just too awkward and clunky to be enjoyable.

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Charlie S

@Charpo Jul 30, 2026

This movie failed to do most of what it was trying to accomplish. It was another failure of a soccer movie.

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Adam B

@RT03294298 Jul 30, 2026

This movie is very funny and had a fun plot. Idk why yall are hating on it so much.

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Mitchell S

@Mitchstur Jun 27, 2026

Just another brainless Will Ferrell movie, ONLY THIS TIME IT'S A WORN OUT, OVERDONE PLOT!!!

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Jacob B

@JB3.0 Jun 13, 2026

Well, FIFA's trending so I might as well watch something thematically appropriate. Stupid Yanks calling the damn thing "soccer". Anyway, Kicking & Screaming...exists. It's not an insult to cinema but I do feel like the film was trying to ride on a trend a decade too late; that of the family-oriented underdog sports comedy. There are a few funny scenes, the football scenes are decently filmed with children that look like they're enjoying themselves and I did like some of the quotes. But let's not mince words, this is just an average sports flick with the same predictable beats. Yes, this genre is like that by design but this film doesn't do much to stand out beyond some of Will Ferrell's manchild shenanigans and turning into anti-coffee propaganda in the third act. Poor wife doesn't have much of a character to her that isn't defined by her marriage to Ferrell. This film won't have you Kicking & Screaming but it probably isn't going to be among your Top 5 Will Ferrell comedies either.

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Steven F.

@SteveGotScored Mar 30, 2026

Such a goofy soccer movie!

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Yadi

@theFCSWEAT Mar 5, 2026

Pretty good movie, had some laughs.

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Jesse Dylan

Director

Will Ferrell

Phil Weston

Robert Duvall

Buck Weston

Mike Ditka

Self

Kate Walsh

Barbara Weston

Musetta Vander

Janice Weston

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Synopsis

As a child, Phil Weston (Will Ferrell) was never able to live up to the demands of his overbearing father, Buck (Robert Duvall), who wanted Phil to be an athlete. Now a parent himself, Phil has inherited his father's competitive nature, while his son, Sam (Dylan McLaughlin), has inherited Phil's lack of athletic talent. Serving as Sam's soccer coach, Phil hopes to turn his last-place team of losers into champions, so they can beat the rival team coached by Buck.

Director: Jesse Dylan
Producer: Jim Miller, Charles Roven
Screenwriter: Leo Benvenuti, Steve Rudnick
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures
Rating: PG (Some Crude Humor|Language|Thematic Elements)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 13, 2005, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 3, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $52.6M
Runtime: 1h 35m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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