Quick Answer
The Dink - Ben Stiller’s pickleball comedy — is expected to release in late 2025 on Apple TV+, with filming wrapped in Los Angeles.
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The Dink release date: It will be streaming on Apple TV+ in late 2025 (Apple Original Film).
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Cast: Ben Stiller, Jake Johnson, Mary Steenburgen, Ed Harris, Chloe Fineman, Patton Oswalt, Christine Taylor - with cameos from Andy Roddick and John McEnroe.
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Plot: A washed-up tennis pro must save a struggling club (and earn his father’s respect) by breaking his vow to never play pickleball. Think Dodgeball meets Rocky… but with dinks, rallies and absurd paddle spins.
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Why it matters: Hollywood is finally serving pickleball onto the big screen - prepare for a natiPickleball is officially going Hollywood - expect a surge of new players, busier courts and maybe even a celebrity sighting at your local rec centre.
👉 Already hooked on the hype? Warm up with the Best Beginner Pickleball Paddle so you’re ready to dink like Stiller before the credits roll.
Because Apparently, Hollywood Loves Pickleball Too…
Move over, tennis. Pickleball is now Hollywood’s golden child. Apple Original Films have officially scooped up The Dink, a pickleball comedy movie starring and produced by Ben Stiller. The man who gave us Dodgeball is back to prove that pickleball is more than just a backyard fad - it’s blockbuster-worthy!
And if explaining pickleball to your tennis-snob friends was tough before, wait until there’s a Ben Stiller movie about it.
👉 Curious how we got here? Read Why Is Pickleball So Popular?
What Is The Dink About?
Picture this:
A washed-up tennis champion, desperate to save his local club (and finally impress his dad), does the unthinkable - he starts playing pickleball.
It’s being pitched as a “heartfelt underdog sports comedy” - basically Dodgeball meets Rocky meets your slightly unhinged Tuesday night pickleball league. Expect dramatic paddle twirls, questionable dinks and slow-motion smashes that could shatter egos (and possibly nets).
📖 Want the real backstory? Read When Was Pickleball Invented and Why Is It Called Pickleball
Who’s Starring in The Dink?
The cast is a celebrity pickleball bracket of comedy legends and wildcards:
✔ Ben Stiller – washed-up tennis pro making a comeback.
✔ Jake Johnson (New Girl) – witty chaos guaranteed.
✔ Mary Steenburgen & Ed Harris – yes, Academy Award-level pickleball gravitas.
✔ Chloe Fineman (SNL) – serving aces with impersonations.
✔ Patton Oswalt (The King of Queens) – expect rant-filled sideline commentary.
✔ Christine Taylor (Dodgeball) – full-circle pickleball moment.
✔ Andy Roddick – cameo + authenticity check.
✔ John McEnroe – because no racket-sport movie is complete without him screaming at an umpire.
Other cameos include Martin Kove (Cobra Kai), Chris Parnell (Rick & Morty), Aaron Chen (The Daily Show) and the late Lynne Marie Stewart (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia). Basically, this cast list reads like a fantasy pickleball league drafted by comedy nerds.
👉 Want to look pro when the movie drops? NILK Signature Paddles = the Hollywood upgrade your game needs.
Why a Pickleball Movie and Why Now?
Pickleball isn’t just a sport - it’s a cultural moment. With 36.5M+ players in the U.S. alone, pro teams owned by LeBron James, Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes and entire cities building courts faster than Chipotle locations… with those numbers, Hollywood was bound to notice.
Ben Stiller + pickleball = viral gold. If Dodgeball made dodgeball cool, then The Dink movie will do the same for... well, dinks.
👉 Wondering how much it costs to build a pickleball court in your backyard? Read: Pickleball Court Cost in 2025
When Is The Dink Release Date?
📅 Expected late 2025 (Apple Original Film, streaming on Apple TV+).
While Apple TV+ haven't locked in an exact release, given that filming began in 2024, industry insiders predicting it could hit screens in late 2025.
That gives you just enough time to:
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Perfect your dink game
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Grab the Best Beginner Pickleball Paddle
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Upgrade to a NILK Pickleball Bag so you're court-ready
👉 Bookmark this post — we’ll update as soon as Apple locks the official date.
Why This Movie Matters for Pickleball Fans
Pickleball fans, rejoice. Ben Stiller's film The Dink is about to:
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Launch pickleball further into mainstream culture (prepare for busier courts)
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Skyrocket demand for paddles, bags and balls (aka the Stiller Effect)
- Make pickleball the butt of Hollywood memes memes for years
✨ Want to be match-ready before The Dink drops? Start with the Pickleball Scoring Guide so you can settle disputes like a pro.
❓ FAQ: The Dink Pickleball Movie
When is The Dink pickleball movie coming out?
The Dink release date is expected in late 2025, with filming wrapped in Los Angeles. Apple Original Films is set to distribute the comedy on Apple TV+.
Who’s in the cast of The Dink pickleball movie?
The Dink stars Ben Stiller, Jake Johnson, Mary Steenburgen, Ed Harris, Chloe Fineman, Patton Oswalt, and Christine Taylor, with cameos from Andy Roddick and John McEnroe. Basically, it’s a comedy dream team with a side of racket-sport royalty.
What is The Dink movie about (Ben Stiller’s pickleball comedy)?
The plot follows a washed-up tennis pro who must save a struggling club and earn his father’s respect… by doing the unthinkable: playing pickleball. Think Dodgeball meets Rocky — but with dinks, rallies, and ridiculous paddle spins.
Where was The Dink filmed?
Los Angeles, California (filming began in 2024).
Where can I watch The Dink?
The Dink will stream as an Apple Original Film on Apple TV+, likely in late 2025. Bookmark this post — we’ll update you the moment the official release date drops.
Is The Dink based on a true story?
Not directly — but it’s inspired by pickleball’s real rise as America’s fastest-growing sport. Want to see why it’s blowing up? Will pickleball be an Olympic Sport?
Will The Dink be the best pickleball movie ever?
Considering the competition is… just this one, yes. But with Ben Stiller in charge, expect it to become the Rocky of pickleball comedies.
How can I prepare before The Dink is released?
Upgrade your game: grab a NILK Signature Paddle, snag a NILK Pickleball Bag. and study our Pickleball Scoring Guide so you’re ready when Hollywood comes calling.
🏆 Final Serve
Pickleball isn’t just the fastest-growing sport in America — it’s now a Hollywood blockbuster. With The Dink expected in late 2025, Ben Stiller is about to make “dinking” a household word.
So whether you’re tuning in for Jake Johnson’s chaos, John McEnroe’s meltdowns, or Andy Roddick’s cameo, one thing’s clear: courts are about to get busier.
So don’t wait for Hollywood to tell you how to play. Be the trendsetter:
- Grab the Best Beginner Pickleball Paddle
- Sling on a Nilk Pickleball Bag
- And check out Best Pickleball Courts Near Me in Los Angeles
Because pickleball isn’t just going Hollywood. With The Dink, it’s going global. 🌍