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Ed

Ed

Minor league. Major friendship.

199694 minPGMidcredits score: 1st percentile of all films
Director
Bill Couturié
Starring
Matt LeBlanc, Jayne Brook, Bill Cobbs, Jack Warden

Jack Cooper could be a world-class baseball pitcher if he didn't keep buckling under the pressure. He tries to keep his spirits up after he's traded to a minor league team but loses all hope when he discovers that Ed, one of his teammates, is a chimp. Ed used to be the team mascot, but was promoted to third base when the owners realized he had a talent for baseball. As Jack struggles to get used to his new surroundings, Ed helps him regain his confidence on and off the field.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Ed?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Ed to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video, and on no subscription service.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Ed?

Ed earns 4 badges, led by Overhyped and Box Office Flop.

  • Reception
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is Ed worth watching?

Ed's Midcredits score is the 1st percentile of all films, from 13K ratings across 6 sources. 13% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

1st percentile

Among the least well received films

1st percentile among Comedy1st percentile among 1990s
Acclaim (how much people like it)1st
Approval (how many liked it)2nd

34 /100

1st percentile of all films

1st percentile among Comedy1st percentile among 1990s

Critics 25 · Audience 35

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

Ratings scatter across the whole scale — one of the most divisive reactions in the catalog.

13% liked it

2nd percentile of all films

1st percentile among Comedy1st percentile among 1990s
13% rated it 7–1087% rated it 1–6

Critics 6% · Audience 22%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of audiences approved than critics.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 0 wins / 4 noms overall

78th percentile

13K ratings across platforms

76th percentile among Comedy72nd percentile among 1990s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 13% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$24M
Opening weekend$1.9M
Domestic gross$4.4M
Worldwide gross$4.4M

Returned 0.2× its budget — 62nd percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

It's a broadly silly family sports comedy about a man and a baseball-playing chimpanzee.

Fans praised

  • fun, silly comedy for undemanding viewers
  • Matt LeBlanc and Ed have fun chemistry
  • the chimp's antics are amusing if taken in the right spirit

Detractors panned

  • crude, unfunny humor relying on fart and toilet gags
  • ridiculous premise and clichéd, formulaic plot
  • unconvincing chimp costume and awful special effects

What stands out

PacingDivisive15

dull stretches and erratic rhythm

ActingDivisive12

Matt LeBlanc is bland and bored; Jack Warden does what he can

Effects and spectacleDivisive12

lame chimp animatronics and cartoon sound effects

HumorDivisive8

juvenile bathroom humor mostly misses

CharactersDivisive8

paper-thin, unlikable, and one-note

DialogueDivisive6

cringeworthy, unnatural, and unfunny

Plot and storyDivisive5

predictable, clichéd, and full of holes

Originality3

derivative of every animal-sports movie cliché

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men even
  • Critics vs users even
  • US vs non-US even

Watch experience

What is Ed like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Feel-good: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want something warm that leaves you smiling.

It is gentle and funny and leaves you feeling good. Skip it when you want something with weight.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Very little.

What it feels like

Feel-good.

Moods
JoyfulAbsurdHopeful
Heaviest: middle
Slapstick humor
Register
PlayfulWarmWhimsical · 2% of films
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneLightweight and earnest family comedy played straight, without irony or self-mockery.
The rideThe film maintains a light, upbeat, and silly mood throughout, with occasional mild tension during baseball games and the friendship crisis.
StructureChronological storytelling following Jack's entry into minor league baseball, his struggles on the mound, the bond with the chimp, and the pennant race.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Feeling good.

The answer rests on this: Feel-goodFun
Why it leaves you this wayLeaves a cheerful, easygoing feeling from the triumphant pennant run and the heartwarming bond between a man and a chimp.
How it ends · evidence
Happy ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Comedy
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11% (this title): Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% (this title) · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Comedy: Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony. · Buddy comedy: A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).

11% of films fit this archetype

with Rebirth underneath

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThe story pairs an inexperienced farm boy turned minor league pitcher with a chimpanzee mascot whose antics drive much of the comedy. The team's pennant chase and the protagonist's growth toward confidence and friendship loosely align with a buddy comedy and a minor rebirth arc.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfFriendship
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27% (this title): Romantic love 15% (this title) · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% (this title) · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% (this title) · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Friendship · 9% of filmsRomantic love · 15% of filmsComing of age · 5% of films
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe story centers on the unlikely friendship between Jack and the chimpanzee Ed, while Jack also grows into a more responsible person through romance and father-figure moments.
StanceThe film celebrates friendship and loyalty, affirming that sticking by an unconventional friend is more rewarding than pursuing fame alone.

The world

ContemporaryRuralInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral classicalSupportive music · original score · Stephen Endelman
SettingA minor league baseball town and its stadium in the mid-1990s
MusicA light, jaunty orchestral score typical of a mid-90s family comedy.

Content guide

Is Ed okay for kids?

PG

Ed is rated PG: “Rated PG for language, crude humor and brief mild violence” (MPAA). As of August 31, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at minimal (10/100), sexual content at minimal (11/100), language at mild (33/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (33/100) and frightening material at mild (19/100). None has enough votes to rank yet.

Ratings in 2 other countries
  • Germany6
  • BrazilL
Overall
Mild · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (7 votes)
Sex & Nudity
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (9 votes)
Profanity
Mild
too few votes to rank (8 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
too few votes to rank (7 votes)
Frightening / Intense
Mild
too few votes to rank (7 votes)

Too few votes to rank this title overall (38 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Ed have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Ed?

Cast

At least 2 of the 10 billed cast had never appeared on screen.

Matt LeBlanc
as Jack 'Deuce' Cooper
First film: No prior film role; they had worked in television.
Jayne Brook
as Lydia
Bill Cobbs
as Tipton
Jack Warden
as Chubb
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Jay Caputo
as Ed Sullivan
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Denise Cheshire
as Ed Sullivan
Doren Fein
as Liz
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Patrick Kerr
as Kirby
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Charlie Schlatter
as Buddy
Carl Anthony Payne II
as Stats Jefferson
First film: No prior film role; they had worked in television.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Ed?

Movies like Ed include Blades of Glory (2007), Major League II (1994) and Didier (1997). Of the 12 closest matches, most are buddy comedies, and most are sports films.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

All 12 share its subject: friendship. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Ed?

2.1K other films share the rarest tag below, follows: athlete. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.