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It’s the movie that gave us the infamous quote, “There’s no crying in baseball”—a movie that, surprisingly, was hit with a few foul reviews upon its release. 

Over time, however, it’s become one of the most beloved movies of the ‘90s, a standout of films about baseball, and, per at least one IndieWire article, the “Best Sports Movie Ever.”

Yes, we’re talking about A League of Their Own.

‘A League of Their Own’ Hits Theaters

Released on this day 34 years ago—July 1, 1992—the film was inspired by the real-life women of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Revolving around sisters Dottie Hinson (Geena Davis) and Kit Keller (Lori Petty), the movie fictionalized the rise of the first-ever women’s professional baseball league in the 1940s. 

The league’s beginnings coincided with the United States entering World War II, with execs hoping to keep the sport alive with women while men were sent off to fight. 

Though the film mostly highlighted the performances of its female cast, including Davis, Petty, Rosie O’Donnell, and Madonna, Tom Hanks also starred as Jimmy Dugan, a drunk former baseball player tasked with coaching the women. 

Critic Sentiment on the Film

Though the film was mostly well-received by critics, a number of bigger outlets still gave it mixed-to-negative reviews upon release.

Variety was particularly harsh, saying that while Davis’ performance was “wonderful,” the movie’s “downside includes contrived plotting, obvious comedy and heart-tugging, some hammy thesping and a general hokiness.”

The Los Angeles Times, meanwhile, took issue with the film’s two codas and director Penny Marshall’s “unbridled sentimentality.”

Box Office Success and Legacy

The movie, however, was a box office success for Columbia Pictures at the time, opening in second place behind Batman Returns. It wound up pulling in a total haul of $132.4 million, against a $40 million budget. 

While its success didn’t lead to much award season love for the film—only Davis’ performance and Madonna’s soundtrack song “This Used to Be My Playground” earned Golden Globe nods—the movie has only continued to gain respect in the years since.

A League of Their Own has been included on a number of “Best” lists for both baseball films and sports in general. 

Calling it “enormously entertaining,” Variety included the movie on its 2024 list of The Best Baseball Movies of All Time. Collider, meanwhile, included it on its 2026 list of 10 Best Sports Movies of the 20th Century. 

ScreenCrush went on to call the film the “best baseball film ever,” while IndieWire declared that “Penny Marshall Made the Best Sports Movie Ever With ‘A League of Their Own’” in one 2018 writeup. 

There were two attempts to recapture the magic of the film. First, a CBS series of the same name in 1993 featuring returning stars Garry Marshall, Megan Cavanagh, Tracy Reiner, Freddie Simpson and Jon Lovitz, as well as Carey Lowell. Only five of the six filmed episodes aired. 

Then, in 202s, Prime Video released its own reboot. Though it was a hit with critics, plans for a second season were canceled after the writers strike. 

The OG movie, meanwhile, is available to stream now on Netflix.

Coming off a news-packed month of June, the calendar turns to July with summer in full swing. For gamers, it feels like the calm before the storm with months like September and October bursting at the seams with new releases. Still, there are games that are worth your attention, headlined by updated versions of a couple of classics.

Before diving into the list, there’s also a pair of sizable updates to existing titles. DOOM: The Dark Ages is getting Revelations, a story-driven expansion, on July 7, and The Alters is adding Last Variable, which is a reported 20-hour expansion, on July 13. For new games, here are the top 10 releases for July.

10) Moss: The Forgotten Relic

Moss began life as a VR property, but developer Polyarc is making the transition to standard consoles. The puzzle-platformer has charming visuals and looks very intriguing.

9) Denshattack!

Boiled down to its essence, Denshattack! has a similar graphical vibe to Jet Set Radio, with gameplay more akin to Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater.

8) The Relic: First Guardian

This game found its way onto my list for May before a last-minute delay pushed it into July, so here it is again. It’s a graphically impressive soulslike that aims to put a focus on storytelling.

7) Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game

Honestly, I might get this game just to beat the brakes off Sokka.

6) Splatoon Raiders

This Splatoon spinoff and Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive promises fast-paced, PvE gameplay. We’ll see if it finds as large an audience as the mainline games.

5) Echoes of Aincrad

Set in the Sword Art Online universe, Echoes of Aincrad is an action RPG with real-time combat. Unlike earlier SAO releases, Echoes allows you to create your own character.

4) Mistfall Hunter

As someone who has been thoroughly enjoying Marathon and ARC Raiders, the prospect of mixing extraction elements with action-RPG gameplay sounds like an enticing mix.

3) EA Sports College Football 27

Madden‘s little brother arrives to mark the start of another college football season. Expect nominal changes from last year, but that won’t stop it from selling like crazy.

2) Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced

I’ve been a fan of the Assassin’s Creed series since its inception, and Black Flag was one of the best. I’m hoping Ubisoft nails the remake, setting the stage for more AC games to get the same treatment.

1) Halo: Campaign Evolved

Rebuilt from the ground up, Halo: Campaign Evolved adds modern graphics and gameplay tweaks to the Xbox classic. Three all-new missions await as well. I cannot wait to don the armor of the Master Chief once again.

Related: Ranking the Game Showcases at This Year’s ‘Not-E3’

Throughout Hollywood history, there have been several Westerns that so utterly connected with audiences that they were forged into the world’s collective pop culture. Most of those films were embraced upon release as critics and moviegoers alike recognized their greatness. However, long before Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid solidified its legacy as a masterpiece, the film was misunderstood by critics.

Who Named ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ One of the ‘Greatest Western Movie Masterpieces of All Time’

In February 2026, Collider published its ranking of the “20 Greatest Western Movie Masterpieces of All Time.” The list named Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, the iconic film that starred Paul Newman, Robert Redford, and Katharine Ross, at No. 10. The article praised the George Roy Hill-directed film for featuring a character-driven story with great one-liners that focused on personal friendship instead of recycling the typical Western plot. Of course, the outlet noted that the undeniable chemistry shared by the movie’s two titular stars was its highlight.

While Collider’s inclusion of the 1969 classic on its ranking is remarkable, it is far from the only time it has been celebrated. For example, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid was ranked at No. 50 on the American Film Institute’s 100 Years…100 Movies list of the best American films ever in 1998. More recently, it earned a place on Rotten Tomatoes’ list of the “Best Western Movies of All Time.” Perhaps most notably, the movie was selected for preservation in the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry in 2003. That is a program designed to ensure that the most culturally significant movies never disappear, which speaks to the place it holds in Hollywood history.

Why Critics Originally Dismissed the Film

After Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid was released in September 1969, Roger Ebertreleased his review of the movie on October 13 of the same year. While it would be an overstatement to call the review entirely scathing, the famed critic wrote that “the completed film is slow and disappointing.” He also noted that it “contains several good laughs and three sound performances,” but it suffered from a “bloated production that destroys the pacing.” Ultimately, Ebert gave it 2.5/4 stars and called out the movie’s story. “William Goldman’s script is constantly too cute and never gets up the nerve, by God, to admit it’s a Western.”

As it turns out, Ebert wasn’t the only person who was skeptical of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’s script. As the book The Reluctant Storyteller by Sean Egan quotes Goldman recalling, the script was roundly rejected. In fact, he described the moment a studio head even demanded a drastic change that would have gutted the film’s iconic ending.

“Every studio but one rejected it. One studio head said, ‘Well, I’ll buy it if they don’t go to South America.’ I said, ‘But they went there!’ He said, ‘I don’t give a s***. All I know is John Wayne don’t run away.'”

Next: 1973 Classic That Once Outraged John Wayne Ranked One of the ‘Greatest Western Movies’ of All Time

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In This Story

Why We Love This Deal

With Prime Day and Fourth of July sales coming and going, you may have missed Under Armour’s Semi-Annual Sale Event. This sale is one worth diving into: Until July 8, you can get an extra 50% off a pretty impressive selection of the brand’s athletic gear and more. One of the highlights is definitely Under Armour’s bestselling Charged Gemini running shoes, which are over half off during the sale. 

The $110 Under Armour Charged Gemini Running Shoes were already on sale for $99, but if you use code SUMMER (or EXTRA50) at checkout, it brings the price down to $49. Four of the five colorways are on sale for this price, and the Marine OD Green shoes are almost sold out. These are bona fide all-stars in the UA lineup—they’ve earned a 4.8-star rating after more than 1,000 votes on the site, with users raving about their “supportive and lightweight” build.

Under Armour Charged Gemini Running Shoes, From $49 (was $110) at Under Armour

What Shoppers Should Know

• Upper: Spacer mesh
• Midsole: Charged Cushioning compression-molded foam, removable sockliner
• Outsole: Blown rubber with carbon rubber heel
• Closure: Molded ankle collar, standard lace-up
• Best For: Daily training, running, all-day support

The spacer mesh upper here, a 3D-knit material that holds its shape and breathes better than flat mesh, makes the Charged Geminis an especially solid choice for summer running. Charged Cushioning (UA’s compression-molded foam) gives you plenty of support for daily training without feeling mushy on longer runs as well. For even more support, the heel counter and molded ankle collar lock the back of your feet in place. 

Now, compared to Asics, Brooks, or Hoka, Under Armour may not be considered a top-tier running shoe label. But the brand’s Charged Asserts are usually the top dog in Amazon’s running shoe rankings, and while they’re going for around $47 there, this sale at Under Armour’s site makes the Geminis a better deal. You’re essentially getting a more premium shoe for only a few bucks more than the sale price of one of UA’s more entry-level runners. The Charged Asserts are still solid, however, and a great pick for beginner runners. 

Related: Asics’ ‘Supportive’ Gel-Cumulus Running Shoes Are Still Nearly 40% Off After Prime Day

What Shoppers Are Saying

One helpful reviewer said, “By far the most comfortable pair of shoes I’ve ever owned.” Another shopper wrote, “Great around town and in the gym for both cardio and strength weight training,” and a third shopper commented on the performance: “Feels flexible and improves my workout performance.”

That running support makes the shoes great for those who walk or stand a lot for work. One shopper said that finding shoes that are “not only breathable but comfortable” for the 20,000 steps they take a day is very hard, and these were “a huge success.”

Under Armour’s Charged Gemini Running Shoes remain one of its bestsellers, and getting into a pair of highly-rated name-brand runners for under fifty bucks is always a win. 

Also Check Out

• UA Pursuit 4, From $28 (was $75) at Under Armour
• UA Rogue 4, From $38 (was 85) at Under Armour
• UA Charged+ Rogue 6, From $40 (was $85) at Under Armour