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Balls Up

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General Review

Parent's Guide to Balls Up

Balls Up (2026) is an R-rated action-comedy film directed by Peter Farrelly and written by Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese, known for their work on Deadpool and Zombieland. The movie stars Mark Wahlberg and Paul Walter Hauser as two ambitious but reckless marketing executives who devise a controversial condom sponsorship for the World Cup. Their scheme quickly spirals into a global scandal after a night of heavy partying in Brazil. The film follows their chaotic journey as they are pursued by criminals, angry fans, and corrupt officials while attempting to salvage their careers. The content is explicitly adult-oriented, featuring crude humor, strong language, graphic nudity, and frequent substance abuse, making it unsuitable for younger audiences.

Things to Consider

High3

Romance and Sexual Content

The movie contains heavy sexual content, including explicit discussions about sex and condom use, alongside scenes of graphic nudity. The central plot revolves around a condom sponsorship, leading to frequent suggestive humor and visual explicit content.

The MPAA rating explicitly cites 'crude sexual material' and 'graphic nudity' as key descriptors. Reviews highlight 'heavy sexual content, including explicit discussions about sex and condom use,' and state there are 'scenes of graphic nudity, likely including full or partial frontal exposure.' For example, the protagonists, Brad and Elijah, are marketing executives pitching a 'bold full-coverage condom sponsorship' for the World Cup, which inherently drives much of the film's 'not-appropriate-for-work hijinks.'

Profanity

Profanity is very strong and constant throughout the film, with frequent use of explicit language, including the F-word. The dialogue is described as heavily profanity-driven, consistent with hard-R comedies.

Substance Use

The film features frequent alcohol and drug use, which is portrayed as central to the plot and comedic elements. Characters are often shown engaging in heavy partying, leading to a major scandal and irresponsible decision-making.

Would these 3 concerns matter to your family?

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Medium4
LGBTQ & Gender IdentityViolenceScary & Intense ContentDisrespect & Rebellion
Low2
Witchcraft & OccultAnti-Christian Themes

Additional Context

Best For Ages

Ages 18+. The film is rated R by the MPAA for crude sexual material, drug content, language throughout, violence, and graphic nudity. It contains frequent explicit dialogue, strong sexual humor, visible nudity, and ongoing substance use, which is deemed overwhelming for anyone under 18.

Good to Know

The film is directed by Peter Farrelly and written by Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese, a team known for their bold, over-the-top, and often crude humor in R-rated comedies. This background informs the intensity of the mature content present in 'Balls Up (2026).' It is set to be released on Prime Video.

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