If you needed another sign that pickleball has gone mainstream, here it is.
The Dink, a new comedy from Apple TV+, premieres on July 24, and puts pickleball at the center of a feature film starring Jake Johnson, Ed Harris, Mary Steenburgen, Patton Oswalt, Chloe Fineman, and former tennis star Andy Roddick.
The movie follows Dusty Boyd (Jake Johnson), a former tennis prodigy who never quite lived up to expectations. Still chasing approval from father, Chuck (Ed Harris), Dusty spends his days coaching kids at a country club where a new threat has emerged: pickleball.
After re-aggravating an old injury that takes tennis off the table, Dusty reluctantly gives pickleball a try as part of his recovery. What starts as a rehab journey turns into something unexpected as he begins enjoying the sport and forms a partnership with Candace (Mary Steenburgen).
Caught between his father’s anti-pickleball crusade and his growing appreciation for the game, Dusty finds himself questioning old assumptions about success, competition, and who he wants to be.
Produced by Ben Stiller and directed by Josh Greenbaum, The Dink looks like it will lean heavily into the long-running tennis-versus-pickleball debate while delivering the kind of underdog sports comedy that appeals well beyond either audience.
For pickleball, the movie is notable for another reason.
Not long ago, the sport was still being introduced as “that game with the funny name.” Today, it has professional tours, dedicated facilities, celebrity investors, national television coverage, and now a major streaming comedy built entirely around pickleball culture.
Whether The Dink becomes a breakout hit or simply a fun watch for players, it’s another reminder of how far the sport has come in a relatively short period of time.
The Dink premieres globally on Apple TV+ on July 24, 2026.
