The Ball (1999): cast, story & where to watch
1999 · Film · ★ 4
Released in 1999, The Ball is a family film directed by Danny Deprez, running about 90 minutes. “Magic still exists ...” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Besides the stray dog Mingus, 11 year old Sophia has no real friends. She is pushed around by the "Beastie boys", a gang of street kids who have built an entire camp in the trees of a junk yard. One day Sophia hears that the yard is ordered to be cut down by Carlow, the mayor. Mingus, who lives in the yard, will be taken away and put to sleep. Sophia is shocked but just then she meets a gypsy, who lends her an old leather ball. For five days only. The ball is alive and may just be able to help her saving the yard. And indeed the ball proves being an amazing character. It makes objects fly and communicates with Sophia through whistling, and successfully attacks Carlow's bodyguard "Sweetlove". Sophia is accepted in the gang. She realises that the ball might chase the mayor's men off the yard. Yet, Sophia discovers that even great magic sometimes has dark sides: when Sophia's new friend Romeo tries to kiss her, the ball grows jealous and turns vicious...
Who’s in it. The Ball stars Martje Ceulemans as Sophia, Ernst Löw as Sweetlove, Jonas De Ro as Romeo and Michaël Pas as Vermeer.
How it landed. With an audience score of 4.0/10, The Ball has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Ball page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Ball tend to enjoy Spirited Away, Back to the Future, The Lion King and Coco.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Ball (1999)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for The Ball change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is The Ball worth watching?
- The Ball holds an audience score of 4.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy family. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Ball?
- The Ball stars Martje Ceulemans, Ernst Löw, Jonas De Ro and Michaël Pas.
- When was The Ball released?
- The Ball was released in 1999, with a runtime of about 90 minutes.