Marty Supreme changed everything. Before December 2025, Balls of Fury was the most-watched ping pong movie by a landslide, and As One was my personal favorite. Now, with Josh Safdie’s chaotic masterpiece earning a 7.9 on IMDb and Oscar buzz to match, table tennis finally has the big-screen moment it has always deserved. Beyond those, seven other films heavily revolve around the sport.
Here are the top 9 ping pong movies:
- Marty Supreme (2025)
- As One (2012)
- Pinpon (2002)
- Top Spin (2014)
- Mixed Doubles (2017)
- The King of Ping Pong (2008)
- Ping Pong Playa (2007)
- Ping Pong Summer (2014)
- Balls of Fury (2007)
You may notice I left out every movie that simply includes a ping pong scene, so you will not find Tom Hanks and Forrest Gump here. Every film on this list puts the sport front and center.
Any ping pong fan will want to watch at least a few of these. I have included IMDb ratings, genre tags, and streaming guidance so you can pick the right one for tonight.
Table of Contents
Quick Reference: All 9 Ping Pong Movies at a Glance
| Title | Year | Genre | IMDb | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marty Supreme | 2025 | Sports Drama | 7.9 | Fans of intense character studies and prestige cinema |
| As One | 2012 | Sports Drama | 7.2 | True story lovers and Korean cinema fans |
| Pinpon | 2002 | Sports Drama | 7.0 | Japanese cinema fans and coming-of-age story lovers |
| Top Spin | 2014 | Documentary | 6.9 | Anyone who wants to understand elite competitive table tennis |
| Mixed Doubles | 2017 | Comedy Drama | 6.5 | Fans of fun, lighthearted sports comedies |
| The King of Ping Pong | 2008 | Drama | 6.3 | Fans of quiet, character-driven Scandinavian cinema |
| Ping Pong Playa | 2007 | Comedy | 5.9 | Viewers who want a laugh and do not take things too seriously |
| Ping Pong Summer | 2014 | Comedy Drama | 5.4 | Anyone who grew up in the 1980s |
| Balls of Fury | 2007 | Comedy | 5.3 | Viewers who want ridiculous, turn-your-brain-off fun |
1. Marty Supreme (2025) — IMDb Rating: 7.9
Genre: Sports Comedy-Drama | Runtime: 2h 17m | Director: Josh Safdie
Nothing in this sport’s cinematic history comes close to Marty Supreme. Shot on 35mm film by cinematographer Darius Khondji, directed by Josh Safdie (of Uncut Gems fame), and starring Timothée Chalamet in his best performance to date, this is the film table tennis players have been waiting decades for. It arrived in theaters on December 25, 2025, via A24, and it immediately announced itself as one of the year’s best.
Set in 1950s New York, the film follows Marty Mauser, a shoe salesman and world-class table tennis player loosely based on the real-life legend Marty Reisman, nicknamed “The Needle.” Marty is obsessively driven, spectacularly arrogant, and absolutely riveting to watch. He hustles his way across international tournaments in France and Japan, wrecks relationships, bends every rule, and somehow keeps you rooting for him despite yourself. Critics have compared it to Uncut Gems meets Catch Me If You Can, which feels exactly right. The ping pong sequences pulse with Safdie’s signature intensity, and Chalamet trained for months with former American Olympian Wei Wang to make every rally feel authentic.
A word of warning: this film earns its adult rating. It is foul, chaotic, and morally complex. For pure cinematic craft and sheer table tennis electricity, though, nothing else on this list touches it.
Best For: Fans of prestige drama, character studies, and anyone who wants to see what happens when an auteur filmmaker takes ping pong completely seriously.
Where to Watch: Currently in theaters and expected on A24’s streaming channel. Check JustWatch for the latest availability in your region.
2. As One (2012) — IMDb Rating: 7.2
Genre: Sports Drama | Runtime: 2h 7m | Country: South Korea
Marty Supreme may top the ratings, but my personal favorite remains As One, and it seems most other table tennis fans agree. It is based on the true events surrounding the 1991 World Table Tennis Championships in Chiba, Japan.
After the tragic bombing of Korean Air Flight 858 in 1987, North and South Korea sought a symbol of peaceful cooperation. That symbol became a unified ping pong team, bringing together players who had spent their careers as rivals. The team dynamic is difficult, the stakes are enormous, and the opponent is China, then campaigning for its ninth consecutive title. The movie stars a top cast led by Korean actresses Ha Ji Won and Bae Doona, and it delivers one of the most emotionally satisfying sports climaxes you will ever see on screen.
Best For: Fans of true stories, Korean cinema, and anyone who wants a sports drama with genuine emotional stakes.
Where to Watch: Available on select Asian film streaming platforms. Check JustWatch for current availability.
3. Pinpon (2002) — IMDb Rating: 7.0
Genre: Sports Drama | Runtime: 1h 54m | Country: Japan
Pinpon, also known internationally as Ping Pong, tells the story of two wildly different players. Peco is loud, obnoxious, and burning with ambition. Smile, whom Peco taught, is his quiet opposite. Watching them push each other toward greatness is exactly as compelling as it sounds. The film is a little dated at this point, but it holds up beautifully because the character work is so strong.
I also strongly recommend the animated adaptation. Ping Pong the Animation (2014) tells the same story and, in my opinion, surpasses the original. The series has developed a devoted cult following and stands as one of the best sports anime ever made. If you enjoy one, watch both.
Best For: Fans of Japanese cinema and coming-of-age stories with heart.
Where to Watch: Ping Pong the Animation is available on Funimation. Check JustWatch for the live-action film.
Want to get started playing yourself? Read our full beginner’s guide.
4. Top Spin (2014) — IMDb Rating: 6.9
Genre: Documentary | Runtime: 1h 36m | Country: USA
Top Spin takes a different approach: it is a documentary, and a genuinely intimate one. The film follows three exceptionally talented American teenagers as they compete for a place on the U.S. Olympic team for London 2012. Looking back now, knowing how their careers unfolded adds a poignant layer to the film that was not there when it first released.
What I admire most about this movie is how honestly it captures the personal cost of elite sport. These players are juggling training, academic pressure, relationships, and the brutal reality that only a handful of spots exist at the top. It is a fascinating window into a world most viewers never see.
Best For: Anyone who wants a genuine behind-the-scenes look at elite competitive table tennis in America.
Where to Watch: Check JustWatch for current availability.
5. Mixed Doubles (2017) — IMDb Rating: 6.5
Genre: Comedy Drama | Runtime: 2h 3m | Country: Japan
Mixed Doubles is my pick for the best comedy table tennis movie. It tells the story of Tamiko, a former ping pong prodigy who walked away from the sport after years of pressure from her strict, domineering mother. After being cheated on, she returns to her hometown and picks up a paddle again. She ends up competing with a ragtag misfit team that includes an ex-professional boxer who has never played table tennis a day in his life.
The premise is wonderfully absurd, and the film leans into it completely. It is funny, warm, and surprisingly touching. If you just want a good time and do not need your sports drama to be serious, this is the one.
Best For: Viewers who want laughs and heart in equal measure.
Where to Watch: Check JustWatch for current availability.
Read More: The Myth of the Bruce Lee Ping Pong Video
6. The King of Ping Pong (2008) — IMDb Rating: 6.3
Genre: Drama | Runtime: 1h 30m | Country: Sweden
The King of Ping Pong shares some structural DNA with Pinpon in that it pairs two very different players as its central characters. Rille is overweight, intensely calculated, and viciously bullied. His younger brother Erik is thin, spontaneous, and popular. Without a father figure, Rille finds his identity and his pride at the local community center, where he maintains the ping pong equipment and dominates every player who challenges him.
This is a quiet, melancholy film, and it is more about belonging than competition. It rewards patient viewers.
Best For: Fans of understated Scandinavian cinema and films about outsiders finding their place.
Where to Watch: Check JustWatch for current availability.
7. Ping Pong Playa (2007) — IMDb Rating: 5.9
Genre: Comedy | Runtime: 1h 35m | Country: USA
Ping Pong Playa follows a young man who dreams of becoming a professional basketball player. When a car crash sidelines both his mother and his older brother, who plays ping pong professionally, he reluctantly picks up a paddle to keep the family business running. He never wanted to be there, and that resistance drives most of the comedy.
I will be upfront: this movie is juvenile and relies heavily on stereotypes. If you go in knowing that and just want to laugh, you will probably enjoy it as much as I did. It is goofy fun and nothing more.
Best For: Viewers who want a casual, low-stakes comedy with ping pong at its center.
Where to Watch: Check JustWatch for current availability.
8. Ping Pong Summer (2014) — IMDb Rating: 5.4
Genre: Comedy Drama | Runtime: 1h 33m | Country: USA
Focused on the 1980s table tennis scene, Ping Pong Summer is a full-on blast from the past. During his family’s vacation to Ocean City, Maryland, Rad falls into friendship, bullying, and romance while playing table tennis regularly at the local Fun Hub. When the local bullies try to stop him from competing, he finds an unlikely mentor in his eccentric next-door neighbor.
This film is not quite my taste, but I hear from a lot of people that it is intensely nostalgic if you grew up in that era. The 80s aesthetic is committed and affectionate rather than ironic, which earns it points.
Best For: Anyone with a deep affection for 1980s culture and coming-of-age summer movies.
Where to Watch: Check JustWatch for current availability.
9. Balls of Fury (2007) — IMDb Rating: 5.3
Genre: Comedy | Runtime: 1h 30m | Country: USA
Of all the ping pong movies on this list, Balls of Fury is the most ridiculous, and it knows it. The FBI recruits a washed-up former pro named Randy Daytona to compete in an underground ping pong tournament run by a villain played by a delightfully unhinged Christopher Walken. Daytona also has a personal score to settle: he wants to avenge his father’s death.
None of it makes a lick of sense, and that is the whole point. For pure absurdist comedy and mainstream accessibility, it remains the most-watched ping pong film ever made. It sits at the bottom of this list by rating, but it has its audience and it knows exactly what it is.
Best For: Viewers who want to turn their brain off and enjoy something completely unhinged.
Where to Watch: Available on Tubi (free) and other platforms. Check JustWatch for current availability.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ping Pong Movies
What is the best ping pong movie of all time?
By IMDb rating, Marty Supreme (2025) is now the highest-rated ping pong film ever made, earning a 7.9 and significant Oscar attention. It stars Timothée Chalamet as a 1950s table tennis hustler loosely based on real champion Marty Reisman, directed by Josh Safdie. For pure emotional depth and true-story power, As One (2012) remains my personal favorite and earns its 7.2 rating every time. The best one for you depends on whether you want cinematic intensity or heartfelt sports drama.
Is Marty Supreme based on a true story?
Marty Supreme is loosely based on the life of real American ping pong champion Marty Reisman, who competed at five World Table Tennis Championships from 1948 to 1952 and became known as one of the sport’s greatest hustlers. The film takes creative liberties with the story, but the core character, his showmanship, his hustle, and his obsession with becoming a world champion, all trace back to Reisman’s real life and his 1974 memoir The Money Player.
Is Balls of Fury worth watching?
Balls of Fury (2007) is worth watching if you want a silly, over-the-top comedy and are not expecting anything remotely realistic. It remains the most-watched ping pong movie by a wide margin thanks to its mainstream appeal and Christopher Walken’s hilariously committed villain performance. It sits at a 5.3 on IMDb, which tells you exactly what kind of film it is.
Are there any ping pong documentaries?
Yes. Top Spin (2014) is an excellent ping pong documentary that follows three elite teenage American players as they compete for spots on the U.S. Olympic team ahead of the London 2012 Games. It captures the pressure, sacrifice, and personal cost of elite youth sport with rare honesty. It is one of the more intimate sports documentaries available and earns a 6.9 on IMDb.
Is there a ping pong anime worth watching?
Absolutely. Ping Pong the Animation (2014) is one of the best sports anime ever made. It tells the same story as the live-action Japanese film Pinpon (2002), following the contrasting journeys of two players named Peco and Smile. In my opinion, the animated series is even better than the original film. It is available on Funimation and earns a devoted audience every time someone new discovers it.
Which ping pong movies are on streaming platforms right now?
Balls of Fury is available free on Tubi. Ping Pong the Animation streams on Funimation. Marty Supreme is in theaters and expected to arrive on A24’s streaming channel. Because streaming availability changes frequently, the most reliable way to find any title in your region is to search on JustWatch.com, which aggregates all current platform availability in real time.
Are there any ping pong movies based on true stories?
Two films on this list draw directly from real events. As One (2012) depicts the actual unified North and South Korean team that competed at the 1991 World Table Tennis Championships in Chiba, Japan. Top Spin (2014) is a documentary following real young athletes. Marty Supreme (2025) is loosely inspired by real champion Marty Reisman, though it takes significant creative liberties. Knowing the real history behind As One makes it even more moving.
What is a good ping pong movie for kids or families?
Ping Pong Summer (2014) is the most family-appropriate option, with its PG-rated 1980s nostalgia and light coming-of-age story. Top Spin (2014) works well for families with kids who play sports, as it follows real teenage athletes and carries an inspiring message about dedication. Ping Pong Playa (2007) skews toward older teens. Marty Supreme is emphatically not for families or younger viewers.
What is the difference between ping pong and table tennis?
Officially, table tennis is the sport played at the Olympic level under strict international rules. Ping pong historically referred to a more recreational version of the game, often played with a slower sponge ball at a lower competitive level. In everyday conversation, most people use the terms interchangeably, and most of the films on this list do the same. Marty Supreme leans into this distinction playfully, as Marty Mauser insists on the more serious “table tennis” framing.
Closing Thoughts
The ping pong movie landscape changed dramatically with the arrival of Marty Supreme in late 2025. For the first time, a mainstream studio production treated the sport with full cinematic seriousness, and the result is a film that table tennis players will be talking about for years. If you only watch one film on this list, start there.
If you want something more emotionally grounded in real events, As One remains my personal recommendation. It is a captivating true story and the most moving sports drama on this list. For comedy, Mixed Doubles is the one I point people toward every time.
Whatever you choose, there is finally no shortage of great ping pong cinema. That is something worth celebrating.
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Freelance writer. Table tennis enthusiast. Lover of all things online. When I’m not working on my loop game I’m probably binge-watching some fantasy show.
