Our take
Balls Up is rated R for crude sexual material, drug content, language throughout, violence, and graphic nudity. Mark Wahlberg and Paul Walter Hauser play marketers pitching a full-coverage condom to the World Cup, then fleeing Brazil after a drunken scandal. Expect penis jokes, product demos, frontal nudity, heavy drinking and drug use, chase violence played for laughs, and constant f-bombs. This is adult gross-out comedy territory only
Uplifting themes
Rival coworkers become loyal friends, with a light nod to men sharing feelings The leads are likable but mostly model irresponsible adult behavior
AMU ages are independent editorial opinions. They are not legal classifications and are not issued by the Classification Board, the MPAA, or any other official classification body. Official labels on this site, such as PG or R, come from those bodies or our data sources, not from AMU. AMU guides are not a substitute for official classification. Cuts and details can differ by version. Use them as one input only. You decide what is right for your family.
Story (may spoil tone)
Two marketing executives go "balls out" and pitch a bold full‑coverage condom sponsorship with the World Cup. After their drunken celebration in Brazil sparks a global scandal, they must outrun furious fans, criminals, and power-hungry officials to salvage their careers and make it home alive.
Details
Violence Comedic chases, fights, tasing, and threats of harm when Brazil turns o…
Comedic chases, fights, tasing, and threats of harm when Brazil turns on the heroes
Language Nonstop strong profanity and crude anatomy slang match the R rating's l…
Nonstop strong profanity and crude anatomy slang match the R rating's language-throughout tag
Sex / nudity Graphic nudity, explicit sex talk, condom demos, and penis-shaped promo…
Graphic nudity, explicit sex talk, condom demos, and penis-shaped promotional gags drive the plot
Drugs / alcohol Wild partying, drinking, and drug use trigger the global scandal and ar…
Wild partying, drinking, and drug use trigger the global scandal and are played for laughs
Frightening Peril exists but stays cartoonish rather than scary
Peril exists but stays cartoonish rather than scary
Self-harm / suicide No self-harm found in this title
No self-harm found in this title
Sexual violence No sexual violence found in this title
No sexual violence found in this title
Child peril / abuse No child peril found in this title
No child peril found in this title
Bullying / discrimination Stereotype-heavy jokes target soccer fans, accents, and nationalities w…
Stereotype-heavy jokes target soccer fans, accents, and nationalities with Farrelly-style edge
Gore / death / weapons Action violence is slapstick
Action violence is slapstick
Dangerous behaviour Drunken celebration, reckless travel, and stunts are treated as part of…
Drunken celebration, reckless travel, and stunts are treated as part of the comedy
Eating disorders / body image No eating found in this title
No eating found in this title
Mental health No mental health found in this title
No mental health found in this title
Gambling No gambling found in this title
No gambling found in this title
Grief / bereavement No grief found in this title
No grief found in this title
Talk after watching
- The whole plot revolves around condoms and male body parts. When does raunchy humor cross from silly into uncomfortable?
- Brad pushes a sober executive to drink, and things spiral. How does the movie treat peer pressure around alcohol?
- The film pokes fun at soccer fans, accents, and national stereotypes. Where is satire, and where is it just mean?
- Elijah and Brad start as rivals but become friends. Does the heart-of-gold buddy arc balance the explicit jokes?
- Would you let a younger sibling see a movie because it stars familiar actors, even when the rating says R?