Kicking & Screaming

Phil Weston has spent most of his life avoiding the kind of athletic glory that seems to define success, a guy who never quite earned the label star player. His ten year old son Sam, meanwhile, shows hints of natural talent that could pull him into a world Phil never mastered. Trouble arrives when Phil's formidable father Buck, a titan of competition, benches Sam from a game, forcing Phil to rethink his priorities. Seizing a chance to prove himself and keep Sam's dreams alive, Phil steps in as a temporary coach for a local team. What follows is a chaotic blend of coaching misfires, family pride, and a clash of generations that forces both men to reconsider what wins mean.

Directed by Jesse Dylan, Kicking and Screaming was scripted by Steve Rudnick and Leo Benvenuti. The 2005 comedy was released by Paramount Pictures, built as a light hearted family sports farce that leans on improv and familiar underdog humor moments.

Budgeted at about 45 million, the film grossed roughly 56.07 million worldwide. It turned a modest profit and found its strongest footing with family audiences rather than critics, delivering predictable but steady humor and encouraged more family friendly releases overall.

Cultural impact for Kicking and Screaming is modest. It didn't spawn lasting memes or quotable lines, and it sits in the mid 2000s wheelhouse of Will Ferrell sports comedies. Fans remember it as an undemanding family movie rather than a landmark; it mainly satisfies casual family evenings on weekend nights.

Critics offered mixed reviews praising the film's energy and Ferrell's physical humor while noting the premise stays light and familiar. The main themes revolve around family pride, intergenerational rivalry, and learning to value teamwork over individual glory. While not a critical darling, it still plays on a family movie night.