‘The Bad News Bears’ Cast Remembers Working With Walter Matthau 50 Years Later

This year is the 50th Anniversary of the hit film The Bad News Bears, which starred Walter Matthau, Vic Morris, and Tatum O’Neal. The film is based on an ex-minor-league coach who takes on coaching a misfit Little League team. The film was directed by Michael Ritchie and was written by Bill Lancaster, who won the WGA Award for his efforts.

The film opened on April 7, 1976, and brought in around $42 million and was a surprise hit. This led to two spin-off films: 1977’s The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training and 1978’s The Bad News Bears God to Japan. A remake with Billy Bob Thornton was produced in 2005.