Saagar Kote
Directed by Peter Farrelly, Prime Video’s ‘Balls Up’ revolves around the spectacular misadventures of marketers and colleagues, Brad Lewison (Mark Wahlberg) and Elijah (Paul Walter Hauser). Elijah comes up with a revolutionary condom for a sponsorship deal at the soccer World Cup in Brazil. While Elijah is a great inventor, Brad is a skilled salesman. The two of them secure a sponsorship deal and fly to Brazil for the World Cup. During one of the matches, when a drunken Elijah notices that the on-field sponsorship space has been occupied by the mascot of another brand, he gets furious. Chaos ensues when Elijah runs onto the field to attack the mascot, and Brad runs behind him to stop him.
This disrupts the match, costing Team Brazil the World Cup. Finding themselves targeted by an angry nation of soccer fans, Brad and Elijah must somehow escape the country as they face various threats and run into increasingly absurd situations. The action comedy film features over-the-top adventures, unexpected challenges, goofy characters, and two very confused men. Looking for more movies similar to ‘Balls Up’ that will make you laugh your heart out? You can check out this list.
12. We’re the Millers (2013)
Helmed by Rawson Marshall Thurber, ‘We’re the Millers’ centers on the actions of drug dealer David Clark (Jason Sudeikis), who is robbed, leaving him indebted to his supplier. To pay him back, David must retrieve a large drug shipment from Mexico against all odds. This situation forces him to come up with an absurd strategy. He recruits stripper Rose O’Reilly (Jennifer Aniston) to play his wife, teenager Kenny Rossmore (Will Poulter) to pretend to be his son, and Casey Mathis (Emma Roberts) to play his daughter.
Together, they form the “Miller” family and try to execute the drug mission, and run into hilarious and dangerous situations that push them to their limits. The comedy film is similar to ‘Balls Up’ in that it focuses on the misadventures of quirky Americans trying to do a job in a foreign land while facing challenges.
11. Road Trip (2000)
‘Road Trip’ follows the struggles of Josh Parker (Breckin Meyer) and Tiffany Henderson (Rachel Blanchard), a couple who have liked each other since their childhood years. Their long-standing relationship is put in jeopardy when Josh has an impulsive and private encounter with his classmate, Beth Wagner (Amy Smart), which they record. In a major mix-up, this tape, which exposes Josh’s infidelity, is mistakenly mailed to Tiffany in Austin. Realizing the potentially devastating consequences this could have, Josh immediately sets out on a cross-country journey to Austin with a group of friends. His desperate mission is to intercept the tape before Tiffany can watch it, but the road trip is unexpectedly complicated by outrageous scenarios. Directed by Todd Phillips, the comedy film complements ‘Balls Up’ through its visuals, the characters’ desperation, and its element of chaos.
10. Due Date (2010)
‘Due Date’ features the ups and downs in the life of Peter Highman (Robert Downey Jr.), who finds himself stranded in Atlanta. He’s facing a tight five-day deadline to reach LA for the birth of his first child. After losing his luggage and wallet, he is also placed on the no-fly list. With no other options, Peter reluctantly accepts a cross-country car ride from a stranger named Ethan Tremblay (Zach Galifianakis). The journey quickly becomes a chaotic ordeal, featuring an assault, a major accident resulting in injuries, an encounter where they must evade Mexican cops, and Peter’s growing fear that his wife is having an affair, leading him to doubt his child’s paternity. Directed by Todd Phillips, the comedy movie is a wild ride featuring two characters who run into rib-tickling encounters with unlikely individuals, much like Brad and Elijah in ‘Balls Up.’
9. The Dictator (2012)
Directed by Larry Charles, ‘The Dictator’ chronicles the journey of Haffaz Aladeen (Sacha Baron Cohen), the dictator of Wadiya, who is widely hated by the outside world. When questions arise about his country’s nuclear weapons, he goes to NYC to clarify and address the UN. In a shocking turn of events, Aladeen is targeted by his minister and uncle Tamir Mafraad (Ben Kingsley), who plots to kill him and assume control. Aladeen is locked out of the UN after Tamir replaces him with a body double who promises democracy.
The dictator is mistakenly taken in by Zoey (Anna Faris), an American woman protesting his regime, who believes he’s a refugee. Aladeen stays with Zoey while trying to counter his uncle’s plan and continue his dictatorship. The satirical comedy film, akin to ‘Balls Up,’ contains international incidents, absurd encounters, clueless characters, and wildly entertaining moments.
8. Borat (2006)
‘Borat’ or ‘Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan’ is a comedy film that centers on the experience of Kazakh journalist Borat Sagdiyev (Sacha Baron Cohen). Sent by his government to America to film a documentary on American society and culture, he takes a course in NYC to learn American humor. Accompanied by his producer, Azamat Bagatov (Ken Davitian), Borat becomes enamored with American life. After seeing Pamela Anderson on TV, he decides to travel to Malibu, California, to marry her and take her home. On their journey, Borat and Azamat meet various Americans, which leads to chaotic, hysterical situations. Directed by Larry Charles, the narrative is an adventurous tale of mishaps and absurd moments faced by two characters on foreign soil, similar to ‘Balls Up.’
7. Game Night (2018)
‘Game Night’ revolves around the experiences of a married couple, Max Davis (Jason Bateman) and Annie Davis (Rachel McAdams). They routinely host game nights with their friends and also try to win at any cost because of their highly competitive nature. Brooks Davis (Kyle Chandler), Max’s brother, comes up with a unique murder mystery game for game night, and the players think it will be entertaining. However, things take a dramatic turn. On one of the game nights, Max, Annie, and their friends initially think they are playing Brooks’ game, but then realize they are in real danger.
What follows is a hilarious journey as Max, Annie, and everyone else face unforeseen challenges, odd individuals, and increasingly puzzling situations. Directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, the action comedy film is spiritually akin to ‘Balls Up’ as it features characters forced to run and hide from unlikely pursuers. The visual and comedic tone of the films connect them at a deeper level.
6. Tropic Thunder (2008)
‘Tropic Thunder’ is a satirical action comedy film that deals with the struggles of a fading action star, Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller), who longs to be taken seriously. To shoot a war film about the Vietnam War, he joins other actors, including comedian Jeff Portnoy (Jack Black), method actor Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr.), rapper Alpa Chino (Brandon T. Jackson), and newcomer Kevin Sandusky (Jay Baruchel). Struggling to manage the actors’ egos, the director of the war film drops them into the jungle to film more realistically.
However, the situation spirals when they unknowingly enter a real conflict involving a dangerous drug gang. When Tugg is captured, the others must confront the reality of their situation and work together to rescue him, even as they face increasingly absurd threats. Directed by Ben Stiller, the movie shares similarities with ‘Balls Up’ in that it features characters dragged into escalating chaos and conflict in unexpected ways, unaware of how to handle the threats.
5. The Nice Guys (2016)
‘The Nice Guys’, directed by Shane Black, is a comedy film set in 1970s LA. It follows struggling private investigator Holland March (Ryan Gosling) and tough enforcer Jackson Healy (Russell Crowe), who unexpectedly join forces while investigating the disappearance of a teenage girl, Amelia (Margaret Qualley). What starts as a simple case soon grows more complex when others begin searching for her. As the two men work together, they navigate a messy world filled with criminals, strange encounters, and secrets. Even as the people around them make the mission challenging, the greatest threat to Holland and Jackson might be their own struggles to get along. The narrative, akin to ‘Balls Up,’ is a spirited story that features two characters taking on the world while overcoming seemingly ridiculous challenges and hilarious people.
4. Central Intelligence (2016)
Directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber, ‘Central Intelligence’ follows the unexpected reunion of two former high-school friends, Bob Stone (Dwayne Johnson), who now works as a CIA agent, and Calvin Joyner (Kevin Hart), an accountant. When Bob recruits Calvin for an international espionage mission, the accountant finds himself unwillingly drawn into a clandestine world of deception as the agent races to keep sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands. The resurgent friendship is quickly ruined by stray bullets, a dangerous global conspiracy, and government agents. The action-comedy film is connected to ‘Balls Up’ through its focus on two characters who must work together to get out of risky situations while also struggling to adjust to each other’s personalities.
3. EuroTrip (2004)
‘EuroTrip’ is a comedy film that deals with the trials and tribulations of Scott Thomas (Scott Mechlowicz), a disciplined high school graduate, who is heartbroken after a breakup. Seeking comfort, he turns to his German pen pal, Mike. After misunderstanding Mike’s intentions, Scott cuts off contact, only to later discover that Mike is actually Mieke Schmidt (Jessica Boehrs), a girl he feels deeply connected to. Determined to fix his mistake, he decides to travel to Europe to find her.
Joined by his best friend Cooper Harris (Jacob Pitts), Scott travels from London to Berlin, meeting friends along the way and facing a series of unexpected challenges. As the trip unfolds, Scott begins to learn about the intricacies of life and the possibilities of a second chance. Helmed by Alec Berg, Jeff Schaffer, and David Mandel, the narrative complements ‘Balls Up’ as an over-the-top journey in which Americans experience chaotic situations and rib-tickling moments in a foreign country.
2. The Hangover Part II (2011)
‘The Hangover Part II,’ directed by Todd Phillips, is a comedy film and a sequel to ‘The Hangover.’ It follows Stu Price (Ed Helms), whose wedding to Lauren Srisai is expected to happen soon. Stu travels with his friends Phil Wenneck (Bradley Cooper), Doug Billings (Justin Bartha), and Alan Garner (Zach Galifianakis) to Thailand for the wedding. After a quiet night that turns wild, the group wakes up with no memory of what happened.
Their room is in chaos, Stu has a face tattoo, Alan’s head is shaved, and Lauren’s younger brother Teddy is missing. As they retrace their steps, they realize they’ve somehow ended up in a strange area of Bangkok and must piece together the previous night. With unexpected twists and strange encounters, the trio rushes to find Teddy before it’s too late. The film’s visuals, characters, funny moments, adrenaline-fueled sequences, and absurd situations connect it to ‘Balls Up.’
1. The Brothers Grimsby (2016)
Directed by Louis Leterrier, ‘The Brothers Grimsby’ or ‘Grimsby’ is an action-comedy movie about two very different brothers forced together under extreme circumstances. Kyle Alan Butcher AKA Nobby (Sacha Baron Cohen), a carefree family man from a small English town, is reunited with his estranged brother, Sebastian Graves (Mark Strong), now a skilled MI6 agent. Their reunion quickly turns chaotic when Nobby accidentally ruins a high-stakes mission, making Sebastian appear responsible for a terrorist attack. With authorities chasing them, the brothers must go on the run while trying to stop the real terrorists behind the attack.
As they navigate dangerous situations and absurd mishaps, their bond is tested, and they must learn to work together to clear Sebastian’s name and prevent further violence. The narrative reflects the spirit of ‘Balls Up’ through its visually engaging tone and the odd character dynamics. Nobby and Sebastian’s journey is similar to the struggles of Brad and Elijah in ‘Balls Up.’ The overall narrative feel and the hilarious moments connect the two movies on a deeper level.
Read More: Where Was Balls Up Filmed?
