Blackball (film)

Blackball
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMel Smith
Written byTim Firth
Produced byJames Gay-Rees
Starring
Music byStephen Warbeck
Distributed byIcon Entertainment International
Release date
  • 5 September 2003 (2003-09-05)
Running time
96 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Box office$48,000 (US)

Blackball (also known as National Lampoon's Blackball) is a 2003 British sports comedy film based on the game of lawn bowls. The screenplay was written by Tim Firth and the film was directed by Mel Smith. The film features James Cromwell as a master bowls player and Paul Kaye as a naturally talented player who have differing social backgrounds; they are placed together by Vince Vaughn to play for England against Australia. Its fictional plot is based on the bowls player Griff Sanders, who was also referred to as "The Bad Boy of Bowls".