AceShowbiz - Balls Up, the new action comedy starring Mark Wahlberg, has premiered on Prime Video to a notably underwhelming critical reception. Directed by Peter Farrelly, known for hits like Dumb and Dumber and Green Book, and written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, the film follows Wahlberg as a marketing executive who accidentally triggers an international incident at the World Cup in Brazil and must scramble to escape the country alive.

Despite its high-profile creative team and star power, Balls Up debuted with a Rotten Tomatoes critic score of just 36% on its release day, April 15, 2026. This rating is based on only 11 critical reviews, meaning the score remains subject to change as more critiques are added. At the time of writing, the film has not yet accumulated enough user ratings to generate an audience score on the platform.

Mark Wahlberg’s career has spanned multiple genres, from his breakout role as Dirk Diggler in Boogie Nights (1997) to big-budget action films like The Perfect Storm (2000) and Planet of the Apes (2001). He has also earned prestigious nominations such as an Oscar nod for Best Supporting Actor in The Departed (2006) and a Golden Globe nomination for The Fighter (2010). Wahlberg transitioned into streaming projects in recent years, starring in Apple TV+’s The Family Plan (2023), Netflix’s The Union (2024), and now Balls Up on Prime Video.

The ensemble cast includes Emmy winner Paul Walter Hauser, three-time Oscar nominee Sacha Baron Cohen, Emmy nominee Benjamin Bratt, as well as Luciano Szafir, Eva De Dominici, Daniela Melchior, three-time Emmy nominee Molly Shannon, Emmy winner Eric André, and Chelsey Crisp. Despite this impressive lineup, critical responses to Balls Up have been lukewarm at best.

Reviews tend to vary between mildly entertained and disappointed. Some critics describe the film as harmless filler content for streaming platforms, noting its professional production values but lack of genuine comedic energy. Others criticize the film for relying on forced jokes that fail to land and for presenting a caricatured version of comedy that neither offends nor truly entertains.

More negative reviews highlight the film’s noisy and desperate tone, suggesting it contains an excess of crude humor that detracts from the cast’s talents. Several critics feel that Mark Wahlberg appears miscast in the lead role, while Paul Walter Hauser stands out as a more engaging presence amid the chaos. Nonetheless, the overall consensus points to Balls Up as a movie that ultimately falls flat, reducing itself to uninspired streaming-era content.

The film runs for 104 minutes and was produced by Andrew J. Muscato, Dana Goldberg, David Ellison, Don Granger, Paul Wernick, and Rhett Reese. While the creative pedigree behind Balls Up raised expectations, its initial reception suggests it may struggle to find a lasting audience or critical acclaim.

As streaming platforms continue investing in star-driven original movies, the mixed results of projects like Balls Up underscore the challenge of balancing high-profile talent with fresh, effective storytelling. For now, Mark Wahlberg’s latest foray into streaming action comedy has yet to hit the mark with critics or viewers.