Field of Dreams

Field of Dreams
Company type	Film
Industry	Motion picture
Founded	April 21, 1989; 37 years ago
Founder	Phil Alden Robinson (writer-director)
Headquarters	United States
Products	Sports fantasy drama film

Field of Dreams is a 1989 American sports fantasy drama crafted by writer-director Phil Alden Robinson, adapted from W. P. Kinsella's 1982 novel Shoeless Joe. The movie features Kevin Costner portraying a farmer who constructs a baseball diamond amid his cornfields, drawing in the spirits of legendary players such as Shoeless Joe Jackson (Ray Liotta) and the infamous Chicago Black Sox. The cast also includes notable performances from Amy Madigan, James Earl Jones, and Burt Lancaster in his final cinematic appearance.

Premiering on April 21, 1989, the film garnered positive critical acclaim and secured three Academy Awards nominations: Best Picture, Best Original Score, and Best Adapted Screenplay. It achieved a box office return of $84.5 million against a $15 million production budget. In 2017, the film was inducted into the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for preservation.

Plot

Ray Kinsella resides on his Iowa corn farm in Dyersville, Iowa with his wife Annie and daughter Karin. Struggling with unresolved feelings toward his deceased father John, an ardent baseball enthusiast, Ray fears aging without realizing his aspirations.

One night while in the cornfield, Ray hears a mysterious voice whispering, "If you build it, he will come," accompanied by a vision of a baseball diamond and the apparition of "Shoeless" Joe Jackson. Annie consents to transform part of their land into a baseball field despite the financial risks involved.

During construction, Ray shares with Karin the story of the 1919 Black Sox Scandal. When doubt creeps in, Shoeless Joe returns asking to be brought back. The following day, Joe arrives alongside seven other members of the Black Sox team. Annie’s brother Mark cannot perceive these figures and cautions Ray about impending bankruptcy, offering to purchase the farm. The voice urges Ray to "ease his pain."

At a PTA meeting, Annie defends books written by Terence Mann, a divisive author from the 1960s. Ray connects the voice’s message to Mann, who had created a character named "John Kinsella" and once dreamed of joining the Brooklyn Dodgers. After sharing dreams about attending a game at Fenway Park, Ray locates Mann in Boston. Now reclusive, Mann agrees to attend one game with him. There, Ray hears the voice again instructing him to "go the distance," noticing statistics for Archie "Moonlight" Graham, who played only one game in 1922 for the New York Giants but never had a turn at bat. Mann admits he hears the voice as well.

They journey to Chisholm, Minnesota, discovering that Graham became a beloved physician before passing away years earlier. Suddenly transported to 1972, Ray meets an elderly Graham who expresses that medicine was his true vocation and declines visiting the baseball field. On their return trip to Iowa, they pick up a hitchhiker named Archie Graham searching for a baseball team.

Ray reveals that his strained relationship with his father stemmed from giving up playing catch at age 14 after reading Mann’s book and seeing his father's hero branded a criminal. His deepest regret is not reconciling with John before his death. Both Mann and Ray interpret the field’s creation and bringing Joe back as acts of atonement.

Back home, numerous 1920s all-star players arrive forming an opposing team. A game ensues where Graham finally gets to bat.

Mark returns demanding either sale or foreclosure of the farm; Karin insists spectators will pay to watch games. Mann concurs: "people will come" to recapture childhood wonder. During an incident where Karin nearly chokes on a hot dog, Graham saves her—knowing that stepping off the field means he cannot return—and reassures Ray he harbors no regrets. As Graham walks into the cornfield, Shoeless Joe calls him "rookie" and commends him before vanishing. Mark suddenly perceives the players too and urges Ray to keep ownership of the farm.

Shoeless Joe invites Mann into the cornfield; Mann disappears inside. Frustrated at being left out, Ray is told by Joe to look at the catcher behind home plate: "If you build it, he will come." The catcher removes his mask—it is John as a young man. Ray and Annie realize that "ease his pain" and "go the distance" refer to healing Ray’s relationship with his father.

Ray introduces John to Annie and Karin without revealing their connection. As night falls, John bids goodnight and shakes hands with Ray. Walking toward the cornfield together, Ray calls him "Dad" and asks if he wants to play catch; John agrees just as hundreds of cars arrive—fulfilling the prophecy that people will come to watch baseball.

Cast

Anne Seymour, who passed away just four months prior to the film’s release, delivered her last performance portraying Veda Ponikvar, the publisher from Chisholm assisting Ray and Mann. The identity of the actor voicing "The Voice," which guides Ray, remains uncertain; candidates speculated include Costner, Liotta, or Ed Harris, who is Amy Madigan’s spouse. Additionally, future Hollywood stars Matt Damon and Ben Affleck made brief appearances as extras during the Fenway Park sequence.

Production

In the early 1980s, Sara Colleton, an executive at 20th Century Fox, secured the initial option for Shoeless Joe and collaborated with producers Lawrence and Charles Gordon on its development. Although Lawrence Gordon championed the project—while serving part-time as Fox president—the studio ultimately considered it too specialized and lacking commercial appeal. After Scott Rudin, the head of production, withdrew his backing, Fox placed the film into turnaround status.

Screenwriter Phil Alden Robinson continued refining the screenplay with guidance from W. P. Kinsella, the original author. After Gordon's departure from Fox in 1986, he pitched the project elsewhere; Universal Pictures acquired it in 1987 and enlisted USC baseball coach Rod Dedeaux along with World Series winner Don Buford to train the cast.

Initially shot under its novel title, studio executives later renamed the film Field of Dreams. While Robinson favored Shoeless Joe as a title, Kinsella disclosed that his book’s original name was The Dream Field before it was changed by publishers to Shoeless Joe.

Casting

Robinson and the producers did not initially consider Kevin Costner for the role of Ray Kinsella, doubting he would be interested in another baseball-themed film following Bull Durham. The part was first offered to Tom Hanks, who declined but subsequently expressed enthusiasm about the project, describing it as "this generation’s It’s a Wonderful Life." Costner agreed to participate after Robinson’s directorial debut In the Mood had underperformed commercially. Amy Madigan, an admirer of the novel, was cast as Annie, Ray’s wife.

The character of the writer was altered from the real-life author J.D. Salinger—who threatened legal action—to a fictional figure named Terence Mann, created with James Earl Jones in mind to foster a compelling connection with Ray.

Although Robinson initially imagined Shoeless Joe Jackson as an older paternal figure, he ultimately cast Ray Liotta for his intense presence and layered complexity. The role of Moonlight Graham was offered to James Stewart, who declined. Burt Lancaster initially refused but accepted after encouragement from a friend who was a baseball enthusiast.

Filming

Principal photography commenced on May 25, 1988, scheduled around Costner’s availability before he departed to film Revenge. Production took place six days per week, beginning with interior shots while waiting for the cornfield to mature. Irrigation techniques were used to expedite growth so that it would reach Costner’s height in time. Key filming locations included a farm near Dyersville, Iowa for the Kinsella residence; an empty warehouse in Dubuque, Iowa for interior scenes; and Galena, Illinois which stood in for Moonlight Graham’s hometown of Chisholm, Minnesota. One week of filming occurred on location in Boston, prominently featuring Fenway Park.

Despite sufficient budget and cast talent, Robinson experienced pressure and uncertainty about doing justice to the source material. Producer Lawrence Gordon provided reassurance regarding the film’s potential significance.

For the closing sequence showing headlights stretching across the horizon, Robinson collaborated with the Iowa Chamber of Commerce to orchestrate a community event. To achieve this visual effect, 1,500 vehicles were positioned in Dyersville with drivers alternating between low and high beams to simulate movement while keeping production crew out of sight from aerial cameras.

Field

The Kinsella farm scenes were captured on Don Lansing's land in Dyersville, Iowa, while several baseball field sequences took place on the adjacent farm owned by Al Ameskamp. Because the filming timeline was too tight to allow natural grass to grow, turf specialists from Dodger Stadium and the Rose Bowl were brought in to install and paint the baseball diamond with synthetic green turf.

Soundtrack

Initially, Leonard Bernstein was considered for composing the film’s score but was unavailable. After viewing an early rough cut, James Horner accepted the role, deeply moved by the film’s emotional narrative. Director Robinson had assembled a temporary music track that Universal executives disliked, expecting a sweeping orchestral score similar to Horner’s work on An American Tail. Instead, Horner chose to preserve the subtle, atmospheric tone of the temp track to emphasize emotional depth. The soundtrack earned a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Score, though it ultimately lost to Alan Menken's The Little Mermaid. The closing credits include several notable pop songs:

"Crazy" by Willie Nelson, performed by Beverly D'Angelo
"Daydream" by John Sebastian, performed by the Lovin' Spoonful
"Jessica" by Dickey Betts, performed by the Allman Brothers Band
"China Grove" by Tom Johnston, performed by the Doobie Brothers
"Lotus Blossom" by Billy Strayhorn, performed by Duke Ellington

Historical connections

The character Archibald "Moonlight" Graham, played by Burt Lancaster and Frank Whaley, is inspired by an actual baseball player. While the portrayal remains largely faithful, certain details were altered for dramatic effect: the real Graham’s only major league appearance occurred in June 1905 rather than on the final day of the 1922 season as shown, and he passed away in 1965 instead of 1972. In the storyline, Terence Mann conducts interviews with individuals based on real-life articles chronicling Graham’s history.

Release

Universal Pictures planned Field of Dreams for a U.S. release on April 21, 1989. The film initially opened in select theaters before gradually expanding its reach to capitalize on the summer blockbuster season, remaining in theaters through December. In the Philippines, Eastern Films distributed the movie starting November 1, 1989.

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, Field of Dreams holds an approval rating of 88% from 65 critics, with an average score of 7.90/10. The site summarizes it as "sentimental, but in the best way; a blend of fairy tale, baseball, and family unity." On Metacritic, it has a weighted average of 57 out of 100 based on 18 reviews, indicating "mixed or average" reception. Audience polling by CinemaScore awarded it an overall grade of "A."

Esteemed critic Roger Ebert gave it four stars, lauding its ambition reminiscent of works by Frank Capra and performances akin to those of James Stewart. The New York Times reviewer Caryn James described it as "intelligently written, beautifully shot, and superbly acted," transforming sentimentality into genuine feeling. Duane Byrge from The Hollywood Reporter emphasized Kevin Costner’s performance as crucial in offsetting some mechanical aspects of the film.

Variety provided a mixed critique, mentioning that while the script contained overly sweet aphorisms, it nonetheless captured a dreamlike atmosphere that distilled baseball to its purest form. In contrast, Peter Travers at Rolling Stone criticized the movie for being excessively sentimental.

Former President George W. Bush identified Field of Dreams as his favorite film, highlighting its emotional connection through memories of playing catch with his father.

Accolades

In 1990, the movie earned three nominations at the 62nd Academy Awards: for Best Picture (producers Gordon & Gordon), Best Adapted Screenplay (Robinson), and Best Original Score (Horner). However, it did not secure a win in any category.

Award	Category	Nominee(s)	Result
20/20 Awards	Best Adapted Screenplay	Phil Alden Robinson	Template:Nom
Academy Awards	Best Picture	Lawrence Gordon and Charles Gordon	Template:Nom
	Best Adapted Screenplay	Phil Alden Robinson	Template:Nom
	Best Original Score	James Horner	Template:Nom
American Cinema Editors Awards	Best Edited Feature Film – Dramatic	Ian Crafford	Template:Nom
Artios Awards	Outstanding Achievement in Feature Film Casting – Drama	Margery Simkin	Template:Nom
Blue Ribbon Awards	Best Foreign Film	Phil Alden Robinson	Template:Won
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards 1989	Best Supporting Actress	Amy Madigan	Template:Nom
Directors Guild of America Awards	Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures	Phil Alden Robinson	Template:Nom
Grammy Awards	Best Album of Original Instrumental Background Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television	James Horner	Template:Nom
Hochi Film Awards	Best Foreign Language Film	Phil Alden Robinson	Template:Won
Hugo Awards	Best Dramatic Presentation	Phil Alden Robinson (director/screenplay), W. P. Kinsella (novel)	Template:Nom
Japan Academy Film Prize	Outstanding Foreign Language Film	Template:Won
Kinema Junpo Awards	Best Foreign Language Film	Phil Alden Robinson	Template:Won
National Board of Review Awards 1989	Top Ten Films (10th Place)
National Film Preservation Board	National Film Registry	Template:Won
Best Fantasy Film	Template:Nom
Best Writing	Phil Alden Robinson Template:Nom
Writers Guild of America Awards	Best Screenplay – Based on Material from Another Medium	Phil Alden Robinson Template:Nom
Young Artist Awards	Best Young Actress Supporting Role in a Motion Picture	Gaby Hoffmann Template:Won

American Film Institute Recognitions

AFI's 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes:
- "If you build it, he will come."—ranked #39
AFI's 100 Years...100 Cheers—placed at #28
AFI's 10 Top 10—ranked #6 in Fantasy Films

The US Library of Congress included Field of Dreams in the National Film Registry in 2017, honoring it as a tale of faith and redemption filled with moments of genuine enchantment, as noted by critic Leonard Maltin.

In June 2008, following input from more than 1,500 industry professionals, the American Film Institute positioned the film sixth on its "Ten Top Ten" list of greatest fantasy movies.

Home media

The movie first became available on VHS in 1989, followed by a DVD release on April 29, 1998. It later appeared on Blu-ray on March 13, 2011, and a special 4K UHD Blu-Ray version was issued on May 14, 2019, commemorating the film's 30th anniversary.

Legacy

The ballpark built for the production continues to draw numerous visitors each year.

Following the completion of filming, farm owner Al Ameskamp initially returned to cultivating corn but restored his section of the field and opened a souvenir shop the next year. Meanwhile, farmer Don Lansing preserved his land as a tourist destination without charging for admission or parking, relying solely on sales from his souvenir store. By the film’s twentieth anniversary, the location was attracting roughly 65,000 visitors annually. In July 2010, the farm was put on the market and was sold on October 31, 2011, to Go The Distance Baseball, LLC for approximately $5.4 million. In 2021, MLB Hall of Famer Frank Thomas acquired a controlling interest in the property.

MLB at Field of Dreams

In 2019, Major League Baseball announced a neutral-site regular season game to be held at the Dyersville location between the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees scheduled for August 13, 2020. The contest was staged on an 8,000-seat field adjacent to the original ballpark, designed to resemble the White Sox’s former Comiskey Park (1910–1990). Due to adjustments caused by the shortened 2020 Major League Baseball season amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the White Sox were slated to face the St. Louis Cardinals instead of the Yankees. However, MLB cancelled this game on August 3, 2020, citing logistical difficulties.

The game eventually took place on August 12, 2021, featuring the originally intended White Sox-Yankees matchup. Pre-game festivities included actor Kevin Costner emerging from the cornfield as a tribute to the film’s enduring influence. The White Sox secured a 9–8 victory with a walk-off home run by Tim Anderson in the bottom of the ninth inning.

A second Field of Dreams game occurred on August 11, 2022, pitting the Cincinnati Reds, who were defeated by the White Sox in the 1919 World Series, against the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs won with a final score of 4–2. This event celebrated baseball history with Ken Griffey Jr. and Sr. reenacting a catch from the film and featured several father-son pairs. Hall of Famers from both teams participated in ceremonies; notably, pitcher Ferguson Jenkins threw out the ceremonial first pitch to catcher Johnny Bench.

Television series proposal

In August 2021, plans for a television series adaptation were announced, with production led by Lawrence Gordon and writing by Michael Schur for Peacock. By June 2022, Peacock and Universal Television began seeking other outlets for the project after it ceased progressing at Peacock. Reports indicated that Chris Pratt had initially committed to star but later withdrew; production costs were estimated at $15 million per episode.

External links