42^[a] is a 2013 Americanbiographicalsports drama film produced byLegendary Pictures and distributed byWarner Bros. Pictures. Written and directed byBrian Helgeland,42 is based on baseball playerJackie Robinson, the firstblack athlete to play inMajor League Baseball (MLB) during the modern era. The title of the film is a reference to Robinson's jersey number, which wasuniversally retired across all MLB teams in 1997. Theensemble cast includesChadwick Boseman as Robinson, alongsideHarrison Ford,Nicole Beharie,Christopher Meloni,André Holland,Lucas Black,Hamish Linklater, andRyan Merriman in supporting roles.

42
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Brian Helgeland
Screenplay by	Brian Helgeland
Produced by	Thomas Tull
Starring	Chadwick Boseman Harrison Ford Nicole Beharie Christopher Meloni André Holland Lucas Black Hamish Linklater Ryan Merriman
Cinematography	Don Burgess
Edited by	Peter McNulty Kevin Stitt
Music by	Mark Isham
Production company	Legendary Pictures
Distributed by	Warner Bros. Pictures
Release date	April 12, 2013 (2013-04-12) (United States)
Running time	128 minutes[1]
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$31–40 million[2][3]
Box office	$97.5 million[3]

Spike Lee initially planned to direct a biopic in 1995 withTurner Pictures, but the project fell apart due to creative differences and later financial challenges. In 2011, Legendary Pictures took over, collaborating with Robinson's widow,Rachel Robinson, to ensure authenticity. Boseman, cast as Robinson in his breakout role, impressed Helgeland with his athleticism and emotional depth during auditions. Boseman trained to replicate Robinson's mannerisms and connected with Rachel for character insights. Filming began in 2012 across locations likeChattanooga, Tennessee, andBirmingham, Alabama, withEngel Stadium standing in for theBrooklyn Dodgers'Ebbets Field. The production used digital recreations of historic stadiums and involved local extras.

42 was screened at theWhite House and premiered atTCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles before it was released on April 12, 2013, byWarner Bros. It received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise centered on Boseman's heartfelt portrayal and Ford's stylized performance. The film earned $97.5 million worldwide against a $40 million budget, including a record-breaking $27.5 million opening for abaseball film.

A montage depicts the end of theSecond World War and the associationsbaseball held as a symbol of democratic freedom, contrasted against scenes ofracial disparity within American society.Black ballplayers were restricted to playing in theNegro leagues when the1946 Major League Baseball season saw 16 teams and 400 White players.

In 1945,Brooklyn Dodgers ownerBranch Rickey tells scoutClyde Sukeforth that he wants to recruit a Blackbaseball player for his team. Reviewing potential candidates, Rickey suggestsJackie Robinson of the Negro leagues'Kansas City Monarchs. During a racially motivated confrontation at a gas station, Robinson is approached by Sukeforth. Rickey tells Robinson the challenges of breaking thecolor line and emphasizes restraint in responding to provocations. Robinson agrees to join the Dodgers under these terms and proposes to his girlfriend,Rachel, who accepts.

InDaytona Beach, Florida, Robinson trains with theMontreal Royals, theAAA affiliatefarm team for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Rickey asks that their managerClay Hopper treat Robinson equally. After performing well his first season, Robinson advances to the Dodgers and is trained as afirst baseman inPanama City. Some Dodgers draft a petition refusing to play with Robinson, but are rebuffed by managerLeo Durocher, whom Rickey confides in. Robinson opens up toWendell Smith, his Black chronicler, saying he doesn't like needing people.

Durocher is suspended byBaseball CommissionerHappy Chandler over hisextramarital affair. Robinson signs with the team and plays on the1947 season's opening day; Rickey convinces former playerBurt Shotton to take over as manager. Sometime later, Robinson and Rachel have a baby boy, whom Robinson vows to be there for.

On the field,Philadelphia Phillies managerBen Chapman relentlessly taunts Robinson with racial epithets. In thedugout, Robinson angrily strikes his bat against the wall, breaking into tears. Rickey tells him that Chapman expects Robinson to stand up for himself. Fellow teammateEddie Stanky defends Robinson, who scores the winningrun. A Philadelphia hotel denies the Dodgers service, leading to an altercation between Robinson andDixie Walker. When Chapman's behavior generates negative press for the team, Phillies' general managerHerb Pennock, who had earlier disapproved of Robinson playing in Philadelphia, requires Chapman to pose with Robinson for magazine photos. TeammatePee Wee Reese sympathizes with Robinson, standing with his arm around Robinson's shoulders before a hostile crowd atCrosley Field. In a game against theSt. Louis Cardinals,Enos Slaughter spikes Robinson on the back of the leg with hiscleats. Robinson calms vengeful Dodgers, insisting they focus on winning the game. While Robinson is treated, Rickey tells him that Robinson inspired him to love baseball again.

Robinson hits ahome run againstPittsburgh Pirates pitcherFritz Ostermueller, who had earlier hit him in the head (which led to a fight between Robinson's teammates and the Pirates), helping the Dodgers clinch theNational League pennant, sending them to the1947 World Series. The black community in Brooklyn erupts in cheers while Wendell documents the achievements of Robinson, who confidently sprints toward home plate. An epilogue highlights Robinson's induction into theBaseball Hall of Fame alongside Rickey and Reese; Wendell becoming the first African American member of theBaseball Writers' Association of America; and the annual commemoration of Robinson's achievements, in whichall players wear his number, 42, which remainsretired across baseball. Inspired, a youngEd Charles later played for the1969 World Series champion "Miracle Mets".

Spike Lee planned to write and directThe Jackie Robinson Story based on the life ofJackie Robinson and had it set up atTurner Pictures under his40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks in 1995. The studio wanted to release it in 1997 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Robinson's breaking of the color barrier, and courtedDenzel Washington to star,^[12][13] but the project fell apart in 1996 over creative differences. In March 1997, Lee found favor withColumbia Pictures, who signed him to a three-year first-look deal. Columbia PresidentAmy Pascal reflected that it would bring "enormous potential for Spike to reach audiences that are not traditionally associated with Spike Lee movies."^[14] The project eventually fell apart due to difficulties securing funding, a script, and a lead actor.^[15][16] In 2004Robert Redford set up a separate biopic as producer with Deep River Productions, as well as his own production company, Wildwood Productions. Redford also intended to co-star asBranch Rickey,^[17] andHoward Baldwin joined as producer the following year.^[18]

In June 2011, it was announced thatLegendary Pictures would develop and produce a Jackie Robinson biopic withBrian Helgeland on board to write and direct, under a distribution deal withWarner Bros. He was approached by producerThomas Tull about a potential Jackie Robinson biopic.^[19] Helgeland, who had previously worked with Tull, received the call while on a bus trip to New York with his father. During the conversation, he noticed a billboard featuring Robinson's image with the message "Character: Pass it On", which he later described as "a moment of serendipity" that solidified his interest in the project.^[20]

Three days later, after reading Robinson's autobiography, Helgeland met with Robinson's widow,Rachel Robinson, to present his vision for the film. While Rachel initially envisioned a cradle-to-grave portrayal covering Robinson's life beyond baseball, Helgeland proposed focusing on a specific period—Robinson's transition from theNegro leagues in 1945 through his rookie season with theBrooklyn Dodgers in 1947.^[20] Rachel agreed to the plan and described Robinson's physical traits and personality, as well as the depth of their relationship. "She told me how disciplined he was, how adamant he was about not drinking, and how opinionated he was", Boseman shared.^[21]

Helgeland prioritized accurate depictions of baseball sequences, avoiding what he viewed as overly choreographed action seen in some sports films. He studied past baseball movies and citedThe Bad News Bears as a standout for its naturalistic portrayal of the sport's emotional and unifying elements.^[20] Rachel had previously been involved with Redford's project.^[22][23][24]

Boseman's breakthrough role came with42, in which he portrayed the lead role of Robinson.^[25][26] When asked about Robinson and Rachel, Hegeland emphasized the importance that the actors "be accepted at once by the audience." He found it tricky for "someone famous to play someone else famous".^[27]

Boseman had been directing anoff-Broadway play in theEast Village when he auditioned for the role,^[28] and was considering giving up acting to pursue directing full-time.^[29] About twenty-five other actors had been seriously considered for the role, but directorBrian Helgeland liked Boseman's bravery in choosing to read the most difficult scene, in which Robinson goes down a stadium tunnel and breaks a bat in anger, and cast him after he had auditioned twice.^[30][31][32] Part of the audition process involved playing baseball; Boseman had been involved withLittle League as a child but was primarily a basketball player growing up, saying that in this part the casting directors likely noticed his athleticism rather than specifically baseball skills.^[28]

Robinson's widow,Rachel Robinson, commented that Boseman's performance was like seeing her husband again.^[33] To replicate Robinson's mannerisms, Boseman trained for five months with professional baseball coaches who "would tape [his] practices every few weeks, and they would basically split-screen [his technique] with [Robinson's]" to allow him to compare.^[28] After having portrayed football player Little inThe Express, Boseman was encouraged by stunt coordinatorAllan Graf to approach running bases in the same way, as Robinson had also been a college football player.^[32][34] Upon taking the role, Boseman first spoke with Rachel Robinson, which he said was of great help in discovering the character.^[28] Boseman metHank Aaron, whose career briefly overlapped with Robinson's. Aaron shared his experiences with racial adversity in baseball, helping Boseman deepen his understanding of the role. When Aaron visited the set, Boseman said it felt as if Robinson himself were there.^[35]

Initially, Helgeland was hesitant to cast Ford, seeking a character actor for the role of Rickey.^[36] However, Ford's persistence and dedication to the role, including studying Rickey's life and adopting significant physical transformations, won Helgeland over.^[37] Ford's commitment to embodying Rickey involved wearing a fat suit, prosthetics, and mastering Rickey's distinctive voice and mannerisms.^[36] He researched Rickey's life, listened to recordings from theBaseball Hall of Fame, and worked with avoice coach to capture Rickey's distinct speech. "I loved the language of the guy, I loved his style," Ford noted.^[37]

Nicole Beharie, who portrayedRachel Robinson in42, described her journey into acting as somewhat haphazard, influenced by her lively family. AJuilliard graduate, she was familiar with Robinson's historical significance but was unaware of the depth of his struggles and the profound impact he had beyond baseball;^[38] Beharie compared him to a "godfather ofBarack Obama". In preparation for her role, Beharie had the opportunity to meet Rachel,^[38] who visited the set, provided insights, and shared personal details about her life and relationship with Jackie. Beharie recalled spending evenings speaking with Rachel^[38] and reading letters exchanged between Jackie and Rachel while he was on the road, describing their correspondence as "the most incredible love story" and a key element that drew her to the role.^[39]

In 2020, Boseman toldEssence that he spoke with Rachel while preparing for the role. "… I asked her: were there any physical things that he did that stood out. We sat down for hours and talked about his personality and what his tendencies were", he recalled of their meeting. "The way he stood, and the way he held his hands in the backfield...all of those physical things I tried to do."^[40] In a 2023 interview withJames Hibberd ofThe Hollywood Reporter, Ford said Branch Rickey is one of his roles he is most proud of.^[41]

In the spring of 2012,Engel Stadium inChattanooga, Tennessee, served as a stand-in forEbbets Field in Brooklyn, New York.^[42] Filming at the stadium began on April 21, 2012. Some interior scenes were shot at Atlanta Film Studios Paulding County inHiram, Georgia.^[43]42 was partially filmed in historicRickwood Field inBirmingham, Alabama,^[44] serving as a stand-in for several major and minor league ballparks. The Tutwiler Hotel was also used to depict Philadelphia's Ben Franklin Hotel in a scene where the Brooklyn Dodgers were turned away due to Robinson's race. The production hired between 600 and 700 local extras during its filming in Alabama.^[45] The filming of42 was a significant economic boost for Chattanooga, with an estimated $5 million injected into the local economy.^[42] Filming in Chattanooga marked the longest-running and largest-budget production the city had hosted at that time, surpassing previous Hollywood projects such asWater for Elephants.^[42]

Supervising art director Thomas Hoover and the visual effects team, led by Jamie Dixon of Hammerhead, utilized historical research, scanned architectural drawings, anddigital modeling to construct a 1,200-foot-long, 40-foot-highgreen screen for scenes set in Ebbets Field. The visual effects team digitally rendered the outfield and portions of the infield.^[46] Engel Stadium was used as the foundation for the recreation, as it was one of the oldest existing ballparks and had historical ties to Robinson. The production adapted the structure by modifying its layout to match Ebbets Field's dimensions, adjusting the infield angles, and reconstructing key elements such as thedugout, scoreboard, and fences. In addition to Engel Stadium, the film usedLuther Williams Field inMacon, Georgia, and Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, both of which had connections to Robinson's career. Engel Stadium also served as a stand-in forCrosley Field in Cincinnati.^[46]

Boseman's deep character study enabled him to note when his stunt double was playing Robinson incorrectly, and he insisted on doing his own stunts,^[47][48] but former minor league player Jasha Balcom was Boseman's stunt double for some scenes.^[49] Using old photographs and stadium blueprints, Shibe Park,The Polo Grounds,Sportsman's Park, and Forbes Field were also recreated for the film usingdigital imagery.^[50] Inflatable people were used in the stands for reference for the visual effects team and were replaced with individual fans shot individually against a blue screen. Home base and theinfield were moved, the scoreboard and outfield ads were recreated, and the rest of the field was green-screened so the stands could be added.^[27] Extras, many of whom were local residents, filled roles as players and other period-specific figures. While filming wrapped in Chattanooga on May 25, 2012, the green screen setup around Engel Stadium remained in place for several more weeks in case additional shots were needed.^[42][51] The green billboards were torn down later.^[52]

42's soundtrack features an orchestral score composed byMark Isham who developed the main themes through piano at his in-built studio in his house.^[53][54] The score was recorded at theAbbey Road Studios in London, led by a 60-piece orchestra with further emphasis on French horns and solo trumpet, being the voice of Robinson.^[53]WaterTower Music released the score album on April 9, 2013, along with an accompanying soundtrack that featured the songs heard in the film.^[55][56]

Marriott International collaborated withWarner Bros. to promote Marriott Rewards, the company's loyalty program, to African American audiences. On February 25, 2013, Marriott launched a month-long sweepstakes onFacebook offering daily prizes,^[57] including tickets to42 and a grand prize of an all-expenses-paid trip to the film's premiere on April 9, 2013, in Los Angeles. A special trailer for42 featuring Chadwick Boseman was shown onLodgeNet entertainment systems in over 1,000Marriott hotels across the United States. Key cards distributed at Marriott hotels in 11 cities, including New York City, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles,^[57] featured promotional materials about the Facebook contest. Marriott also hosted exclusive screenings of42 for members of its loyalty program in Boston, Chicago, Houston, San Francisco, and Phoenix.^[57]

On April 15, 2013,Jackie Robinson Day was celebrated atDodger Stadium. During theLos Angeles Dodgers game against theSan Diego Padres,^[58] the film's trailer was shown on the stadium's video boards.Kelley Jakle, a cast member of the film and the great-granddaughter ofBranch Rickey, performed "God Bless America".^[58] Harrison Ford and Boseman, along with other cast members of42, participated in pre-game ceremonies and media interviews at Dodger Stadium.^[58] Ford threw the game'sceremonial first pitch.^[59]

The 30 teams ofMajor League Baseball organized private screenings for thousands of students from eighth to twelfth grade across the United States and Canada. CommissionerBud Selig hosted the first screening in Milwaukee,^[60] joined by Jackie Robinson's daughter, Sharon Robinson. Selig described the film as depicting "the proudest moment in baseball history" and emphasized its role in educating future generations about Robinson's impact on the nation.^[60][61][62]

On April 2, 2013, First LadyMichelle Obama hosted a screening of the film at theState Dining Room of the White House for 80 high school and college students from across the country.^[63][64] A question-and-answer session featured Robinson's widow Rachel, and members of the cast and crew, including Boseman, Ford, and director-screenwriterBrian Helgeland.^[65][66] The panel was moderated by Paulette Aniskoff, Director of theWhite House Office of Public Engagement.^[67] Michelle noted that both she and PresidentBarack Obama^[68][69] found the film "very powerful" and encouraged students to recognize that success requires perseverance rather than innate talent.^[67] According toESPN, Michelle gave42 a glowing review.^[20]

42 premiered atTCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, on April 9, 2013. People present included cast members, Rachel, rapperBig Sean, actressesNaya Rivera andCalista Flockhart, and football playerBill Cowher.^[70]42 also premiered atAMC Barry Woods Theater inKansas City on April 11, 2013, a day before its nationwide release on April 12 byWarner Bros.,^[71] as a benefit for theNegro Leagues Baseball Museum.^[72] Boseman, Ford, and Robinson's son David were present in the premiere; Ford participated in the fundraiser.^[73]

42 grossed $95 million in the United States and $2.5 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $97.5 million, against a production budget of $40 million.^[74] The film earned $27.3-27.5 million for its opening weekend, the best-ever debut for a baseball-themed film.^[75][76][77] This surpassed the previous highest opening of $19.6 million set byThe Benchwarmers (2006) andMoneyball's $19.5 million (2011).^[78][79]42 then made $17.7 million and $10.7 million on its second and third weekends, finishing second and third, respectively.^[80]

According toForbes, the film's opening "not only is that the biggest baseball opening weekend on record, it's the biggest baseball-themed opening weekend even when adjusted for inflation."^[81] The film's opening was especially positive forWarner Bros., which had seen disappointing performances from previous films likeBullet to the Head,Beautiful Creatures, andThe Incredible Burt Wonderstone, each of which had earned under $25 million in the United States.42 had a 3.0x weekend multiplier; the audience demographic was skewed towards 52% male and 83% aged 25 and older, indicating a mature audience.^[81] Given its $38 million production budget, the film was expected to maintain strong box office performance through April, thought to surpass $100 million. Additionally,42 was anticipated to have a significant post-theatrical life due to continued airing on networks likeTNT.^[81]

42 was released onDVD andBlu-ray on July 16, 2013. This release sold 1.3 million units ($18 million), becoming the 33rd highest-grossing DVD of 2013 in the United States.^[82]

OnRotten Tomatoes,42 holds an approval rating of 81% based on 197 reviews, with an average rating of 6.90/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "42 is an earnest, inspirational, and respectfully told biography of an influential American sports icon, though it might be a little too safe and old-fashioned for some."^[83] OnMetacritic, the film holds a weighted average score of 62 out of 100, based on 40 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".^[84] Audiences polled byCinemaScore gave the film a rare "A+" grade.^[85][86][75]

Richard Roeper wrote, "This is a competent but mostly unexceptional film about a most extraordinary man."^[87] Lisa Kennedy, of theDenver Post, lauded the film, saying "This story inspires and entertains with a vital chapter in this nation's history."^[88][89] Conversely, Peter Rainer ofThe Christian Science Monitor, criticized the film as "TV-movie-of-the-week dull.... Robinson's ordeal is hammered home to the exclusion of virtually everything else in his life."^[90] The film's actors were generally praised, withOwen Gleiberman saying of Ford, "He gives an ingeniously stylized cartoon performance, his eyes atwinkle, his mouth a rubbery grin, his voice all wily Southern music, though with that growl of Fordian anger just beneath it".^[91]The Hollywood Reporter commented that Boseman "has the necessary appeal, proves convincing as an athlete and is expressive in spite of the fact that the man he's playing must mostly keep his true feelings bottled up."^[92] Geoff Boucher ofEntertainment Weekly noted thatAlan Tudyk's portrayal of Phillies managerBen Chapman in42 "put a face to the racism" Robinson endured, showing how prejudice was often delivered with a smirk as much as a scowl.^[93] Ann Hornaday ofThe Washington Post wrote, "By the timePee Wee Reese (Lucas Black) famously puts his arm around Robinson during a game in Cincinnati,42 has taken on cumulative, undeniable momentum".^[94]

Critics, even those who viewed the film negatively, felt that Boseman being a relatively unknown actor was a benefit when playing an icon and an athlete;Mick LaSalle ofSan Francisco Chronicle wrote that "as [...] played by Chadwick Boseman, Robinson is a hero we can recognize",^[96] and Mary Pols forTime said that "Boseman is not a hugely close physical match to Robinson, except for perhaps in the power he conveys, but he's a great choice to play the ball player".^[97]The Guardian's Mike McCahill noted that "Boseman hits his key scenes out of the park", but felt the film would not interest people who are not baseball fans,^[98] withDana Stevens ofSlate suggesting that the film made black history "squeaky-clean" and did both Robinson and Boseman's performance as him a disservice.^[99]IndieWire critic Gabe Toro wrote, "42 casts a wide net in humanizing the risks of those who enabled Robinson’s rise to major league production, but takes great pains to avoid turning this into yet another studio film where the white man battles a gauntlet of adversity to allow for a Civil Rights victory."^[100]

When writing about Hegeland's past filmography and Boseman's portrayal of Robinson, Scott Foundas ofVariety noted, "A movie about Robinson isn't obliged to be dark or edgy, but for all of42's self-conscious monument building, the cumulative effect is to render its subject markedly smaller and more ordinary than he actually was."^[101] Mark Kermode ofThe Guardian wrote, "It's inspirational fare, although such a remarkable story perhaps deserves a rather more remarkable movie."^[102] John Harlt ofThe Seattle Times described42 as "a kind of feel-good movie about racism", writing, "42 can feel incomplete (the bland music and [Hegeland]'s obsession with dates and places are problematic), yet at the same time it offers a very good place to start."^[7] John Baldoni ofForbes contrasted42's depictions of real life events, saying, "There is raw honesty between Robinson and Rickey, in particular when Robinson is challenged by Rickey to be "strong enough not to fight back" against racists taunts."^[103] Caleb Wheeler ofThe Chimes compared the film with the 2011Oscar-nominatedMoneyball, writing, "42 portrays baseball with the proper amount of grit and class."^[104]

Boseman died at his Los Angeles home as a result of complications related to colon cancer on August 28, 2020, at the age of 43.^[112][113] MLB and the Dodgers issued statements honoring Boseman, in light of his acclaimed portrayal of the player.^[114][115] Numerous publications noted Boseman died on the observance of Jackie Robinson Day,^[b] seven years after his having portrayed Robinson.^[116][117] Several theater chains, includingAMC andRegal, re-released the film in September after Boseman's death.^[74] In a statement toThe Hollywood Reporter, Ford said "Chadwick Boseman was as compelling, powerful and truthful as the characters he chose to play".^[118]

A central theme of42 is integration, particularlyJackie Robinson's entry intoMajor League Baseball as a challenge to segregation. Signed byBrooklyn Dodgers general managerBranch Rickey, Robinson's presence in the league forces America to confront its racial divisions.^[119]Robinson's struggle is met with violent and psychological resistance. Opposing pitchers target him, base runners spike him with their cleats, and he receives death threats against himself and his family.^[119] A key moment highlights opposing managerBen Chapman relentlessly taunting him with racist insults, testing Robinson's ability to endure without retaliation.^[120]NPR positions Robinson as a symbol of nonviolent resistance, embodying the philosophy of "turning the other cheek".^[121] NPR also noted that42 portrayed Robinson's integration of Major League Baseball with a high degree of accuracy. Stanford professor and Robinson biographerArnold Rampersad stated that "fundamentally, the story is accurate".^[121]

Branch Rickey's role in Robinson's career is initially framed as a financial decision,^[119] likened to an early form of "moneyball".^[120] Robinson's integration also forces his teammates to take a stance. Initially, many resist Dodgers sign a petition against playing with him. Meanwhile,Pee Wee Reese, a white teammate from Kentucky, publicly puts his arm around Robinson in front of a hostile Cincinnati crowd, demonstrating allyship in the face of public racism.^{[119][122][120]} According to NPR, the character ofWendell Smith, a Black sportswriter assigned to cover Robinson, reflects the role of the press in shaping public perception. Though the film condenses multiple historical figures into Smith's character, it highlights how journalists, including those omitted from the film likeDaily Worker writerLester Rodney, played a crucial role in pushing for integration.^[121] During an intimate talk at theGene Siskel Film Center,André Holland reflected on his role as Wendell in42, emphasizing the importance of accurately portraying historical figures.^[93] He stated, "If I'm going to play people, real people, I've got to do everything I can to tell the truth about what happened. It's a form of violence, I think, to obscure the truth."^[93] Holland had prepared for the role by meeting with Smith's widow to understand his legacy, but he was disappointed when crucial scenes depicting Smith's advocacy for Robinson were cut from the final film.^[93]Forbes staff Scott Mendelson noted that the film's African American stars, Boseman andNicole Beharie, might face challenges in securing high-profile roles in mainstream Hollywood films, citing the limited opportunities for non-white actors in major studio productions.^[81] Mendelson further commented on the "glass ceiling" for non-white actors, particularly women, in Hollywood. Nevertheless, the success of42 highlighted the demand for mainstream films featuring African American talent, with the hope that studios might take note of the film's positive reception.^[81]

Ford emphasized the film's broader message, stating that42 is not just a sports story but a reflection on racial equality in America. "This is a movie about the history of racial equality in the United States, and it makes it visceral history",^[21] he said. Helgeland also hoped the film would encourage more positive and diverse portrayals of African Americans in cinema.^[21] Boseman highlighted the film's portrayal of a black love story on a major Hollywood platform. "I realized that I had not seen two black people in love in a major motion picture", he said, hoping42 would set a precedent for future films.^[21] In an interview with theLos Angeles Times Helgeland explained that he deliberately included the racially charged language Robinson faced, particularly in a sequence depictingPhiladelphia Phillies managerBen Chapman's relentless verbal assault on Robinson. "Those words had to be violent", Helgeland said. "If we trivialized it, some people might say, 'Oh, he didn't have it so bad.'"^[123]

Robinson and Rachel Isum became engaged in 1943, while he was still in theUnited States Army and before he began his professional baseball career, unlike in the film, where he proposes after signing the contract with the Dodgers.^[124]

The Dodgers 1947spring training was inHavana, Cuba, not in Panama.^[125]

The suspension ofLeo Durocher was not directly as a result of his affair withLaraine Day, but largely because of his association with "known gamblers".^[126]

The scene of Robinson breaking his bat in the dugout tunnel is not based in fact. Both Rachel Robinson andRalph Branca, film consultant and Dodger pitcher in the dugout that day, say it did not happen. Director Helgeland concurs, explaining that his justification for including the scene was that he felt "there was no way Robinson could have withstood all that abuse without cracking at least once, even if it was in private."^[127]

Red Barber would not have broadcast Dodger away games from the opposing team's ballpark in Philadelphia and Cincinnati, as shown in the film. Radio broadcasts of away games in this era were recreated back at the studio from a pitch-by-pitch summary transmitted overtelegraph wire from the stadium where the game was being played.^[128][129]

Wendell Smith is shown to have been the first black member of theBaseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA). In reality,Sam Lacy was the first, having joined in 1948.^[130]

Pirates pitcherFritz Ostermueller threw left-handed, not right-handed as in the film. His first-inning pitch hit Robinson on the left wrist, not his head, and he claimed it was a routinebrushback pitch without racist intent. There was no fight on the mound afterwards.^[131] The climactic scene in which Robinson hit a home run to clinch the National League pennant for the Dodgers came in the top of the fourth inning of the game and did not secure the victory or the pennant (it made the score 1–0, and the Dodgers eventually won 4–2). The Dodgers achieved a tie for the pennant on that day, before winning the pennant the next day.^[132]

• List of black films of the 2010s
• List of sports films
• List of baseball films

• Official website
• 42 atIMDb
• 42 atBox Office Mojo
• 42 at Beyond Chron