Film opinion: Five great tennis movies - Challengers, Battle of the Sexes, Wimbledon and more
There are few sporting arenas more tense than a grand slam tennis court.
Silent crowds eagerly anticipate athletic heroics in gladiatorial contests throughout the grand slam tennis season.
With the 2025 Australian Open firmly underway, Film News Blitz’s Joe Matthews serves up five tennis movies sure to spark your interest in the game that millions worldwide know and love.
1. Challengers
Kicking the list off, we take a look at 2024’s blockbuster Challengers.
Luca Guadagnino, along with his star-ridden cast including Zendaya, Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor, combined tennis and the complexities of relationships to shock audiences, and bring both the court and the locker room to the screen.
It’s not your typical sports film where the final score matters most, but Challengers’ non-linear story-telling makes for an intriguing watch.
With new elements constantly being brought to the table, the ending is sure to leave you wanting more.
2. King Richard
Released towards the end of 2021, King Richard delves into the life of Richard Williams Jr, the father of the world-famous tennis champions Serena and Venus Williams.
Will Smith portrays the titular character and won several awards for the film, including an Oscar for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role, a BAFTA, a Critics Choice Award, and a Golden Globe.
The King Richard screenplay was featured in the 2018 Black List, which covers countless well-received, but unproduced, screenplays.
By the time the film had been picked up, the COVID pandemic had hit and table reads were conducted via Zoom.
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3. Battle of the Sexes
This 2017 drama focuses on the infamous events of the 1973 tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, played by Emma Stone and Steve Carell respectively.
Bobby Riggs, the former champion, challenged the world of women when, at the age of 58, he declared no woman could beat him on the court.
The then world number one, and now tennis legend, Billie Jean King takes on the challenge, and the mix of POV shots and cinematic flair makes for an enthralling ride.
Stone got involved with the filming process, even shooting several POV scenes from her character herself.
Whilst it didn’t make waves in the awards world, it did get some recognition, receiving nominations at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards.
4. Wimbledon
From the creators of Notting Hill, Wimbledon follows the late professional revival of Peter Colt, played by Paul Bettany, after he meets Kirsten Dunst’s Lizzie Bradbury, in what he expects to be his final bow at Wimbledon.
The film was shot during the real 2003 tournament and involved the actors walking out on court with real spectators in the stands, as well as the casting team hiring real professional players to play opponents.
One professional player was specifically denied inclusion in the filming process due to her likeness to Dunst: Maria Sharapova.
The Russian went on to win five Grand Slam titles, including Wimbledon, in 2004, the year the film was released.
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5. 7 Days in Hell
For a more light-hearted, and comedic view of the tennis courts, Andy Samberg’s 7 Days in Hell is 45 minutes of hilarious mockumentary, following the epic duel between Kit Harrington’s Charles Poole, and Samberg’s Aaron Williams, as they take part in the longest-ever game of tennis.
There is no chance of predicting what happens in the span of the week, and if one were to tell you that Micheal Sheen gets involved as a dodgy TV presenter, and even Her Majesty the Queen is brought into play, that won’t help much either.
Ultimately, this HBO short crafted by the Brooklyn Nine-Nine star is one that you can let wash over you as we head into the 2025 season.
Special mention: Break Point
This Netflix docu-series follows on from the hugely successful Drive to Survive, in which a documentary crew becomes intertwined in the backstage of the Formula One circuit.
Similarly, Break Point goes into the clubhouse to hear the conversations between players, and the dynamics that are truly at play on court throughout the professional tennis season.
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