Challengersis now streaming on Amazon Prime Video, andthe $94 million sports movie starring Zendaya is one of the year’s best new releases, making it a must-watch.Call Me By Your Namedirector Luca Guadagnino’s new sports romance film follows a love triangle of tennis players over the course of several years in their lives, examining their power dynamics at work on and off the court. The spicy drama earned immediate critical and audience acclaim, with an 88% score on Rotten Tomatoes, praising theChallengerscastfor their performances and intense chemistry.
Luca Guadagnino’s filmshave consistently been met with divisive responses, andChallengers'73% audience score is no different. In this instance, the critics are worth listening to, especially for fans of the director or any of the actors involved, all of whom are at their best. It’sZendaya’s first major movie star role outside of her franchise appearances, and Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist prove they’re among the most exciting up-and-coming actors.
For fans of…
DID YOU KNOW: The iconicChallengerschurro scene with Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist was unscripted.
Challengers
Cast
Challengers follows tennis player-turned-coach Tashi as she transforms her husband Art into a Grand Slam champion. To revitalize his career, she enters him in a lower-tier tournament where he confronts his past, facing both his former best friend and Tashi’s ex-boyfriend.
Luca Guadagnino’sChallengershas been hailed asone of the best movies of 2024for good reason, as it’s an entirely unique cinematic experience. It’s hard to pinpoint any movies that are like it, as it blends elements from different genres and narrative styles in such a distinct way. In terms of an erotic thriller, it’s as gripping and sexy as classics likeThe Dreamers. In terms of a romance surrounding a love triangle, it’s as exciting to form opinions and take sides inChallengersas it is inBridget Jones’s DiaryorThe Favourite.
Not to mention the high-octane, heavy-hitting tennis scenes that are even more intense and riveting than those in the Oscar-winningKing Richard. This movie has it all and fulfills every category to the highest capability.The dynamic between the three central characters carries the movie, constantly keeping the audience on their toes,trying to examine the complex feelings all three feel for one another.Challengersexcellently balances naturalistic characters, with nuanced emotions and motivations, with moments of intense melodrama that feel larger-than-life, such as the hotel room kissing scene.
Challengers Ending Explained: Who Won The Final Match
Challengers sees the ups and downs of intense relationships within the tennis world. We break down the film’s biggest ending developments and more.
While the script is undoubtedly sharp, much of the credit for each of the leads' characterizations goes to the cast. Zendaya, O’Connor, and Faist all bring their A-game, makingChallengersan opportunity to see some of the decade’s brightest young movie stars showing off their talent. Each of the trio is exceptional to watch, but Josh O’Connor is particularly hard to take the eyes off of, with his character’s fiery personality both enraging and breathtaking. He’s the sort of character that will blur the line between the viewer’s love and hatred in a uniquely enjoyable way.
Lastly, praise forChallengerscouldn’t go long without mentioning the film’s beating heart: the musical score by Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor. For anyone who loves powerful movie music,their techno score is truly a masterpiece that embellishes the film, both on and off the court. There are great musical scores, and then there are films that utilize music to add an irreplaceable layer to the aesthetic.
“Art and Patrick are known as Fire and Ice in the tennis community, but what begins as playful competition over wunderkind Tashi becomes a 13-year-long battle on and off the court brimming with sexual tension, bisexual chaos, and enough looks of scathing disdain from Zendaya to make you feel bad for the rest of your life. Guadagnino amps everything up to eleven here — Challengers is visceral and exhilarating, power dynamics shift with the force of tectonic plates, and fights in hotel alleys and college dorms are as hard-hitting as the tennis matches staged like action scenes.” -Graeme Guttmann,Screen Rant’s Challengers Review
Zendaya Gives One Of The Best Performances Of Her Career In Challengers
Zendaya Steps Away From Major Franchises And Proves She’s Here To Stay
Between theDuneandSpider-Manmovies, Zendaya has planted her face in front of millions of film audiences, butChallengersis the first from the 28-year-old actress to generate serious performance buzz.It wouldn’t be a huge surprise if Zendaya received her first Academy Award nominationfor the movie, given the popularity surrounding the role. BeforeChallengers, the HBO seriesEuphoriawas likely her best performance, butZendaya’s best movieshave been added to with some major contributions in 2024.
88%
73%
7.2/10
