To the non-fan, tennis may seem like an unexciting sport. Or, at least, it lacks the cinematic drama of football or baseball, two of Hollywood’s favorite subjects when it comes to sports movies. IN Luca Guadagninothe movie The challengerstennis prodigy Tashi Duncan (Zendaya) meaningfully states that “Tennis is a relationship.” And in The challengersperhaps the most gripping film ever centered on the world of tennis, it’s the relationships that keep the drama alive.
Set on a single, tension-filled match, the film is an electric, kinetic sports movie that never feels like a sports movie. It also makes you want to pick up a racket yourself or go see another tennis themed movie. And Hollywood has produced a surprising number of movies set around the courtyard, from dramas to comedies to documentaries. If you are looking for a biography like King Richard or a satire as 7 days in hellhere are the 10 best tennis movies out there—The challengers included.
The Challengers (2024)
Directed by Luca Guadagnino and written by Justin Kuritzkes, The challengers sets the stakes high both on the court and in the strained relationship between injured tennis prodigy Tashi Duncan (Zendaya), her world-famous tennis champion husband Art Donaldson (Mike Faist), and their longtime friend/rival Patrick Zweig (Josh O’Connor). Art, whose career Tashi manages, is ready to retire, but not before taking down Patrick, an old friend with a romantic history with Tashi. The narrative shifts between timelines, slowly revealing why these two players want to win so badly. It’s a showcase for all the actors, but also for designer Jonathan Anderson, who created the aspirational costumes, and for composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, whose score is the icing on the already sexy cake.
Battle of the Sexes (2017)
Battle of the sexesdirected by Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton and written by Simon Beaufoy, recreates a real event in tennis history – with some dramatized flourishes. The film is based around the 1973 match between Billie Jean King (Emma Stone) and Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell), a pivotal moment in women’s sports. Although the score is relatively familiar, the filmmakers keep the narrative tense and uncertain, showing the actual investment of both players. Stone and Carell were both nominated for Golden Globes, and Carell won a SAG nod, but the hair and makeup transformations are just as memorable as the acting.
Wimbledon (2004)
The early 2000s brought a flood of romantic comedies, some more memorable than others. One of these second rate movies was Wimbledonby British director Richard Loncraine. It starred Paul Bettany as rock-solid tennis pro Peter Colt and Kirsten Dunst as up-and-coming player Lizzie Bradbury, who meets hotties when Peter wins a wild card at Wimbledon. It featured a lot of actual tennis – professional athletes appeared as characters and served as tennis doubles for the leads – and scenes were filmed during the actual 2003 Wimbledon Championships. It’s a pretty sweet love story, with charming performances from Bettany and Dunst, and fans will spot some already famous actors in the mix, including James McAvoy and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. It’s not a top film, but it’s an enjoyable watch with a sense of authenticity.
King Richard (2021)
Venus and Serena Williams are two of the most interesting figures in tennis, as is their father Richard Williams, who guided the pair to success. Reinaldo Marcus Green’s biographical drama King Richard chronicles the young lives of the Williams sisters (Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton) and their rise to fame under the guidance of their father (Will Smith). The film, which also stars Jon Bernthal and Aunjanue Ellis, is a compelling look at what it takes to make it big, especially if you’re a woman of color in America. The role earned Smith his infamous Best Actor Oscar and attracted dozens of other nominations and awards, including an NAACP Image Awards. It’s one to revisit if you missed it when it first came out.
Borg v. McEnroe (2017)
During the 1980s, Björn Borg and John McEnroe had an unforgettable rivalry that came to a head at the 1980 Wimbledon Championships. Danish director Janus Metz Pedersen’s underrated film Borg vs. McEnroe shows this match and all the drama surrounding it with convincing flair. Sverrir Gudnason plays Borg, a disciplined Swedish champion, while Shia LaBeouf plays McEnroe, known for his abrasive demeanor. Although the film didn’t make a huge impact at release, it’s a fascinating look at how two very different people approached the same sport. It also makes tennis look surprisingly cinematic – a challenging feat.
7 Days in Hell (2015)
Jake Szymanski mock 7 days in hell was inspired by John Isner’s real-life match against Nicolas Mahut at the 2010 Wimbledon Championships, though it’s much funnier. Presented as an HBO Sports documentary incorporating BBC footage, the film follows two professional players, Aaron Williams (Andy Samberg) and Charles Poole (Kit Harington), who play the longest tennis match in history. It has a stacked cast, with Michael Sheen, Mary Steenburgen, June Squibb and Fred Armisen all appearing, and Jon Hamm stepping in as narrator. The filmmakers even tapped real players like Serena Williams and John McEnroe to be part of the faux documentary, which is both hilarious and edgy at the same time.
Citizen Ashe (2021)
Arthur Ashe made substantial contributions to both tennis and civil rights. Citizen Asheby directors Rex Miller and Sam Pollard, chronicles Ashe’s rise after he became the first black player to win the US Open in 1968. The documentary features commentary from Johnnie Ashe, Billie Jean King, John McEnroe, Donald Dell and Lenny Simpson, among others, and focuses on why and how Ashe wanted to use his social platform for a political activist. It’s a nice and thoughtful tribute to Ashe, although it was left out of the awards race the year it was released.
Match Point (2005)
The world of tennis never looked as bad as it does here Match pointWoody Allen’s psychological thriller, which earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay. Jonathan Rhys Meyers played Chris Wilton, a retired tennis pro who has become an instructor at a high-end club in London. There he meets Tom Hewett (Matthew Goode), his sister Chloe (Emily Mortimer) and his American fiancée Nola Rice (Scarlett Johansson), which results in a tangled mess of marriages, breakups and affairs. Things get pretty dark – if you haven’t seen it, don’t spoil the mid-story twist online – and it features a strong cast with plenty of notable London locations. Sure, tennis isn’t really that important to the narrative, but as a backdrop for the intrigues of the elite rich it’s fine.
Venus and Serena (2012)
This documentary about the Williams sisters is quite an engaging watch. Directed by Maiken Baird and Michelle Major, the film played at the 2012 Toronto Film Festival and the Tribeca Film Festival and took an inside look at the lives and careers of the two players with insights from their father Richard and tennis coach Oracene Price. It’s a relatively surface-level investigation into the sisters, with some depth to be desired, but the pair are fundamentally compelling, especially when you see them play. Makes a good double feature with the 2016 paper Serenaby director Ryan White.
Strokes of Genius (2018)
Another movie about a tennis rivalry, Strokes of genius documents the 2008 Wimbledon final between Roger Federer AND Rafael Nadalwhich is now considered one of the best matches in the sport. The film, directed by Andrew Douglas, combines footage and interviews to recount the famous match, which has been compared to other similar pairings such as Borg v McEnroe. Hearing the athletes themselves recall the historic moment is the best part, though the surrounding commentary is just as reflective. It’s one of the best tennis documentaries, especially if you’re too young to remember the actual match.
