To the non-fan, tennis can seem like a boring sport. Or, at least, it doesn’t have the cinematic drama of football or baseball, two of Hollywood’s favorite subjects when it comes to sports movies. In the film by Luca Guadagnino Challengestennis champion Tashi Duncan (Zendaya) says it well “Tennis is a relationship.” And on Challengesperhaps the most gripping film ever made in the world of tennis, it’s the relationships that keep the drama alive.
Set on a single action packed with tension, the film is an electric, kinetic sports movie that hardly feels like a sports movie at all. It also makes you want to pick up a racquet or watch another tennis-themed flick. And Hollywood has made an incredible number of movies set in court, from dramas to comedies to documentaries. That you want a biopic like King Richard or satire like 7 Days in Hellhere are the 10 best tennis movies—Challenges included.
Rivals (2024)
Directed by Luca Guadagnino and written by Justin Kuritzkes, Challenges puts the stakes high on the court and in the strained relationship between injured tennis player 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 work is being coached by Tashi, is ready to retire, but not before bringing down Patrick, an old friend who has a romantic history with Tashi. The narrative shifts between timelines, gradually revealing why these two players want to win so badly. It’s a show for all the actors, but also the designer Jonathan Anderson, who created the costumes of longing, and the designers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, whose points are the icing on the already sexy cake.
Battle of the Sexes (2017)
The Battle of the Sexesdirected by Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton and written by Simon Beaufoy, it recreates a true event in tennis history—few dramatized flourishes. The film is based on the 1973 match between Billie Jean King (Emma Stone) and Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell), a pivotal moment in women’s sports. Although the outcome is well known, the filmmakers keep the narrative tense and uncertain, showing the real investment of both actors. Stone and Carell were both nominated for Golden Globes and Carell got a SAG nod, but the hair and makeup changes are as memorable as the actress.
Wimbledon (2004)
The early 2000s brought a flood of romantic comedies, some more memorable than others. One of these second-rate films was Wimbledonfrom British director Richard Loncraine. It stars Paul Bettany as the faltering tennis champion Peter Colt and Kirsten Dunst as up-and-coming player Lizzie Bradbury, who come together when Peter wins a Wimbledon slot. It featured real tennis—professional athletes were cast as characters and served as tennis doubles for the pros—and scenes were filmed during the actual 2003 Wimbledon Championships. It’s a sweet love story, with captivating performances from Bettany and Dunst, and fans will see several now-famous actors in the mix, including James McAvoy and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. It’s not a high-seeded film, but a lovely watch with a sense of authenticity.
King Richard (2021)
Venus and Serena Williams are two of the most interesting tennis players, along with their father Richard Williams, who coached the two to success. Historical drama by Reinaldo Marcus Green King Richard tells the story of 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 good look at what it takes to be great, especially if you’re a black woman in America. The role earned Smith his Oscar for Best Actor, and garnered him numerous nominations and other awards, including the NAACP Image Awards. One to revisit if you missed it when it first came out.
The Borg vs. McEnroe (2017)
In the 1980s, Björn Borg and John McEnroe had an unforgettable rivalry, which came to a head at the 1980 Wimbledon Championships. A film by Danish filmmaker Janus Metz Pedersen Borg vs. McEnroe it depicts this game and all the drama surrounding it with captivating art. Sverrir Gudnason plays Borg, a disciplined Swedish champion, while Shia LaBeouf plays McEnroe, who is known for his character. Although the film did not make a huge impact upon its release, it is a fascinating look at how two very different people deal with the same game. It also makes tennis seem incredibly cinematic—a challenging task.
7 Days in Hell (2015)
A mockumentary by Jake Szymanski 7 Days in Hell is inspired by John Isner’s real-life match against Nicolas Mahut at the 2010 Wimbledon Championships, although it’s mostly a joke. Presented as an HBO Sports documentary featuring 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 fake documentary, which is funny and uncomfortable at the same time.
Citizen Ashe (2021)
Arthur Ashe made significant contributions to both tennis and civil rights. Citizen Ashefrom directors Rex Miller and Sam Pollard, charts Ashe’s rise after becoming the first black player to win the US Open in 1968. The documentary includes comments from Johnnie Ashe, Billie Jean King, John McEnroe, Donald Dell and Lenny Simpson, among others, and focuses on why Ashe became a political activist who wanted to implement social justice. It’s an admirable and thoughtful tribute to Ashe, even though he wasn’t out of the medal race the year he came out.
Match Point (2005)
The world of tennis has never seemed so corrupt Matching PointWoody Allen’s psychological thriller, which won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. Jonathan Rhys Meyers played Chris Wilton, a retired tennis champion turned coach at an elite London club. It is there that he meets Tom Hewett (Matthew Goode), his sister Chloe (Emily Mortimer), and his American fiancée Nola Rice (Scarlett Johansson), which leads to chaotic marriages, breakups and affairs. Things get a lot darker—if you haven’t seen that then that’s not your mid-story twist online—and it features a strong cast with many notable London locations. Sure, tennis isn’t that important to the narrative, but as a backdrop to the strategy of the wealthy elite it’s great.
Venus and Serena (2012)
This film about the Williams sisters is a fascinating watch. Directed by Maiken Baird and Michelle Major, the film played at the 2012 Toronto Film Festival and the Tribeca Film Festival and looked inside the lives and careers of the two players with insights from their father Richard and tennis coach Oracene Price. It’s an investigation into the sisters, there’s still a lot to go into, but they’re naturally compelling, especially when you see them play. It makes a nice double feature with the 2016 doc Serenafrom director Ryan White.
Strokes of Genius (2018)
Another movie about tennis competition, Strokes of Genius documents the 2008 Wimbledon final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, which is now considered one of the best matches in sports. The film, directed by Andrew Douglas, combines footage and interviews to recount the famous match, which is compared to other similar pairs like Borg versus McEnroe. Hearing the athletes themselves reminisce about the historic moment is the best part, although the surrounding commentary is equally telling. It’s one of the best tennis documentaries out there, especially if you’re too young to remember the actual match.
