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Challengers
2024 132 min Italy, United States of America R 18+
★7.6
Drama, Romance
Director: Luca Guadagnino
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Description
Tennis player turned coach Tashi has taken her husband, Art, and transformed him into a world-famous Major champion. To jolt him out of his recent losing streak, she signs him up for a "Challenger" event — close to the lowest level of pro tournament — where he finds himself standing across the net from his former best friend and Tashi's former boyfriend.
Budget:
$55M
US Gross:
$50.12M
Worldwide:
$94.18M
Starring
Mike Faist
Actor
Josh O'Connor
Actor
Zendaya
Actor
Awards
Golden Globe 2025
— Best Original Score
Golden Globe 2025
— Best Original Song
Golden Globe 2025
— Best Actress (Comedy or Musical)
Golden Globe 2025
— Best Picture (Comedy or Musical)
Key opinion
Challengers is widely recognized as a stylish and high-energy drama that uses the intensity of competitive tennis to mirror the complex, toxic dynamics of a central love triangle. While many critics praise the film's bold direction, kinetic editing, and strong lead performances, some viewers find the non-linear structure disorienting and the characters' motivations frustratingly opaque.
| Acting | The central trio of Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O'Connor deliver commanding, intense performances that anchor the film's complex romantic rivalries. | |
| Direction | Guadagnino's direction effectively elevates the sport of tennis into a metaphor for erotic tension and psychological power struggles. | |
| Score | The score by Reznor and Ross is polarizing, praised by some as an electrifying component of the film's rhythm, while others find it intrusive and jarring. | |
| Editing | The non-linear editing and frequent time-jumping are lauded for creating suspense, yet criticized by others for making the narrative feel disjointed or chaotic. | |
| Runtime | The 131-minute runtime is perceived as excessive, with the final act in particular drawing criticism for its reliance on slow motion and overextended pacing. |