Whether you’re a fan of Will Smith in “King Richard” or simply enjoy Wimbledon mornings, these nine classic tennis flicks will have you 40-loving the sport. For his 2022 biopic King Richard, 53-year-old Will Smith has garnered substantial Oscar buzz. It is the inspiring true story of Richard Williams, the father and coach of two of the most unquestionably dominant athletes of all time: Venus and Serena Williams. It is directed by up-and-coming filmmaker Reinaldo Marcus Green. In contrast to the dozens (if not hundreds) of films on baseball, football, basketball, and even ice hockey, Hollywood has produced relatively few films about tennis. These nine tennis-themed films, ranging from crazy indie comedy to real-life dramas, will make an excellent “doubles feature” with King Richard. Want to learn more about sports other than Tennis? We suggest UK Football! Check out LordPing.co.uk for the latest news about UK Football.
Battle of the Sexes (2017)
Jonathan Dayton (64) and Valerie Faris (63) made this underrated comedy about the real-life 1973 tennis match between future feminist icon Billie Jean King (Emma Stone) and male chauvinist Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell, 59), who said at age 55 that he could beat any female tennis player. The film’s two leads, who share nearly the exact same age gap as Riggs and King, were nominated for Golden Globes despite the film’s disappointing box office performance. An ace: The film captures exactly the pomp and circumstance surrounding the match, including the exchange of symbolic gifts: Riggs offered King a huge Sugar Daddy, while King gave him a small pig.
Match Point (2005)
If you’re anticipating one of Woody Allen’s urbane comedies, you’re in for a surprise: This vicious, brutal thriller has more in common with Alfred Hitchcock than Annie Hall. Chris Wilton (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) is a socially aspirant Irish tennis star who works at a London club. There, he befriends affluent client Tom (Matthew Goode) and soon begins dating Tom’s sister Chloe (Emily Mortimer, 50). But complications arise when Chris has an affair with Tom’s American fiancée Nola (Scarlett Johansson). Many metaphors involving tennis balls striking nets and resulting fate and fortune. Succession aficionados, take note: Brian Cox, 75, plays the father of Tom and Chloe. The film is loaded with references to Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky.
Wimbledon (2004)
In this cross-Atlantic romantic comedy about two tennis players at very different points in their careers, 50-year-old Paul Bettany acts like Hugh Grant did in the 1990s. Peter Colt is a former British tennis player who has fallen from 11th to 119th in the rankings. Even though he has a wild-card slot in the championship tennis event, he is beginning to consider retiring and becoming a tennis pro at a wealthy club. Lizzie Bradury (Kirsten Dunst), an up-and-coming American player, walks in. He falls in love with her right away, much to the annoyance of her father and manager, Dennis (Sam Neill, 74), who thinks a relationship will slow her rise to the top. Will their relationship last? It’s a romantic comedy, so hazard a guess. Several scenes were shot between matches during the 2003 championships, the only time in Wimbledon’s history that this was permitted.
Borg vs McEnroe (2017)
Between 1978 and 1981, the two tennis greats squared off only 14 times, yet their rivalry is one for the ages. This is largely because to their starkly opposite playing styles and personalities, which are superbly portrayed in this Swedish drama that traces their route to their violent clash at the 1980 Wimbledon championship. Bjorn Borg (Sverrir Gudnason) is portrayed as the cool and reserved Swede, while John McEnroe (Shia LaBeouf) is portrayed as the profanity-spewing American hothead. However, the film reveals that they were more alike off the court than they realized, which may explain their real-life, decades-long friendship. Stellan Skarsgrd, 70, who is presently appearing in Dune, portrays Lennart Bergelin, Borg’s coach.
7 Days in Hell (2015)
This filthy parody of an HBO Sports documentary is inspired on the record-setting 11-hour-and-five-minute Wimbledon match between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut in 2010. Then it poses the question, “But what if it continued for a week?” Andy Samberg, a former cast member of Saturday Night Live, portrays “the Bad Boy of Tennis,” Aaron Williams, an orphan who is adopted and educated by Richard Williams; his opponent is the British child prodigy Charles Poole, played by Kit Harington of “Game of Thrones.” Mary Steenburgen (68) as Poole’s mother, Howie Mandel (65) as Prince Edward, Jon Hamm (50) as the narrator, and June Squibb (99) as a charmingly foul-mouthed Queen Elizabeth II comprise the remarkable cast. The winner: 7 Days in Hell, like any good sports documentary, boasts an impressive roster of experts, including John McEnroe (62), Chris Evert (66), and Serena Williams.
Final Set (2021)
The story: This new French drama is an insightful look at aging and athletics, without of the usual sports film clichés. Thomas J. Edison (Alex Lutz), 37 years old, has dropped in the standings due to a knee injury and diminishing fitness. But, he is determined to return to the French Open and face a 17-year-old opponent who reminds him of himself (portrayed by actual tennis pro Jürgen Briand). Thomas’ mother/coach (Kristin Scott Thomas, 61) and wife (Ana Girardot) offer encouragement while also encouraging him to give up the ghost as he attempts an improbable recovery. The winner: Adding a sense of authenticity, the film was shot on Roland-renowned Garros’s red-clay courts.
The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
This stylised Wes Anderson (52) film is not about tennis per se, but tennis is strongly included in the story of a dysfunctional New York City family with three child prodigies who have grown into imperfect adults. Richie (Luke Wilson, 50), a tennis superstar known as “the Baumer,” has a very public on-court meltdown after his adoptive sister Margot (Gwyneth Paltrow), whom he secretly cares for, gets married. Richie’s Bjorn Borg-inspired Halloween costume, complete with a throwback headpiece and Fila polo shirt, has been a source of inspiration for several millennials.
First One In (2020)
The storyline: Strap in for a peculiar plot! Madi Cooke (Kat Foster) becomes, as she puts it, “the most despised woman on the earth” after accidently killing an endangered rodent on a Survivor-like reality show. She loses her work and applies to a real estate company. However, there is a catch: The employer, Bobbi (Georgia King), will only hire exceptional tennis players in order to maintain her winning run in an annual event. Madi enrolls in a tennis clinic, where she learns to play with a ragged group of tennis misfits, which ultimately leads her to compete against Bobbi and her agent henchmen. Josh Segarra, who originated the part of Emilio Estefan in On Your Feet! on Broadway, steals the show as clinic coach Fernando.
Break Point (2014)
In this endearing independent comedy, explosive tennis pro Jimmy (Jeremy Sisto) returns to his estranged brother and old doubles partner Darren (David Walton), whom he abandoned years before for a higher-ranked player. Jimmy is a fiery party animal, whereas Darren is a careful substitute teacher. But, they join forces for one more attempt at the U.S. Open. Anticipate numerous training montages and sibling bonding. Oscar-winning actor J.K. Simmons, 66, who improves every film he’s in, portrays the veterinarian father of the brothers.
