King Richard

2021
12A
2h 24m

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

143K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

Play trailer2:48

Docudrama Biography Drama Sport

A look at how tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams became who they are after the coaching from their father Richard.A look at how tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams became who they are after the coaching from their father Richard.A look at how tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams became who they are after the coaching from their father Richard.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

143K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

4,389

396

See production info at IMDbPro

Won 1 Oscar
- 50 wins & 137 nominations total

Videos21

Best Moments from the Oscars 2022 Telecast [With Captions]

Photos252

+ 246

More like this

7.6

6.8

7.4

7.2

8.0

8.0

The Pursuit of Happyness

7.4

Judas and the Black Messiah

7.3

7.1

7.3

6.3

7.1

Storyline

Edit

Did you know

Edit

Trivia
As a thank you to the cast, Will Smith divided his $40 million earnings from the movie amongst the other actors as bonuses for them.

Goofs
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario is regularly announced and shown as Vicario on the scoreboard, which wouldn't have happened. She was first known as Arantxa Sánchez, then she added Vicario to honor her mother. Following Spanish usage, Sánchez, her father's name, was always the prime part of her last name and she was known as Sánchez Vicario.

Quotes
Richard Williams: The most strongest, the most powerful, the most dangerous creature on this whole earth is a woman who knows how to think. Ain't nothing she can't do.

Crazy credits
During the credits, real documented footage was shown of Richard Williams and his daughters Venus and Serena. From camcorder footage to TV broadcasts, it showed a summary of the accomplishments that the Williams had achieved.

Connections
Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Best Movies of 2021 (2021)

Soundtracks
Get Me Back on Time, Engine Number 9 (Pt. 1 & 2)
Written by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff
Performed by Wilson Pickett
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.
By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

User reviews615

Review

Featured review

6/10

Effective Oscar bait

Smith fans should be pleased with this film. It is a good show case for the actor. It is one of Smith's better performances as well. It's almost real acting from the star. The film is perfectly pleasant because of Smith alone.

I however am not overly fond of the film for two reasons. First, the direction and parts of the screenplay are dramatically inert. The climax of the film feels much more like a reversal of fortune and not an ending. And while the direction is technically polished it is uninspired. Second, the decision to frame the story as Richard's is decidedly odd. Some of the material is refreshing in a sports film context but Richard Williams should not overshadow his daughters because they are the ones who did the main work. The film robs the William sisters of a lot of agency-it feels gross in retrospect because it is clear that Smith shaped the story to make the film a vehicle to win an Oscar.

The film works and I think tennis people will get a lot from it. But the film is basically just a really good lead performance from a character who should have been in a supporting role.