The Will Smith-Chris Rock Oscar slap aside, King Richard is an incredible true story of the two Williams sisters, Venus and Serena, who grow up in Compton and go on to make tennis history, in no small part due to their father’s grand plans for them. Will Smith’s character, Richard Williams (the king himself) is one of a kind, and clings on with stubbornness to his own peculiar ways, despite all professional advice to the contrary. Unlike most sports films, there are few pump-em-up training or music-driven championship scenes. Instead, the film focuses on character building and family dynamics. At its core, this is a story about discipline, putting family first and overcoming adversity against all odds. The film drags a bit in the middle, and missed several opportunities for heightened emotional intensity, in my opinion. Overall though, it’s definitely worth a watch.

Trailer

Genre: Biography, Drama, Sport
Released: 2021
Running Time: 2h 24min
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
MPAA: PG-13
Starring: Will Smith, Aunjanue Ellis, Jon Bernthal
Director: Reinaldo Marcus Green
Writer: Zach Baylin

Related Reviews & Articles

IMDB Rating: 7.5
Rotten Tomatoes: 90% Tomatometer, 98% Audience Score
Roger and Ebert: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
IndieWire / VARIETY / Hollywood Reporter / New York Times / NPR

Where to Watch: HBO Max, Apple TV, Amazon, YouTube