The 2024 sports and romance drama Challengers, starring Zendaya, is now available to stream for free on BBC iPlayer, but viewers have only 27 days to watch it. The film has garnered widespread critical acclaim, holding an 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and earning four Golden Globe nominations, including Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, and winning Best Original Score.
Plot and Cast
Written by Justin Kuritzkes and directed by Luca Guadagnino (Call Me by Your Name), Challengers explores a complex love triangle spanning 13 years. Zendaya plays Tashi Duncan, an injured tennis star turned coach. Josh O'Connor (The Crown) portrays Patrick Zweig, her former boyfriend and a burnt-out tennis player. Mike Faist (West Side Story) plays Art Donaldson, Tashi's tennis champion husband, who was once Patrick's close friend. The story builds to a gripping match between the two men on the ATP Challenger Tour.
Critical Reception
Viewers have praised the film's structure, performances, and direction. One fan said: "Challengers is outstanding! It has been a while since I have seen a film this well structured and edited. The three lead actors, Zendaya, Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist are amazing, you truly don't view them as actors throughout the course of the film. It is unbelievably tense in parts and so rewarding, it requires your attention but in the best way. The direction is also absolutely on point from Luca Guadagnino, crafting scenes with pure clarity. The cinematography is astounding, how the tennis matches were shot, most notably the main one, was just jaw dropping. Challengers is a compelling, thrill ride, with fantastic performances and masterful direction."
Another enthusiast posted: "This is how cinema is done. Stellar film." A third viewer added: "It had been a while since a movie captivated me this much. It was a tennis match, both literally and figuratively. At one point I looked to my side and saw a guy grabbing his face in shock, then noticed I was doing the same. And another guy a few rows ahead was literally at the edge of his seat. It felt like quite an interesting collective experience, most of us were enthralled by it."
A fourth viewer wrote: "This movie absolutely FLOORED me. The direction, the script, the music, the 'acting' (I put quotations there because it felt like real life, the acting was perfect). The way the camera moves was CONSTANTLY fresh. One stop-motion-esque scene in particular — but PLEASE, just go experience it for yourself. It's better than anything this year and will be bound to become an all time classic. There's nothing even remotely similar to this movie."
Availability
Challengers is available to watch on BBC and BBC iPlayer now for a limited window of 27 days. According to the BBC, the film will be removed from the platform after this period.
