Review: Challengers [2024] – Mike Faist, Josh O’Connor, Zendaya

Challengers hails the voyeuristic spectator in us at every turn: It’s a movie as much about watching as about performing, as much about scopophilia as exhibitionism.

Starring Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, and Mike Faist, Challengers challenges us to rethink sports. What might have been a boring story about two guys competing in a tennis match is elevated thanks to director Luca Guadagnino and amazing horny performances by its stars. This is filmmaking turned up to 11 in a genre that doesn’t usually get that drama.

The love triangle starts early. However, the sliced-and-diced timeline and visual storytelling made it too interesting, and engaging, to stop. I was drawn into the drama, and the steaminess, instantly.

For all of its heat and copious amounts of kissing, there are no sex scenes – except that sweaty, ecstatic tennis match. And that’s a good thing. You don’t need a sex scene to get sweaty about a sexual attraction and a love triangle. Even the soft-orgy halfway through the movie was done in a magnificent and elevated way.

Director Guadagnino films the tennis scenes like they are boxing matches — often in slow motion, with extreme close-ups of flying sweat, straining biceps, and leaping legs… I’ve never seen tennis filmed more beautifully or effectively.

Simply put it, it’s a beautiful movie to watch. From the sports rivalry, to the rivalry about getting the girl. The movie mixes sports, romance and drama, and sprinkles a lot of style on top of everything. I’d definitely watch it again, in my own room.

Should You Watch It?

Who knew tennis could be this erotic? Challengers is a heady mix of sex, sweat, and power plays. There are plenty of pleasures to be had, not just for these characters, but for the audience too. It’s sexy as hell. The threesome ignites the screen with their combustible chemistry on the court and outside.

Where Can I Watch It?

You can stream Challengers exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.