King Richard (2021)
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A father's unwavering dedication and strategic planning pave the way for his daughters to become world-class tennis icons.
The story
In Compton, California, Richard Williams and his wife Brandy raise their daughters, Venus and Serena, with a singular, ambitious goal: to turn them into professional tennis stars. Richard has meticulously crafted a plan for their success since before they were born, working tirelessly to secure the right coaching and opportunities for the girls. Despite facing obstacles in finding a professional coach and navigating a world that often feels exclusionary, Richard remains steadfast in his vision. The story follows the family's journey as they navigate the complexities of sports, fame, and the determination required to break into the elite world of professional tennis.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Richard Williams and his wife Brandy live in Compton, California, where they raise their daughters, Venus and Serena. Richard has a meticulous plan to make them professional tennis players. After struggling to find a coach, they meet Paul Cohen, who trains Venus while Serena trains with Brandy. As the girls succeed, they face a world that feels exclusionary. Richard eventually fires Paul to protect his daughters from being exploited by agents. They then move to Florida to train under Rick Macci. Over three years, Richard faces internal and external pressures regarding the girls' path to the pros. He eventually allows Venus to play in a professional tournament. After a series of matches, including a victory over Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, the family faces the reality of fame. The film concludes with the family together, facing a crowd of supporters as the girls' careers begin to take off.
- First release year
- 2021
- Runtime (minutes)
- 145
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Reinaldo Marcus Green
- Writers
- Zach Baylin · writer
- Cast and characters
- Will Smith · Richard Williams; Aunjanue Ellis · Oracene Price; Saniyya Sidney · Serena; Demi Singleton · Venus; Tony Goldwyn · not specified; Jon Bernthal · Rick Macci
- Genres
- biographical; sports drama
- Themes
- parental devotion; determination; overcoming adversity; race and class
- Tone and mood
- inspiring; dramatic
- Setting
- Compton, California; Florida; and Oakland, California during the late 20th century.
- Premise and plot tags
- biopic; sports; family drama
- Source material / true-story basis
- Based on the real-life experiences of Richard, Venus, and Serena Williams.
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics, particularly for the screenplay and the performances of Will Smith, Aunjanue Ellis, and Saniyya Sidney.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 76 · scale: 100 · review count: 53; CinemaScore · score: A · scale: A+ to F; PostTrak · score: 94% · scale: percent
- Production trivia
- The film was based on a screenplay that appeared on the 2018 "Black List" of the most-liked unproduced screenplays.; Will Smith was paid $40 million for his role.; The film features the original song "Be Alive" by Beyoncé.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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