King Richard (2021)
96%RT Audience Score: 98%
Awards & Nominations: Won 1 Oscar
46 wins & 133 nominations total
King Richard transcends sport biopic formulas with refreshingly nuanced storytelling — and a towering performance from Will Smith in the title role.
Largely thanks to Will Smith’s terrific performance in the title role, King Richard is an entertaining and inspirational story of parental perseverance.
Production Company(ies)
Warner Bros., Star Thrower Entertainment, Westbrook Studios,
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Release Type
Streaming, Streaming (HBO Max), Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
Claremont Club, Claremont, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for some violence, strong language, a sexual reference and brief drug references
Year of Release
2021
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
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Runtime:2h 26m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 19, 2021 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 19, 2021
Genre(s)
Biography/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Will Smith, Aunjanue Ellis, Jon Bernthal, Saniyya Sidney, Demi Singleton, Tony Goldwyn, directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, written by Zach Baylin, biography, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by David Stratton, Sandra Hall, Mara Reinstein, Max Weiss, Soraya Nadia McDonald, Randy Myers, Sarah Ward, Erick Estrada, Elsa Fernández-Santos, Gayle Sequeira, Matt Brunson, produced by Tim White, Trevor White, Will Smith, MPAA rating PG-13, tennis, sports, fatherhood, perseverance, family, history, training, Compton, California, Venus Williams, Serena Williams, Richard Williams, Oracene “Brandy” Williams, Rick Macci, Paul Cohen, Dolby Digital, Warner Bros Pictures, Scope (2.35:1)
Worldwide gross: $39,429,285
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $41,795,949
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,421
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 4,557,901
US/Canada gross: $15,129,285
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $16,454,712
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,472
US/Canada opening weekend: $5,406,033
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $5,879,638
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,068
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $50,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $54,380,336
Production budget ranking: 736
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $29,283,811
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$41,868,198
ROI to date (est.): -50%
ROI ranking: 1,690
Aunjanue Ellis – Oracene “Brandy” Williams
Jon Bernthal – Rick Macci
Saniyya Sidney – Venus Williams
Demi Singleton – Serena Williams
Tony Goldwyn – Paul Cohen
Director(s)
Reinaldo Marcus Green
Writer(s)
Zach Baylin
Producer(s)
Tim White, Trevor White, Will Smith
Film Festivals
Telluride
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 Oscar
46 wins & 133 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees, Oscar Winners
All Critics (287) | Top Critics (65) | Fresh (258) | Rotten (29)
Brandi is a more interesting character, thanks to a superb performance from Ellis, and their scenes together are the best in the movie, although the tennis sequences are very well shot and edited.
January 19, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/5
David Stratton
The Australian
TOP CRITIC
Smith is entertaining. His single-mindedness should make him a bore but he somehow retains his talent to amuse whatever else is on his mind.
January 13, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
Sandra Hall
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
Featuring a towering performance from Will Smith in the title role, proving that a hero is not necessarily easy to root for.
December 28, 2021
Mara Reinstein
Us Weekly
TOP CRITIC
This is a dream role for Will Smith and he attacks it with gusto. Williams is a larger-than-life character who just happens to be real, and Smith embodies his underdog, combative, indefatigable spirit to perfection.
December 10, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/4
Max Weiss
Baltimore Magazine
TOP CRITIC
King Richard has a Will Smith problem. It is obviously meant to be award catnip for Smith and a cinematic crowning for Richard Williams, father of Venus and Serena. And yet Smith’s starring role may be the weakest part of the film.
November 24, 2021
Soraya Nadia McDonald
Andscape
TOP CRITIC
In this compelling, well-acted but conventionally told biopic about the unconventional dad of tennis icons Serena and Venus Williams, actor Will Smith makes another convincing bid to collect some acting trophies.
November 24, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
Randy Myers
San Jose Mercury News
TOP CRITIC
An easy win rather than an all-timer.
June 25, 2022
Sarah Ward
Concrete Playground
Obvious in its worst sense… [Full review in Spanish]
June 17, 2022
Erick Estrada
Cinegarage
Smith is the absolute king of this conventional movie that opens a window into the dream of two strong-willed girls. [Full review in Spanish]
June 8, 2022
Elsa Fernández-Santos
El Pais (Spain)
The film turns into a hero a man who is nothing more than a child exploiter… Serena and Venus became in two of the best tennis players in history no thanks to their father, but in spite of him. [Full review in Spanish]
June 8, 2022
Eva Güimil
El Pais (Spain)
King Richard is a fierce story of Black identity and Black pride, depicting how cycles of racial abuse and violence take drastic, desperate measures to escape.
April 19, 2022
Gayle Sequeira
Film Companion
Less a movie about sports than a movie about parenting.
April 1, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy…
Plot
Armed with a clear vision and a brazen 78-page plan, Richard Williams is determined to write his daughters, Venus and Serena, into history. Training on Compton, California’s neglected tennis courts
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Will Smith delivers a towering performance in the title role.
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