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King Richard

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02:35

King Richard

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• Sport
• Documentary

• 2021
• Reinaldo Marcus Green
• 145 mins
• 12A

Summary

Biographical sports drama starring Will Smith. In early 1990s Los Angeles, security guard Richard Williams has a dream that his daughters Venus and Serena will become pro tennis players, and spends nearly all his free time coaching them. Over the years, Richard and his family overcome many hurdles - financial, social, physical - but the girls' biggest obstacle may, in fact, be Richard himself.

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Review

A star rating of 3 out of 5.

Emma Simmonds

An irrepressible real-life character is entertainingly unpacked in this largely satisfying biopic of Richard Williams, the father of tennis superstars Venus and Serena. Will Smith plays the man in question, with Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton as his remarkable daughters. The sisters go from playing on a rundown court in Compton, where Richard bravely butts heads with gangbangers, to success on the juniors circuit and being coached by the best in the country. If Smith's performance can feel affected, there's complexity to his portrayal of a tired yet determined man who is obstinate and self-deceiving but has the best of intentions. Some of Richard's more troubling flaws are brushed over in this often-sunny spin on events, though his motivations are well fleshed out. Jon Bernthal is great as the sisters' exasperated coach, as is Aunjanue Ellis as their overshadowed but equally committed mother. Whatever Richard's extraordinary efforts, though, it's his children who have made history, and it's a shame that they're ultimately sidelined in their own success story.

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7.5/10

How to watch

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Streaming

• Prime Video
• HBO Max
• Sky Store

Credits

Cast

rolenameRichard WilliamsWill SmithBrandi WilliamsAunjanue EllisVenus WilliamsSaniyya SidneySerena WilliamsDemi SingletonPaul CohenTony GoldwynRick MacciJon Bernthal

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Crew

rolenameDirectorReinaldo Marcus Green

Details

Theatrical distributor

Warner Bros

Released on

2021-11-19

Languages

English | Spanish

Guidance

Violence, swearing, racist language

Formats

Colour

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