Challengers (2024): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending
Challengers is a 2024 romantic drama starring Zendaya as Tashi Donaldson, Josh O'Connor and Doria Bramante. It runs 2 hours 11 minutes and earned $96.1 million worldwide on a $55 million budget. It won 3 awards from 10 nominations, including Best Editing at the Critics' Choice 2025. Critics gave it 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and 82 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.0/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 11m (131 min)
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
- Budget
- $55M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Challengers About?
The premise of Challengers without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
A former tennis star, Tashi, now a coach, sees her husband Art’s career struggling after he loses his edge as a grand slam champion. Determined to help him rediscover his form, she pushes him to compete in a lower-level Challenger tournament. There, he is forced to confront his past, his failing career, and the complexities of his relationship with Tashi.
Challengers Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- tennis
- love triangle
- male frontal nudity
- locker room
- male full frontal nudity
- knee injury
- homoeroticism
- male nudity
- bisexual man
- gay kiss
- sauna
- tennis player
+38 more Show fewer
- grand slam
- former tennis player
- sports injury
- bromance
- bisexual male protagonist
- bisexual protagonist
- three way kiss
- male male kiss
- interracial marriage
- male rear nudity
- coach
- interracial relationship
- female athlete
- motel
- athlete
- best friend
- racket sport
- psychological drama
- steamy romance
- friend kisses friend
- new rochelle new york
- 31 year old man
- smashing a tennis racket
- atlanta georgia
- sleeping in a car
- reference to the us open tennis tournament
- year 2019
- professional tennis player
- friendship between men
- nudity
- storm
- stanford university
- spitting in someone's face
- electronic music score
- 2010s
- 2000s
- tennis coach
- slow motion scene
Challengers Cast & Characters
Zendaya leads the cast as Tashi Donaldson, with Josh O'Connor as Patrick Zweig and Doria Bramante as Woman with Headset (Atlanta 2019).
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Zendaya as Tashi Donaldson -
Josh O'Connor as Patrick Zweig - Doria Bramante as Woman with Headset (Atlanta 2019)
-
Mike Faist as Art Donaldson
Also Starring in Challengers
· 15 more- Burgess Byrd USTA Official, Line Judge US Open Jr.
- Kevin Collins New Rochelle Parking Lot Guard
- Shane Harris Art's Security Guard
- Bryan Doo Art's Physiotherapist
- Nada Despotovich Tashi's Mother
- Christine Dye Motel Front Desk Clerk
- A.J. Lister Lily
- Chris Fowler TV Sports Commentator (Atlanta 2019)
- Mary Joe Fernandez TV Sports Commentator (Atlanta 2019)
- Darnell Appling Umpire (New Rochelle Final)
- Joan Mcshane Line Judge (New Rochelle Final)
- Connor Aulson Leo Du Marier
- James Sylva Motel Husband
- Kenneth A. Osherow Motel Husband
- Jason Tong Line Judge (New Rochelle Final)
Challengers Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Challengers 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and 82 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.0/10. Our Echo Score gives it 85/100, strongest in sensory experience (90) and weakest in story & flow (70).
Challengers Echo Score Breakdown
Challengers delivers a compelling cinematic experience marked by striking visuals and an engaging auditory design that amplify its thematic tension. Reviewers frequently praised the dynamic score and inventive camera work, even as the film’s non-linear structure elicited mixed reactions regarding narrative cohesion. Performances, especially Zendaya’s, garnered consistent acclaim despite occasional emotional detachment. Ultimately, Challengers stands out for its sensory intensity and strong craft, tempered by a somewhat uneven story flow that may limit its universal appeal.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 88
In terms of art and craft, Challengers is distinguished by its meticulous camera movement and polished production design. Critics highlighted the film’s inventive framing of on-court action and the cohesive editing that sustains rhythm throughout the narrative. The visual approach consistently integrates slow-motion and artful angles to heighten tension. These elements combine to create a visually arresting film that positions the camera as an active storytelling participant.
- Character & Emotion 78
When it comes to character and emotion, performances were widely lauded, with Zendaya’s brooding turn at the center of praise. Supporting portrayals by Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist received recognition for their palpable chemistry and nuanced interplay. However, some viewers noted that emotional stakes occasionally felt underdeveloped, leading to intermittent detachment. Overall, the cast’s work provides a compelling anchor, even if character motivations sometimes lack fullness.
- Story & Flow 70
In terms of story and flow, the film’s intricate time-jumping structure drew admiration for its originality and layered payoffs. Reviewers commended the chamber-drama scenes that interlock to build dramatic momentum. At the same time, criticisms surfaced around the fragmented plotting and occasional pacing lulls that diluted forward drive. Despite these critiques, the narrative’s inventive framework offers a distinctive approach, yielding moments of genuine engagement amid its uneven passages.
- Sensory Experience 90
When evaluating sensory experience, the standout score and sound design received almost unanimous acclaim for amplifying on-court tension. Observers noted how Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’s soundtrack punctuates emotional beats, while the sound mixing immerses the audience in each rally. Visually, the film’s cohesive color palette and dynamic slow-motion sequences reinforce the erotic and competitive elements. These combined sensory components deliver a consistently absorbing atmosphere.
- Rewatch Factor 88
In terms of rewatch factor, many praised the film’s layered structure and playful reveals, making subsequent viewings feel rewarding. The strategic use of callbacks and the depth of framing invite viewers to uncover new details on repeat watches. While a few noted emotional distance that might reduce revisit appeal, the complexity of the narrative and strong technical craft create enduring potential to rediscover nuances. Overall, Challengers offers substantial replay value.
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IMDb 7.0 /10
181019 votes
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 88% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 76%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 82 Metascore
User score 6.5
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 69% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.8 /5
2986012 ratings
See on Letterboxd
Challengers Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in Challengers from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In 2006, two high school students, Patrick Zweig and Art Donaldson, share an unbreakable bond as both best friends and tennis doubles partners. Their lives take a thrilling turn when they meet Tashi Duncan, a highly celebrated young tennis talent who captivates both of them. Following their victory at the Junior Open, Patrick invites Tashi to their hotel room, leading to an intense moment where the trio shares a kiss, though they don’t go beyond that. As stakes rise, Tashi playfully announces that she will give her phone number to the winner of the match between Patrick and Art the next day. Ultimately, Patrick emerges victorious, securing Tashi’s number.
Full summary
The whole story of Challengers, scene by scene, with the ending explained
Challengers Box Office & Budget
Challengers grossed $96.1 million worldwide on a $55 million budget, 1.7 times what it cost. $50.1 million came from the US and Canada and $46 million (48%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$96.1M
1.7× its budget
- US & Canada
- $50.1M
- International
- $46M
- Budget
- $55M
Challengers Awards & Nominations
Challengers won 3 awards from 10 nominations, including Best Editing at the Critics' Choice 2025. Its biggest night was the Critics' Choice 2025, with 2 wins from 4 nominations.
3 wins10 nominations4 ceremonies
-
Critics' Choice 2025 2 wins · 4 nominations- Won Best Editing
- Won Best Score
- Nominated Best Original Screenplay
- Nominated Best Song
-
Golden Globes 2025 1 win · 4 nominations- Won Best Original Score
- Nominated Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
- Nominated Best Original Song
- Nominated Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy (Actress) – Zendaya
-
Artios Awards 2025 1 nomination- Nominated Feature Big Budget – Comedy
-
WGA Awards 2025 1 nomination- Nominated Best Original Screenplay
Challengers Trailers & Videos
28 videos: 3 trailers, 3 teasers, 7 clips, 7 featurettes and 8 behind-the-scenes videos.
- Trailer Official Trailer 2
- Trailer Final Trailer
- Teaser Trailer Online Now
- Teaser New Trailer Online Now
How Well Do You Know Challengers?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What sport do the main characters excel in?
Cars in Challengers
9 cars on screen, including the Honda CR-V and the 2014 Jeep Wrangler.
-
Honda CR-V Important role -
2014 Jeep Wrangler Minor role -
2023 Aston Martin DBX 707 Background role -
2021 BMW 5 G30 Background role
Challengers Also Known As
27 alternative titles, including “Суперники” and “Претендентите”.
- Also known as
-
- Суперники
- Претендентите
- Rəqabətçilər
- 挑戰者
- Luca Guadagnino's Challengers
- 챌린저스
- Rivales
- Desafiantes
- Rivalové
- Những Kẻ Thách Đấu
- Challengers - Rivalen
- Претенденты
+15 more Show fewer
- ชาเลนเจอรส์
- Kihívók
- Rivais
- 挑战者
- Varžovai
- מתחרים
- Rekabet
- Izzivalci
- Súperi, მეტოქეები
- チャレンジャーズ
- Οι Αντίπαλοι
- Izazivači
- چالشگران
- Ривали
- Väljakutsujad
Seen Challengers?
Movies Like Challengers
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Champions, The Champion and Tender Is the Heart.
Articles About Challengers
2 articles about Challengers. The latest: “2025 Golden Globe Nominations: Surprises, Snubs, and the Next Big Oscar Clues”.
Challengers FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Challengers, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Challengers?
Challengers runs 2 hours 11 minutes (131 minutes).
When was Challengers released?
Challengers was released on April 26, 2024.
Who is in the cast of Challengers?
Challengers stars Zendaya as Tashi Donaldson, Josh O'Connor as Patrick Zweig and Doria Bramante as Woman with Headset (Atlanta 2019), among 19 credited actors.
How much did Challengers make at the box office?
Challengers grossed $96.1 million worldwide ($50.1 million domestic, $46 million international) on a budget of $55 million.
How is Challengers rated?
Challengers has 7.0/10 on IMDb, 88% on Rotten Tomatoes, 82 on Metacritic and 69% on TMDB.
What awards did Challengers win?
Challengers won 3 awards from 10 nominations, including Best Editing at the Critics' Choice 2025.
Does Challengers have a post-credit scene?
No. Challengers has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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