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Romantic drama

Challengers (2024): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Challengers (2024) movie poster

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.

IMDb rating
7.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes
88%
worldwide gross
$96.1M
awards won
3
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Challengers (2024) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 11m (131 min)
Genres
Drama , Romance , Sport
Original language
English
Budget
$55M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

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
  • 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
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Cast & crew

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).

Also Starring in Challengers

· 15 more
Ratings

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).

85 /100

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.

Plot

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

Read the full summary
Box office

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.

2024 box office

Worldwide gross

$96.1M

1.7× its budget

US & Canada
$50.1M
International
$46M
Budget
$55M
US & Canada 52% Rest of the world 48%
Awards

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 Awards logo
    Critics' Choice 2025 2 wins · 4 nominations
    • Won Best Editing
    • Won Best Score
    • Nominated Best Original Screenplay
    • Nominated Best Song
  • Golden Globe Awards logo
    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
    • Nominated Feature Big Budget – Comedy
  • Writers Guild of America Awards logo
    WGA Awards 2025 1 nomination
    • Nominated Best Original Screenplay
Videos

Challengers Trailers & Videos

28 videos: 3 trailers, 3 teasers, 7 clips, 7 featurettes and 8 behind-the-scenes videos.

All 28 videos
Official Trailer
  • Trailer Official Trailer 2
  • Trailer Final Trailer
  • Teaser Trailer Online Now
  • Teaser New Trailer Online Now
Quiz

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

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What sport do the main characters excel in?

Cars

Cars in Challengers

9 cars on screen, including the Honda CR-V and the 2014 Jeep Wrangler.

All 9 cars
  • Honda CR-V in Challengers Honda CR-V Important role
  • 2014 Jeep Wrangler in Challengers 2014 Jeep Wrangler Minor role
  • 2023 Aston Martin DBX 707 in Challengers 2023 Aston Martin DBX 707 Background role
  • 2021 BMW 5 G30 in Challengers 2021 BMW 5 G30 Background role
Details

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
  • 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?

FAQ

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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