I've been on a tennis kick of late, watching the movie "Challengers" in theaters last week and playing "Topspin 2K25" on my PS5 And it looks like I'm not the only one, as the latest film on Netflix's list of the most-watched in the US
"King Richard" arrived on Netflix less than a week ago (April 24), but it's already in the streaming service's top 10
I recently rewatched this sports drama and enjoyed it even more the second time around So, if you are looking for a quality film with a leading performance that could win you a film award, please consider "King Richard" If you need more information, please click here
In "King Richard," Will Smith plays the role of Richard Williams, the father of tennis legends Venus and Serena Richard has had grand ambitions for his daughters since birth and even has a meticulous 78-page plan to ensure their success in competitive sports rather than leave luck to chance
The film opens in Compton, California, where Richard trains two young athletic prodigies on a public tennis court Even in the baking heat and torrential rain, Richard's determination remains unwavering, and despite seemingly impossible challenges and numerous obstacles along the way, he continues to push his daughters to ensure that they reach their clear potential
This biographical drama not only focuses on Richard's unwavering mission to raise two tennis superstars, but also touches on his shortcomings and his troublesome relationship with his wife Oracine "Brandi" Price (Anjanue Ellis) His daughters proved him right as they became legends not only in the tennis world, but in the sports world as a whole
King Richard was a critical hit when it was released in November 2021 The sports drama currently has a high rating of 90% on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, with an even better audience score of a near-perfect 98%
Richard Roper of the Chicago Sun-Times was one of many critics who lavished praise on Smith's lead performance Says Roper, "It's funny, it's moving, and [Smith] gets into the role of a man obsessed with getting his daughters on top of their game"
CNN's Brian Lowry also echoed the above sentiments: Smith's performance is superb and takes this story beyond the norm for sports films" A O Scott of The New York Times also had many positive things to say about the film, including, "'King Richard' stirs up a lot of emotion while maintaining a buoyant charm"
Not all reviews were overwhelmingly positive Some critics argued that it did not do enough to portray Richard as a flawed character These included Jesse Hassenger of the AV Club, who said, "The film keeps Richard's troubled past off the screen, making it feel more like a slightly concessionary compliment than a true warts-and-all portrayal"
If you're looking for a deeply engaging drama, "King Richard" is a must-see on Netflix Smith won an Oscar for his performance (let's not even get into his actions on the night of the awards ceremony), and he is fully immersed in the role of Richard Williams What's more, this biopic can be enjoyed by tennis fans and those who can't swing a racket with equal ease
I highly recommend adding "King Richard" to your Netflix watch list For more streaming recommendations, check out our guide to the best of Netflix's most-watched films
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