Challengers, the romantic and sports drama from Luca Guadagnino, will have its premiere airing on TFX on Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at 9:10 PM. The film starring Zendaya, Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist will also be available on TF1+.
Hit theaters on April 24, 2024, Challengers follows Tashi Duncan, a former tennis prodigy whose career was cut short by a knee injury. Now a coach, she tries to revive her husband Art Donaldson’s career. He then must confront Patrick Zweig, his former best friend who also happened to be Tashi’s partner.
Directed by the filmmaker behind Suspiria and Call Me by Your Name, the movie uses a sports rivalry to probe the power dynamics at the heart of this love triangle. Zendaya stars as Tashi, Mike Faist as Art, and Josh O’Connor lends his features to Patrick.
Our take on Challengers:
At the heart of Challengers is Tashi Duncan, played by Zendaya, a former tennis prodigy turned coach. Her character, authoritative and uncompromising, dominates not only the courts but the men in her life—Patrick and Art, portrayed by Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist. The film’s non-linear structure deepens this dynamic, gradually pulling back the layers of tension and power plays among the characters.
The narrative unfolds through flashbacks that weave the past into the present stakes, creating a persistent dramatic tension that keeps the audience guessing about the protagonists’ futures.
The psychological edge of Challengers is striking, spotlighting Tashi’s internal battles—her past as a champion stifled by an injury and her current life as an ambitious coach. Her intricate relationship with Art, where conversations are spare and stakes are high, embodies her manipulative, almost transactional take on love.
Director Luca Guadagnino, renowned for his sharp aesthetic sense, choreographs dynamic camera moves and inventive angles to capture the intensity of the tennis matches, notably by placing the camera from the ball’s-eye view as it ricochets between players, mirroring the volatility of the characters’ relationships.
Sayombhu Mukdeeprom’s cinematography, with its saturated colors, heightens the dramatic heft, plunging viewers into a stylized, taut atmosphere. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross deliver a score that deserves special mention for harmonizing sport and personal drama—raising adrenaline and sharpening emotional tension alike.
Zendaya owns the role of Tashi, deftly balancing strength with vulnerability. Her performance is powerful yet nuanced, buoyed by palpable chemistry with her co-stars that enriches the complexity of their interactions. Still, Tashi can feel a touch distant at times, making it harder for the audience to form an emotional connection, as some of her sharp lines and seeming coldness attest.
Challengers is a gripping work that deftly mixes the codes of drama and sport thriller. While the film shines in direction and performances, it sometimes suffers from a lack of warmth in its central character, which might alienate a portion of the audience.
Nevertheless, it remains an intriguing, visually rich cinematic proposition, quintessential Guadagnino, offering an intense meditation on love, rivalry, and the pursuit of glory. For fans of complex dramas and non-linear storytelling where revelations unfold piece by piece, Challengers is well worth a look.
To go further, also explore our picks of films, series and TV shows to watch on television this week, our guide to releases across all platforms, and today’s streaming pick: what to watch today.
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