A look at how tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams became who they are after the coaching from their father Richard.A look at how tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams became who they are after the coaching from their father Richard.A look at how tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams became who they are after the coaching from their father Richard.
- Won 1 Oscar
- 50 wins & 141 nominations total
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor
- Oracene 'Brandy' Williams
- (as Aunjanue Ellis)
Mikayla Lashae Bartholomew
- Tunde Price
- (as Mikayla LaShae Bartholomew)
Vaughn W. Hebron
- Homeboy #4
- (as Vaughn Hebron)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
Now in their 40s the Williams sisters Venus and Serena have become what their dad predicted years ago, arguably the two best female tennis players ever. If you believe him, his plan started before they were born.
It is important to keep the title in mind, it is the Dad's story. Of course you can't tell the dad's story without a lot of focus on the sisters and this movie does. It focuses more on Venus and her professional start because she is the older of the two.
I well remember Richard Williams all those years ago, in his public persona he came across as a real jackass, and because of his personality it was hard to like him. But honestly, this is a superb movie, it shows a lot that none of us could have known. If this had been a fictional story it would be hard to accept. The movie is long, running almost 2 1/2 hours, but it is so well made that it never seemed long. Will Smith gives an award-worthy performance in the role and in fact on March 27th won the Oscar for best actor. And slapped Chris Rock onstage for making fun of Will's wife's shaven head.
My wife and I watched it at home on DVD from our public library. During the movie I wondered how the junior tennis was depicted so realistically and the 9-minute "making of" extra shows how they did. They used real champion caliber junior tennis players as tennis doubles and used face replacement technology to make it look like the young Venus and Serena actors were actually playing and hitting the shots.
It is important to keep the title in mind, it is the Dad's story. Of course you can't tell the dad's story without a lot of focus on the sisters and this movie does. It focuses more on Venus and her professional start because she is the older of the two.
I well remember Richard Williams all those years ago, in his public persona he came across as a real jackass, and because of his personality it was hard to like him. But honestly, this is a superb movie, it shows a lot that none of us could have known. If this had been a fictional story it would be hard to accept. The movie is long, running almost 2 1/2 hours, but it is so well made that it never seemed long. Will Smith gives an award-worthy performance in the role and in fact on March 27th won the Oscar for best actor. And slapped Chris Rock onstage for making fun of Will's wife's shaven head.
My wife and I watched it at home on DVD from our public library. During the movie I wondered how the junior tennis was depicted so realistically and the 9-minute "making of" extra shows how they did. They used real champion caliber junior tennis players as tennis doubles and used face replacement technology to make it look like the young Venus and Serena actors were actually playing and hitting the shots.
King Richard
Some elements were good but to be honest much of the movie was made with the agreement and the involvement of Richard Williams and is quite an airbrushing of the history to make him appear in a good light.
Alarm bells, you have to ask yourself why does a biographical movie start with Richard Williams being 38 years of age, practically middle aged, because what went before is either irrelevant or unsavoury.
The movie started with a happy couple and 5 young girls, a close loving nuclear family, both parents working hard, one a nurse the other a security guard, looking out for their children but living in a rough part of town. However this film omitted to say he already had 5 children, that he abandoned, with another women whom he was divorced from. Of the 5 girls in the family that was shown only Venus and Serena were his and why they were chosen by him as money making machines. I might add he has as least 10 biological children in total as well as the three adopted ones shown here.
The movie then leaves the impression they struggled to be recognised and inferred this was racially motivated. Venus was made at 4 and half to play tennis on the public courts as part of the "master plan" and as early as 7 she had already been recognised and was being coached locally. You can't be overlooked as a 7 year old, this is twaddle!
The movie instigation is based on this remarkable "insight" by Richard that he "foretold" the greatness of these two children, perhaps even before they were born. Hardly remarkable, in reality most parents have a master plan and his detailed history seems to have been constructed retrospectively.
Will Smith and Aunjanue Ellis, who played his wife held this together with the tennis, Venus and Serena playing minor roles. The whole movie was overly earnest where was the humour in all of this, Richard constantly said "enjoy yourself", but no one ever seemed to!
Overall, the movie is fatally flawed, it is not quite the American dream comes good, the history is distorted, the racial elements exaggerated, the fight to have their talent recognised fabricated, the back story omitted etc etc.
Overall, as entertainment it's a 6 outta 10, Will Smith was very good, as a historically accurate record is a 1 outta 10 from me.
Some elements were good but to be honest much of the movie was made with the agreement and the involvement of Richard Williams and is quite an airbrushing of the history to make him appear in a good light.
Alarm bells, you have to ask yourself why does a biographical movie start with Richard Williams being 38 years of age, practically middle aged, because what went before is either irrelevant or unsavoury.
The movie started with a happy couple and 5 young girls, a close loving nuclear family, both parents working hard, one a nurse the other a security guard, looking out for their children but living in a rough part of town. However this film omitted to say he already had 5 children, that he abandoned, with another women whom he was divorced from. Of the 5 girls in the family that was shown only Venus and Serena were his and why they were chosen by him as money making machines. I might add he has as least 10 biological children in total as well as the three adopted ones shown here.
The movie then leaves the impression they struggled to be recognised and inferred this was racially motivated. Venus was made at 4 and half to play tennis on the public courts as part of the "master plan" and as early as 7 she had already been recognised and was being coached locally. You can't be overlooked as a 7 year old, this is twaddle!
The movie instigation is based on this remarkable "insight" by Richard that he "foretold" the greatness of these two children, perhaps even before they were born. Hardly remarkable, in reality most parents have a master plan and his detailed history seems to have been constructed retrospectively.
Will Smith and Aunjanue Ellis, who played his wife held this together with the tennis, Venus and Serena playing minor roles. The whole movie was overly earnest where was the humour in all of this, Richard constantly said "enjoy yourself", but no one ever seemed to!
Overall, the movie is fatally flawed, it is not quite the American dream comes good, the history is distorted, the racial elements exaggerated, the fight to have their talent recognised fabricated, the back story omitted etc etc.
Overall, as entertainment it's a 6 outta 10, Will Smith was very good, as a historically accurate record is a 1 outta 10 from me.
This is a good sports film and has lots of revealing information about the Williams family that most people will not be aware of. Remarkably, Will Smith puts aside his constant need to show himself off and gets absorbed into the personality of the Williams' father.. All the acting is great, especially the 5 girls and the mom. Of course the film is from the POV of the Dad and I imagine there are other viewpoints. I was disappointed that given the emphasis on the Dad, when the film ends and they give a summary of what happened after, nothing is mentioned about the Dad. That makes no sense in the context of the film.
Will Smith delivers a tour de force performance in this engaging family drama as the overbearing father of tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams. It's a beautifully shot film with strong performances overall. My only gripe is that this is not a biopic about the Williams sisters. Instead the film chooses to focus on its main star - Will Smith - as the helicopter parent. Venus Williams gets some screen time on her rise to fame, but Serena is inexplicably ignored in the plot despite being arguably the more famous star of the two.
Sure its a well made movie, but I have my issues with the direction. Mainly that it just feels void of character. It felt more like a sitcom, with a very streamlined narrative. Its very clear what emotion you need to feel at what point. The music is very blunt, and there is very little room for interpertation.
Thats my main problem with these very american movies. Its a constant barrage of 'now feel sad' , 'now feel happy' ect.
But apart from that, sure its not a bad movie. And I do have to give credit to its pacing. With a 2,5 hour runtime, the movie didn't feel like it was draggin its feet.
So all in all, competant movie, but awfull directing.
5/10: hmm.
Thats my main problem with these very american movies. Its a constant barrage of 'now feel sad' , 'now feel happy' ect.
But apart from that, sure its not a bad movie. And I do have to give credit to its pacing. With a 2,5 hour runtime, the movie didn't feel like it was draggin its feet.
So all in all, competant movie, but awfull directing.
5/10: hmm.
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAs a thank you to the cast, Will Smith divided his $40 million earnings from the movie amongst the other actors as bonuses for them.
- GoofsArantxa Sánchez Vicario is regularly announced and shown as Vicario on the scoreboard, which wouldn't have happened. She was first known as Arantxa Sánchez, then she added Vicario to honor her mother. Following Spanish usage, Sánchez, her father's name, was always the prime part of her last name and she was known as Sánchez Vicario.
- Quotes
Richard Williams: The most strongest, the most powerful, the most dangerous creature on this whole earth is a woman who knows how to think. Ain't nothing she can't do.
- Crazy creditsDuring the credits, real documented footage was shown of Richard Williams and his daughters Venus and Serena. From camcorder footage to TV broadcasts, it showed a summary of the accomplishments that the Williams had achieved.
- ConnectionsFeatured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Best Movies of 2021 (2021)
- SoundtracksGet Me Back on Time, Engine Number 9 (Pt. 1 & 2)
Written by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff
Performed by Wilson Pickett
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.
By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing
- How long is King Richard?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official sites
- Languages
- Also known as
- Rey Richard: Una Familia Ganadora
- Filming locations
- Claremont Club, Claremont, California, USA(1777 Monte Vista Ave, Claremont, CA)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $50,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $15,129,285
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $5,406,033
- Nov 21, 2021
- Gross worldwide
- $39,529,285
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