---
title: "King Richard"
year: 2021
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/king-richard"
fi1m_score: 68
critics_score: 71
critics_reviews: 23
published: "2026-09-20T08:19:49.729814+00:00"
updated: "2026-09-20T08:19:50.207534+00:00"
region: "US"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# King Richard (2021)

Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green · 2h 24m · MPA PG-13 · Drama, History

**Fi1m score: 68** · Critics 71 from 23 reviews

*In a sentence:* The daughters win the matches and Dad gets the film

> Reinaldo Marcus Green’s film about the making of Venus and Serena Williams is warm, well acted and a good deal softer on its subject than he was on anyone else. Will Smith is fine; Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor is better.

## Synopsis

Compton, California, in the early 1990s. Richard Williams (Will Smith) works nights as a security guard and spends the daylight hours on the city’s cracked public courts, drilling his daughters Venus (Saniyya Sidney) and Serena (Demi Singleton) according to a plan he wrote for them before they were born. His wife Oracene (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor) works as a nurse, coaches Serena when Richard is busy with Venus, and keeps a household of five girls running. Richard films the sisters’ practice sessions, prints brochures and hands them to any tennis coach who will stand still, and is turned down by all of them; the gang members who hang around the courts are a more immediate problem. Then Paul Cohen (Tony Goldwyn), a coach with famous clients, agrees to watch the girls hit, and offers to train one of them.

## Review

Reinaldo Marcus Green’s film tells the story of Venus and Serena Williams by telling the story of their father. Richard Williams wrote a plan for two tennis champions before either girl was born, and *King Richard* follows him as he carries it out on the public courts of Compton, California, with a shopping trolley of old balls and a stack of homemade brochures. Zach Baylin’s script runs from those courts to the edge of Venus’s professional career. It is a family drama first and a tennis film a long way second, and it is warm, well acted and easy to sit through. It is also 144 minutes long, and it never asks a hard question of the man at its centre.

Will Smith plays Richard with a stoop, a drawl, white shorts and socks pulled to the knee, and a habit of talking over anyone who disagrees with him. It is a performance rather than a star turn. He lets Richard be tiresome, lets him repeat himself, lets his daughters roll their eyes behind his back, and he is good at the man’s cunning, the way he flatters a coach and then changes the terms once the coach has said yes. What Smith does not do, because the script will not let him, is make Richard frightening. We are told he is difficult, and then, every time, we are shown that he was right.

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor is the best thing in the film. Her Oracene works nights as a nurse, coaches Serena while Richard concentrates on Venus, and watches her husband collect the credit. For a long stretch she says almost nothing. Then there is a scene in the kitchen in which she tells him what the plan has cost and who else has been paying for it, and Ellis-Taylor plays it low and level, no raised voice, no tears. It moved us more than anything that happens on a court, and the reason is plain: she is the only person in the film allowed to say Richard is wrong without being proved a fool by the end of the scene.

Saniyya Sidney plays Venus as a watchful teenager who wants what her father wants and is starting to want it on her own terms, and the film’s best stretches are the ones where she and Smith negotiate. Demi Singleton’s Serena spends most of the film waiting her turn, which the script notices, mentions and sets aside. Tony Goldwyn is brisk as Paul Cohen, the first coach to take Venus on. Jon Bernthal arrives later as Rick Macci, all moustache and Florida grin, and is funny simply by staying cheerful while Richard rewrites their agreement in front of him.

Robert Elswit shoots Compton in low, warm evening light, so the cracked courts look like somewhere a person might choose to be, and when the film reaches Florida he declines to make it look like paradise. Pamela Martin cuts the tennis so that we can follow it: the ball goes over the net and comes back, and a point is a point rather than a blur of feet. Kris Bowers’s score, mostly piano and strings, sits under the family scenes telling us they are tender when the acting has already said so. Sharen Davis puts the girls in bright early-nineties colours and Richard in the same outfit for a decade, and Wynn Thomas and William Arnold give the Williams house one crowded bedroom for five girls.

The trouble is what the film will not do. Its Richard is stubborn and embarrassing and occasionally cruel with his mouth, and he is, in the end, right about everything. Each coach and neighbour who doubts him is shown up within a scene or two, and the parts of his life the family would rather not discuss get a line each, if that. It was made with the family’s cooperation and it looks like it. Around the two-hour mark, with another practice under way and another sceptic about to be proved wrong, we grew restless, and then a little cross that a story this good was being told this carefully.

Green’s previous film, *Monsters and Men* (2018), was about people who did not get the last word. This one gives Richard all of them. To its credit, it cares more about a father and daughter talking in a parked car than about a scoreboard, and it ends on a match we will not describe. It is worth an evening if you like your sports films with the sport in the background. Bring a parent; they will recognise more of Richard than they would like to.

*Fi1m score 68, published 20 September 2026.*

### Reviews we read (23)

- **The New York Times**, A.O. Scott (Critic's Pick): The warm, exuberant sports drama paints a persuasive portrait of the Williams family and their pursuit of excellence, functioning as both an appealing old-fashioned entertainment and a socially alert story. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/18/movies/king-richard-review-will-smith.html)
- **RogerEbert.com**, Odie Henderson (3.5/4): The film is half sports movie, half biopic that benefits greatly from strong performances across the board, especially from Will Smith and Aunjanue Ellis, despite some dramatic skittishness and length issues. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/king-richard-movie-review-2021)
- **Variety**, Peter Debruge (Critics Pick): Reinaldo Marcus Green delivers an engaging true-life drama focused on Richard Williams' conviction and exceptional belief in turning his daughters into tennis champions, with strong work from Will Smith and Aunjanue Ellis. [Read](https://variety.com/2021/film/reviews/king-richard-review-venus-williams-1235054637/)
- **Empire**, Alex Godfrey (80/100, inferred): The film is a touching family drama and love letter to Richard Williams's ambition that avoids biopic clichés, montages and melodrama while delivering warmth and strong performances, especially from Will Smith. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/king-richard/)
- **Screen Daily** (80/100, inferred): Will Smith triumphs in a thoughtful drama that examines how parents project dreams onto children and focuses on race, class and family difficulties rather than genre conventions. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/king-richard-review/5163513.article)
- **The Times**, Kevin Maher (4/5): Will Smith's towering, complex performance as the irascible Richard Williams defines the film, which charts the family's journey and reveals painful backstory through strong dramatic moments. It is praised as one of the year's great screen performances and a satisfying drama. [Read](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/king-richard-review-a-towering-turn-from-will-smith-as-venus-and-serenas-father-gmxlc9pfw)
- **Time Out**, Helen O’Hara (4/5): An excellent Will Smith performance anchors this unusual take on the sports biopic, defending its counterintuitive focus on the father while celebrating an extraordinary story of endurance and family. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/king-richard-2021)
- **IndieWire**, David Ehrlich (B): The review highlights Will Smith's larger-than-life, transformative performance as Richard Williams in a slick, authorized biopic that balances comedy and hagiography. It notes the film's light tone and focus on Williams' tenacity but observes that it defangs some of his more eccentric or problematic traits. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/2021/09/king-richard-review-will-smith-1234661806/)
- **Vulture** (75/100, inferred): The critic argues that Will Smith's layered, physical performance makes the film worthwhile despite a predictable script, emphasizing the fraught family dynamics and Richard's internalized fears and determination. It singles out the emotional confessional scenes for praise while noting the story's conventional beats. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/article/movie-review-king-richard-starring-will-smith.html)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Stephen Farber (70/100, inferred): The critic praises the film's nuanced portrayal of Richard Williams as an ambiguous, driven figure motivated by both love and personal frustrations, with strong performances from Will Smith and Aunjanue Ellis. It notes the story's complexities and humor but criticizes its length, repetition, and perfunctory handling of some elements. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/king-richard-telluride-2021-1235008117/)
- **Little White Lies**, Leila Latif (2/3/4): The film rises above its uneasy premise to offer a well-conceived tribute to Black parenting, family and spirit, with Will Smith delivering a nuanced performance that absorbs the character's eccentricities and volatility. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/king-richard)
- **Radio Times**, Emma Simmonds (3/5): An irrepressible real-life character is entertainingly unpacked in this largely satisfying biopic, with complexity in Smith's portrayal of a determined man, though some flaws are brushed over and the daughters are ultimately sidelined. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-ambhh1/king-richard/)
- **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (3/5): The critic finds the film an enjoyable, well-crafted authorised biopic of Richard Williams that highlights his drive and the family's rise from Compton, but notes it soft-pedals darker aspects of his personality and leaves some questions about family dynamics unanswered. Smith delivers a balanced but somewhat opaque performance as the demanding father. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/oct/15/king-richard-review-will-smith-serves-up-tennis-stardom-for-venus-and-serena)
- **The i Paper**, Francesca Steele (50/100, inferred): The authorised biopic is slick but bland and lacks emotional depth or hard-hitting insight, with Smith giving an enjoyable low-key performance as the ambitious father but the film failing to fully engage with its subjects or stakes. [Read](https://inews.co.uk/culture/king-richard-review-will-smith-venus-serena-williams-cinema-uk-release-1307264)
- **Slant Magazine**, Derek Smith (30/100, inferred): The review criticizes the film as an uncritical hagiography and image rehabilitation that excuses Richard Williams' flaws and presents him as an infallible genius due to foreknowledge of the happy ending. It faults the script for mocking doubters and Smith for a one-note performance, while noting the lack of deeper exploration of trauma. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/king-richard-review-will-smith/)
- **Eye for Film**, Amber Wilkinson (80/100, inferred): The critic highlights the film's focus on the entire Williams family and eccentric patriarch, praising Will Smith's committed performance and the depiction of family bonds and social barriers overcome. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/king-richard-2021-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson)
- **The Playlist**, Gregory Ellwood (B): The critic appreciates the balanced portrait of Richard Williams and strong performances from Will Smith and especially Aunjanue Ellis as Oracene, while noting some dragging in the middle and conservative visuals. The film focuses effectively on the family dynamic and Venus's early career. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/will-smith-king-richard-telluride-review-20210903/)
- **Deadline**, Todd McCarthy (70/100, inferred): Will Smith delivers a strong, nuanced performance as the driven and eccentric Richard Williams in this engaging biopic. The film succeeds as a complex portrait of an unconventional sports parent who overcomes skepticism to guide his daughters to greatness. [Read](https://deadline.com/2021/09/king-richard-review-will-smith-telluride-film-festival-1234826893/)
- **/Film**, Hoai-Tran Bui (7/10): The critic praises Will Smith's transformative performance as Richard Williams in this by-the-numbers sports biopic, noting it justifies the film's focus on the father despite initial criticisms. They single out the strong supporting turns, particularly Jon Bernthal as coach Rick Macci, and subtle social commentary. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/660789/king-richard-review-will-smith-rules-the-court-in-a-standard-issue-sports-drama/)
- **Polygon**, robert-daniels (70/100, inferred): The critic calls it charming and enjoyable thanks to movie-star charisma and the real-life underdog story, but notes it is tonally conflicted and sanitizes its subject. [Read](https://www.polygon.com/reviews/22791505/king-richard-review-will-smith/)
- **The Ringer**, Manuela Lazic (70/100, inferred): The critic finds it a mostly compelling but sometimes too-sweet retelling of the Williams sisters' rise, praising the warmth brought by Will Smith and the emphasis on family nurturing and solidarity over privilege. [Read](https://www.theringer.com/2021/11/18/movies/king-richard-review-venus-serena-williams-movie-will-smith)
- **The Wrap** (70/100, inferred): Reinaldo Marcus Green’s film offers a reflective and poignant take on Richard Williams as a flawed but dedicated father. It stands out for its focus on parental anxieties and the origin story of the Williams sisters’ rise. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/king-richard-film-review-will-smith-venus-serena-williams/)
- **NME**, Leonie Cooper (3/5): The critic finds the biopic not quite a championship-winning smash, with Will Smith’s central performance strong but the focus on the father feeling like a reach that sidelines the sisters’ achievements. The young leads deliver graceful, standout turns amid a heartwarming if conventional inspirational story that highlights racism and family drive. [Read](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/king-richard-review-will-smith-3100143)

## Details

- **Director:** Reinaldo Marcus Green
- **Director:** Reinaldo Marcus Green
- **Writer:** Zach Baylin
- **Cinematography:** Robert Elswit
- **Editor:** Pamela Martin
- **Music:** Kris Bowers
- **Production design:** Wynn Thomas, William Arnold
- **Costume design:** Sharen Davis
- **Producer:** Will Smith, Tim White, Trevor White
- **Cast:** Will Smith as Richard Williams; Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor as Oracene 'Brandy' Price; Saniyya Sidney as Venus Williams; Demi Singleton as Serena Williams; Jon Bernthal as Rick Macci; Mikayla LaShae Bartholomew as Tunde Price; Tony Goldwyn as Paul Cohen; Susie Abromeit as Robin Finn
- **Runtime:** 2h 24m
- **Certificate (MPA):** PG-13
- **Release (the US):** 19 November 2021
- **Genres:** Drama, History
- **Also in:** [Best Picture winners](https://film.one/collections/oscar-best-picture.md) (Nominee, 2021); [Golden Globe Best Drama winners](https://film.one/collections/golden-globe-drama.md) (Nominee, 2021)
- **Budget:** $50 million
- **Box office:** $39 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6bsugyNpDU

## Where to watch in the US

- Amazon Prime Video: rent $5.99, uhd
- Apple TV: rent $5.99, hd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy $14.99, uhd
- Apple TV: buy $14.99, hd

*Checked 2026-09-20.*

Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, TH, UA, US, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- Academy Awards 2022: Best Picture (nominated)
- BET Award for Best Movie 2022: BET Award for Best Movie (won)

## If you liked this

- *Searching for Bobby Fischer* (1993): Another father, another prodigy, and a film willing to ask whether the pushing was worth it
- *Hoop Dreams* (1994), Fi1m 92: Two Chicago boys, five years, and the cost of a sporting escape filmed as it happened — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/hoop-dreams.md)
- *Bend It Like Beckham* (2002): A Hounslow teenager’s parents have other plans; funnier and a good deal shorter
- *Borg vs McEnroe* (2017): Tennis as a slow nervous breakdown, with a coach who is not always right
- *Battle of the Sexes* (2017): Emma Stone as Billie Jean King, fighting the fight the Williams sisters inherited

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/king-richard