Watch King Richard

In the sports drama biopic King Richard, Will Smith stars as Richard Williams, the father and coach of tennis champions Venus and Serena Williams. The film follows Richard as he raises his daughters in Compton, California, instilling in them a love for tennis from a young age and relentlessly pushing them to become the best players in the world. Through grit, determination, and unorthodox training methods, Richard guides his daughters to become two of the greatest athletes of all time.

The movie opens with Richard in his early 20s, living a nomadic lifestyle and struggling to find direction in his life. He meets and falls in love with Oracene Price (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor), who already has three daughters from a previous relationship. The couple settle in Compton, where Richard becomes determined to raise his daughters in a way that will set them on the path to success. He starts to teach them to play tennis on the dilapidated courts in the local park, and he quickly realizes that they have natural talent.

Despite facing discrimination and skepticism from the predominantly white tennis world, Richard never gives up on his daughters' dreams. He trains them relentlessly, pushing them to develop their physical and mental strength while also instilling in them a sense of confidence and self-belief. His methods are unconventional - he has them practice on cracked and uneven courts to develop agility and reaction time - but they prove to be effective as Venus and Serena start to rack up wins at junior tournaments.

However, Richard's approach to tennis is not without its controversies. He clashes with coaches and officials who don't believe that his daughters are capable of succeeding in a sport that has traditionally been dominated by white players. He also faces criticism from his own family, who believe that he is too harsh on his daughters and that he is putting too much pressure on them.

Throughout the film, we see Richard's relationship with his daughters evolve as they become two of the most famous athletes in the world. Jon Bernthal also appears in the film as Rick Macci, a renowned tennis coach who helps to train Venus and Serena as they reach their teenage years. The movie gives audiences an inside look at the Williams family's struggles and triumphs as they break down barriers and redefine what it means to be champions in a sport that has traditionally been exclusionary.

Overall, King Richard is a stirring and heartfelt tribute to the Williams family's legacy. Will Smith's portrayal of Richard is both nuanced and compelling, bringing to life a man who is equal parts determined, ambitious, and loving. The film's message of perseverance and self-belief is sure to resonate with audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

King Richard is a 2021 drama with a runtime of 2 hours and 18 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.5 and a MetaScore of 76.