Movies

The best fan reactions to ‘Challengers’

We rounded up our favorite posts about the sexy tennis drama. Plus, share your reactions with us.

Mike Faist as Art, Zendaya as Tashi and Josh O'Connor as Patrick in "Challengers." Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures

By Kristina DaPonte

3 minutes to read

If you’ve been anywhere near a movie theater — or social media — recently, you’ve probably heard of “Challengers.”

Movie Review

The film, from “Call Me by Your Name” director Luca Guadagnino, has a storyline that bounces back and forth as fast as three main characters can hit a tennis ball. In the present, Patrick (Josh O’Connor) and Art (Mike Faist) are playing each other in a lower-level tennis tournament that Tashi (Zendaya), Art’s wife-slash-coach and Patrick’s ex-girlfriend, watches intensely from the stands. In the past, the three tennis players become involved in a complicated love triangle that spans years.

From the eclectic score to the ambiguous ending, here’s how X users reacted to some of the film’s highlights.

Video: Kevin Slane discusses ‘Challengers’ review on ‘Boston Globe Today’

Warning: Some spoilers for “Challengers” ahead.

‘Challengers’ soundtrack

Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross teamed up for the movie’s original soundtrack, which is full of synth-fueled techno beats. While some movie scores aren’t paid much attention by audiences, the one in “Challengers” has quickly become a fan — and Spotify — favorite:

Tennis ball POV

With “Challengers,” viewers aren’t just watching tennis matches, but becoming immersed in them. Tennis balls come flying at the screen in a way that should warrant 3-D glasses, and there were even moments when the audience becomes the tennis ball, whizzing through the air at top speed. X users had no shortage of reaction photos and videos after this experience.

‘Challengers’ ending

“Challengers” is filled with moments that have gotten people talking, one of which is the film’s ending. The last act centers in on the final bracket of the Challenger tournament, and Patrick and Art are tied at six games each. The game was already intense until Patrick signals to Art that he slept with Tashi. In the tie-breaking set, the two men play with a new vigor and intensity until, unexpectedly, Art leaps over the net going for the ball and lands on top of Patrick, embracing him. Below, see X users reflect on the stress-inducing, yet satisfactory ending:

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