Movies About Chess – Introduction

Chess is a strategy game that anyone of any age or gender can play. The rules of chess are simple: you have to move your pieces around the board until you form a “checkmate” (a situation where one player loses all their pieces).

Chess is a fascinating game, and movies about it can be exciting. Here are eight that I’ve seen and loved.

Movies About Chess

Queen of Katwe (2016)

This movie tells the true story of Phiona Mutesi, a Ugandan chess prodigy who overcame poverty and hunger to become one of the best players in her country. It stars Lupita Nyong’o and David Oyelowo as Phiona’s parents, with Martin Freeman playing her coach.

The movie won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress (though not for the actress playing Mutesi), which is almost unheard of for a film that didn’t even make it into theaters until after awards season had ended!

The movie was based on the book “Queen of Katwe,” which tells Phiona’s story in more detail. It was written by Tim Crothers, a journalist who met Mutesi when he went to Uganda to cover her story for ESPN magazine.

Pawn Sacrifice (2014)

Pawn Sacrifice is a 2014 drama film about chess legend Bobby Fischer, directed by Edward Zwick. It stars Tobey Maguire as Fischer and features Jude Law as Anatoly Karpov, Liev Schreiber as Boris Spassky, and Diane Kruger as Vera Menchik.

The film was written by Steven Knight (Eastern Promises) and based on his play “Bobby Fischer Goes to War,” which was first performed at the Royal Court Theatre in London before transferring to Broadway in 2009.

The film was shot on location in Budapest and the Czech Republic. It premiered at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival, winning the People’s Choice Award for Best Movie.

Movies About Chess

Brooklyn Castle (2012)

Brooklyn Castle (2012) is a documentary about the chess team at a high school in Brooklyn, NY. The film stars Josh Charles, Jim Belushi, and Viola Davis.

The film was directed by Katie Dellamaggiore, who won an award for Best Documentary at the Tribeca Film Festival.

The film focuses on the chess team at a high school in Brooklyn, NY. It is directed by Katie Dellamaggiore, who won an award for Best Documentary at the Tribeca Film Festival. The film stars Josh Charles, Jim Belushi, and Viola Davis.

Knight Moves (1992)

Knight Moves is a 1992 film directed by Carl Schenkel. It stars Matthew Modine and Sean Young as chess prodigies brought together by their mutual love of the game. The movie also features appearances from actors such as Peter Falk, James Woods, and Wesley Snipes.

The plot focuses on two boys: one who has an autistic brother named Timmy (played by Modine) and another who loves to play chess with anyone he can find (played by Young). When Timmy’s father dies unexpectedly in an accident at work, he gets custody of his son, which causes some conflict between them because they don’t know how to deal with each other yet. However, things get better after they play again when Timmy learns about his older sister’s marriage proposal from her boyfriend, Gordon (who happens to be a doctor).

Timmy starts playing chess again and gets good at it. When he starts showing his talent in the game, a man named Dr. Coleman visits him and takes an interest in him. Dr. Coleman tells Timmy about another boy who has also gotten good at chess and is looking for people to play against.

Movies About Chess

Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993)

Searching for Bobby Fischer is a 1993 drama starring Max Pomeranc as a boy obsessed with chess. It won 2 Academy Awards, including Best Actor (Pomeranc) and Best Adapted Screenplay. The movie was directed by Steven Zaillian, who also co-wrote it with Keith Bunin. It’s based on the book Bobby Fischer Against the World by Fred Waitzkin, which chronicles the life of Bobby Fischer from his first exposure to chess at age three until he retired from competitive play in 1985 after winning his fourth straight world championship title.

The movie covers a lot of ground, from Fischer’s early life in Brooklyn to his rise as the best chess player in the world. It also focuses on his struggles with fame and notoriety, which led him to become increasingly reclusive and paranoid.

The Luzhin Defence (2000)

The Luzhin Defence is a 2000 drama directed by Marleen Gorris. It stars John Turturro as the titular chess player who loses his mind after losing to an opponent in a tournament.

The film is based on Vladimir Nabokov’s novel Chess Fever, adapted by William Goldman and John McNamara for the screen.

The film was nominated for an Academy Award in 2001 for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay. It also won the European Film Award for Best Feature Film and was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

Movies About Chess

Fresh (1994)

Fresh is a 1994 American crime drama film directed by Boaz Yakin and starring Shane West, Lacey Chabert, and David Moscow. It tells the story of a young chess prodigy who gets into trouble with his family after he loses several games to an opponent.

The film was released on January 5, 1994. It received mixed reviews from critics, who praised its performances but criticized its screenplay and direction. The film was later adapted into an animated series of the same name in 1998.

Top 5 Chess Movies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBCX971nQFU

From Russia with Love (1963)

From Russia with Love is a 1963 spy film directed by Terence Young and starring Sean Connery. It is based on the novel of the same name by Ian Fleming, who also wrote the screenplay for it. The story concerns James Bond’s search for a missing list of double agents, which he believes was stolen by SMERSH agent Rosa Klebb (Daniela Bianchi).

Sean Connery plays James Bond in this movie, and he does an excellent job of playing his role and making you feel like you know him personally. This movie has many memorable scenes that will open your mouth when watching!

The movie is filled with things that are so shocking and unexpected that it is hard to believe they were made in the 1960s. The fight scenes are very violent and make you feel like you are watching them happen! This movie is one of the best James Bond films ever made.

Movies About Chess

Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed this list of movies about chess. If you’re interested in watching any of these films, I recommend you do so!

Other Links:

Board Games as Gift – Best Choice in this Festive Season 2022: https://boardplaying.com/board-game-gift/

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