Battle of the Sexes

Name: Battle of the Sexes
Genre: Biography, Drama, Sport, Comedy
Released: September 22, 2017
Duration: 121 min
Rating: 73
Cast: Agnes Olech, Alan Cumming, Andrea Riseborough, Bill Pullman, Chris Parnell

2017

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 46 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 150 Ratings

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6.3

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6.3	Your Score
6.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 150 Ratings

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Battle Of The Sexes

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Movie Details & Credits

Fox Searchlight Pictures | Release Date: September 22, 2017 | PG-13

Starring: Agnes Olech, Alan Cumming, Andrea Riseborough, Bill Pullman, Chris Parnell, Elisabeth Shue, Emma Stone, Eric Christian Olsen, Fred Armisen, Jessica McNamee, Martha MacIsaac, Natalie Morales, Sarah Silverman, Steve Carell

Summary: The electrifying 1973 tennis match between World number one Billie Jean King (Emma Stone) and ex-champ and serial hustler Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell) was billed as The Battle of the Sexes and became one of the most watched televised sports events of all time. The match caught the zeitgeist and sparked a global conversation on genderThe electrifying 1973 tennis match between World number one Billie Jean King (Emma Stone) and ex-champ and serial hustler Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell) was billed as The Battle of the Sexes and became one of the most watched televised sports events of all time. The match caught the zeitgeist and sparked a global conversation on gender equality, spurring on the feminist movement. Trapped in the media glare, King and Riggs were on opposite sides of a binary argument, but off-court each was fighting more personal and complex battles. With a supportive husband urging her to fight the Establishment for equal pay, the fiercely private King was also struggling to come to terms with her own sexuality, while Riggs gambled his legacy and reputation in a bid to relive the glories of his past. Together, Billie and Bobby served up a cultural spectacle that resonated far beyond the tennis courts and animated the discussions between men and women in bedrooms and boardrooms around the world. [Fox Searchlight]… Expand

Director: Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, Sport, Comedy

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 121 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Mick LaSalle

Sep 21, 2017

All this is dramatized expertly and with a lightness of touch in Simon Beaufoy’s screenplay and in the direction of Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, the team behind “Little Miss Sunshine.” Read full review

Richard Roeper

Sep 20, 2017

Battle of the Sexes stands on its own as a finely tuned period piece, a vibrant comedy, an effective character study and, yep, an inspirational sports movie. Read full review

Kate Stables

Nov 20, 2017

Stone and Carell ace it in this smart biopic, stylishly recreating the champ-vs-clown clash of the tennis titans that electrified ’70s America. Read full review

The Playlist Gregory Ellwood

Sep 10, 2017

The conflicts are obviously real, but there is something about the tone that’s just off through most of the picture. Read full review

Allison Shoemaker

Sep 21, 2017

If Battle of the Sexes is more than a little slight in places, it more than makes up for its shortcomings through sheer entertainment value. Read full review

John Anderson

Sep 21, 2017

An extremely good-natured, upbeat recounting of the infamous Bobby Riggs-Billie Jean King “man vs. woman” match of 1973. Read full review

Christopher Gray

Sep 12, 2017

Battle of the Sexes sacrifices some of its innate appeal by making ham out of the supposed relics of a less enlightened era. Read full review

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User Reviews

neenah

Oct 1, 2017

Great story, great cast, relevant themes. The social themes are so poignant still today and its amazing to see how far we've come yet still have to go in 44 years.

4 of 13 users found this helpful49

vinicius96

Mar 9, 2018

Emma Stone gives another Oscar worthy performance! Great movie, with some screenplay issues.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Ittiaces

Dec 2, 2017

Wonderful retelling of the events leading up to and around the 1973 iconic tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. Solid performances by Emma Stone and Steve Carell who are in turn very well supported by an excellent cast. Overall the film is very well put together, and theWonderful retelling of the events leading up to and around the 1973 iconic tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. Solid performances by Emma Stone and Steve Carell who are in turn very well supported by an excellent cast. Overall the film is very well put together, and the story told in a way that keeps your interest piqued even if you are already familiar with the outcome. There were a few dips in the middle where the pace slumped slightly, but thankfully they were shortlived. The focus of the film is divided between the match itself and King's sexuality which she felt the need to keep hidden. Homosexuality being a more taboo subject in those days. I thought the film would flowed more easily had less time been devoted to King's love-life. Although interesting, the level of detail was far and above what was necessary to tell that aspect of her character, and it definitely distracted from the main subject. An excellent account of this event all said, and I really enjoyed it.… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

John935

Jan 10, 2018

Pleasantly surprised by this. I was alive in 1970s but paid little attention to the big event, so the film was informative for me. Movies w/ a political theme are often smug or self-important but this is not. Both sides are treated fairly and the tone is entertaining, not heavy. My onlyPleasantly surprised by this. I was alive in 1970s but paid little attention to the big event, so the film was informative for me. Movies w/ a political theme are often smug or self-important but this is not. Both sides are treated fairly and the tone is entertaining, not heavy. My only quibble: Ideally it could have been 10 minutes shorter (altho I can't think of any particular scene I'd cut.) Emma and Steve are great.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

marco34la

Oct 2, 2017

this was a superficially entertaining flick. the pacing is a bit off and some holes in the story. it scratches at the surface of the issues and backstories instead of going "long and deep". it has some funny moments and a bit of triumph. i wish they'd focused less on BJK and her hairdress...this was a superficially entertaining flick. the pacing is a bit off and some holes in the story. it scratches at the surface of the issues and backstories instead of going "long and deep". it has some funny moments and a bit of triumph. i wish they'd focused less on BJK and her hairdress... or handled it in a more meaningful way.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

DawdlingPoet

Nov 25, 2021

This is an interesting story - a true life one at that and it features some good performances from both Steve Carell and Emma Stone. The actual match its about only features in a minority of scenes, so if the thought of watching a lot of tennis puts you off the film, I'd say that's not aThis is an interesting story - a true life one at that and it features some good performances from both Steve Carell and Emma Stone. The actual match its about only features in a minority of scenes, so if the thought of watching a lot of tennis puts you off the film, I'd say that's not a valid reason to not see it because the majority of the plot focuses on the two players opposing views regarding equality etc. and lifestyles.

I thought this was quite an insightful watch and I would recommend it, yes.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Broyax

Dec 10, 2018

J'ai rien contre la parité, ni le féminisme que ce soit dans le tennis ou ailleurs, je vous assure. Et Billie a bien raison de remettre à sa place ce vieux macho bourré de pillules (le dopage, c'est mal). Même que si Billie veut tondre la pelouse, je n'y vois pas d'inconvénient. M'enfin...J'ai rien contre la parité, ni le féminisme que ce soit dans le tennis ou ailleurs, je vous assure. Et Billie a bien raison de remettre à sa place ce vieux macho bourré de pillules (le dopage, c'est mal). Même que si Billie veut tondre la pelouse, je n'y vois pas d'inconvénient. M'enfin... sauf si j'étais son mari bien sûr parce je serais énervé, un petit peu quand même...

M'enfin cela dit, Emma Stone, j'ai du mal avec ses yeux de poisson frit et son talent sans talent et j'ai du mal à garder les yeux ouverts dans cette comédie à la fois féministe et LGGTBLGTBGTLTG et tout ça... Un agenda SJW à respecter, pourquoi pas, on commence à en avoir l'habitude mais faites de préférence un film, pas un somnifère nunuche et concon.

Putain, qu'est-ce que c'était chiant cette battle ! ça ressemble à un long article de Elle ou Biba ou Comopolitan sous perfusion de sédatif avec la guimauve syndicale qui s'auto-congratule en boucle.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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96	#96 Most Discussed Movie of 2017
67	#67 Most Shared Movie of 2017