The Pop-Cultural Revolution Of Chess
Hollywood’s role in transforming an ancient game of wits to a pop-cultural trend.
October 23, 2020 marks a historic event in the pop-cultural revolution of chess — a game of kings and pawns that kept the world glued to their television. On this day, The Queen’s Gambit aired for the first time on Netflix, sweeping over 62 million views in its first month and causing a surge of 603% in the sale of chess items across the globe!
But it’s not just this Netflix series, the allure of chess has been strong enough to be an inspiration for several Hollywood blockbuster movies and series.
Here is a countdown of the best series and movies that transported its viewers into the world of black and white.
- The Queen’s Gambit
Starring the stunning actress Anya Taylor-Joy, The Queen’s Gambit is a must-watch Netflix miniseries. Orphaned at the tender age of nine, the story revolves around a prodigious introvert, Beth Harmon, who learns the game from a janitor and quickly discovers an astonishing talent for chess, marking the beginning of an unlikely journey to stardom while grappling with addiction. Directed by Scott Frank, the season traces her rise and sees her struggle with personal demons, ultimately leading her to the biggest match of her life — a head-on with her opponent, Vasily Borgov, the fiercest player in the world. Taylor’s astounding performance weaved in wiht the gradual build-up of the tension for the ultimate tournament while unfolding many dark secrets makes this series a piece of cinematic brilliance of all times.
Watch the trailer here!
- Bobby Fischer Against the World
A must-watch! Bobby Fischer Against the World documents the tragic and bizarre life of this enigmatic champion who took the chess world by storm. It’s a collection of all the interviews with Grandmasters such as Garry Kasparov, Susan Polgar, Larry Evans and many others who knew Fischer or were inspired by him. It showcases rare footage of Fischer’s 1972 World Championship match against Boris Spassky held during the cold war. It beautifully documents Fischer’s mesmerizing journey to the Soviet chess empire and his rise to stardom by winning the ultimate chess title. Bobby Fischer Against the World is an inspiring, jaw-dropping and poignant documentary feature film that narrates the tragic and triumphant life of a genius.
Wath the trailer here!
- Life of a King
Life of a King is a 2013 American drama film directed by Jake Goldberger. It’s an inspiring true story based on the life of Eugene Brown who learns and masters chess in jail. Starring Academy Award-winner Cuba Gooding as Eugene Brown, the movie portrays the life of the protagonist who masters chess in jail and later seeks the path of redemption, defying all conventions, and establishes the Big Chair Chess Club for inner-city teenagers in Washington in an attempt to offer them a better future. Eugene Brown is widely quoted in the international chess circle for saying “Take care of the King, everything else follows.” — an allusion for life, a principle to focus on our priorities early in life. Life of a King won’t disappoint you even if you are not a chess lover.
Watch the trailer here!
- The Luzhin Defence
Adapted from Vladimir Nabokov’s novel, The Luzhin Defence tells the complicated story of Luzhin, an ignorant and unkempt chess grandmaster sent to Italy in the 1920s to compete in one of the toughest matches of his life. Blinded by his obsession with chess, Luzhin’s world drastically changes when he falls in love with Natalia, whom he’s been arranged to wed by her influential family. As Luzhin tries to balance his love of chess with his newfound romance, a complicated series of events unfold. Directed by Marleen Gorris and starring John Turturro and Emily Watson, The Luzhin Defence is about love, genius and madness.
Watch the trailer here!
- Queen of Katwe
Queen of Katwe is an American biographical feature film directed by Mira Nair and written by William Wheeler. Starring David Oyelowo, Lupita Nyong’o and Madina Nalwanga, the movie depicts the life of Ugandan chess player Phion Mutesi, an ordinary girl from the slums of Uganda who battles against the harsh realities of a poverty stricken life and rises to become the first female chess master in the country. The film not only captures the treacherous realities of war-torn Uganda but also celebrates the triumph of the human spirit and the importance of helping one another. This inspiring drama is a gem to watch and delivers nuanced performances. It’s unique from other films listed here because of its balance of both dark and modern filming.
Watch the trailer here!
Chess is more than just a board game of black and white squares. Internationally acclaimed for its intellectual prowess, chess is a game that imitates life and politics, a metaphor of human nature and their unsatiated hunger for power. Master the chess mindset with our course at Habbit with 11-time State Championship Winner Sovna Sonali. Download the Habbit App and enrol today. We have many more diverse skills for you to explore!