Will Smith Just Won a Golden Globe for ‘King Richard’ (& We Bet an Oscar Is Next)

The film begins when Venus (Saniyya Sidney) and Serena (Demi Singleton) are pre-teens, highlighting Richard’s persistence in obtaining a noteworthy coach. This includes passing out brochures, attending tournaments and crashing training sessions in the hope of catching someone’s attention.

When they finally receive interest from top tennis coach Paul Cohen (Scandal alum Tony Goldwyn), the family is torn because he wants to only train Venus. Although Serena is left without a trainer (at least for now), Richard is determined to help her succeed, even if it means filming Venus’s practices to pass along to Serena.

The film explores the ups and downs that led to Venus and Serena’s future success. Even if you don’t follow tennis, the inspiring story is bound to enthuse sports fans and non-sports fans alike (and accumulate a few Oscars).

There are multiple reasons why King Richard is a must-watch. First, the story is extremely entertaining, even though it’s somewhat predictable because it’s based on a true story. (Disclaimer: don’t Google the matches prior to watching.) Not only does it highlight their remarkable story, but it also shows the hardships the Williamses faced simply for being a Black family in a white-dominated sport.

Second, it’s different from other sport biopics. Everyone knows the Williams sisters as two of the most talented tennis players, but very few people know how hard their dad worked to get them there. The film offers a never-before-seen glimpse at Richard’s story—not Venus’s and Serena’s.

And finally, two words: Will Smith. The expectations were high, and he far exceeded them. Everything from the accent to the mannerisms and the way he walks are spot-on character choices. The storyline isn’t comedic, but the actor incorporates just enough humor to provide a few chuckles. To be completely honest, the film wouldn’t be nearly as good if it weren’t for Smith’s scene-stealing performance.