Chess is not just a game. In the words of Chess genius Mikhail Tal, “Chess, first of all, is art.”
The world of chess is full of strategies, intellect, and creativity. The beauty of 64 squares has often been captured wonderfully in films and TV shows.
Here are the top 10 movies and series that every chess lover should watch:
01. The Queen’s Gambit (2020)
The Queen’s Gambit premiered in 2020 and was a significant reason for skyrocketing chess’s popularity worldwide.
It follows Beth Harmon, a chess prodigy navigating life and career in a male-dominated chess world while battling personal struggles. The show’s title comes from an opening for white pieces, “The Queen’s Gambit.”
The setup of the opening looks like this:
01. d4 (white)
02. d5 (black)
03. c4 (white
Scott Frank and Allan Scott created the show based on Walter Tevis’s book. Former World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov and coach Bruce Pandolfini consulted on the show. The games shown in the show were meticulously crafted and referenced some of the best of the 20th century.
The show beautifully depicted the internal life of her protagonist “Beth Hermon” and her incredible ability to visualize a chessboard. Look at this game she played in the finale episode.
The 7 episodes limited series was noted for its authenticity and was praised by audiences and critics alike.
02. Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993)
The real-life story of young chess master Joshua Waitzkin inspires this gem of a movie. The film's primary focus is on the societal impact of unfair pressure on achieving the highest results.
The final game of the movie has two brilliant tactics in the endgame. The critical position:
Tactic 01: Fork – The movie’s protagonist is playing with the black pieces. White is up an exchange, but it’s black to move. The knight gives a check at d2 and forks the king and the rook.
After the king moves to f4, the knight grabs the rook on the very next move, and now black and white are equal in material.
Tactic 02: Skewer – After the white king captures the knight, it looks like white will win the pawn race. The white pawn first reaches the h8 square before the black pawn reaches the a8 square. But black makes the queen, and that comes with a check on the king, which is on the same diagonal as the white queen. Black grabs the queen, and White resigns.
03. Magnus (2016)
The documentary focuses on the Norwegian player “Magnus Carlsen,” who many consider the best chess player of all time.
Called the “Mozart” of chess, the documentary shows his incredible ability to visualize the entire chessboard and gives an understanding of his talents and style of playing the game.
Playing with the white pieces, see this incredible “queen sacrifice” by him at just 12 years of age:
04. Queen of Katwe (2016)
The movie tells an inspiring true story of Phiona Mutesi. Despite many struggles and overwhelming odds, this young girl went on to become a chess master and a champion.
Have a look at this amazing coordinated game of hers; she is playing with the black pieces:
05. Pawn Sacrifice (2014)
This biographical film tells the story of Bobby Fischer with a focus on his 1972 match against Boris Spassky.
The 3rd game of the 1972 World Chess Championship is considered a symphony of gameplay. Fisher is playing with the black pieces:
Mark Taimanov on Fischer: “Fischer knows everything. He’s an Achilles without an Achilles’ heel.” Just at the age of 13, he played against 26-year-old international master Donald Byrne in 1956, which is considered the game of the century: Black Pieces – Robert James Fisher (Bobby) White Pieces – Donald ByrneHave a look:
06. Chess Fever (1925)
The silent comedy movie depicts the passion of one of the inhabitants. It was even more beautiful for players, depicting the romantic era of chess.
The film shows the Moscow 1925 chess tournament, combining acted parts and footage of the actual tournament.
As one of the first films ever made about chess, this is a must-watch for every game lover.
07. The Luzhin Defence (2000)
Adapted from a novel by Vladimir Nabokov, the movie tells the life of Luzhin, an awkward, troubled boy who discovers an escape and a defence in chess, becoming a child prodigy and eventually a top-class grandmaster contending for the world title.
Luzhin is shown as spirited, whose outstanding talents are afflicted by mental illness.
The film presents a sharp contrast between people who see chess just as a simple pastime and masters who consider it as a dedicated art.
08. Brooklyn Castle (2012)
It’s a documentary about a junior high school in Brooklyn with an extraordinary chess team.
With a rating of 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, watch it to see how the game impacts the students’ lives.
09. Life of a King (2013)
The film stars Cuba Gooding Jr., who plays the role of Eugene Brown. The movie depicts how he uses chess to teach life lessons to at-risk youth in Washington, D.C.
This is an underrated gem that must reach a wider audience. The movie draws strong parallels between life and chess.
10. Endgame (2009)
The movie’s title refers to the last part of chess. The games can be broadly divided into three parts:
01. Opening
02. Middle game
03. Endgame
Sometimes, the game ends before reaching the endgame as the opponent king gets checkmated, but few times does it reach the endgame, where one has to know the basics to an extremely high level of coordination, combinations, and tactics to win.
The movie uses this concept and shows the behind-the-scenes political maneuvering in ending apartheid and a passion for chess as a figure of speech for planning and manipulation.
Few Honorable Mentions
A. Shatranj Ke Khilari (The Chess Players) (1977)
B. Knight Moves (1992)
C. The Dark Horse (2014)
D. The Chess Game (Le Jeu d’Échecs) (1938)
E. Game Over: Kasparov and the Machine (2003)
All of the movies and shows mentioned have something new to offer – the psychology of chess, inspiring stories, or the artistry of the game.
From the simple and sleek to the complex and deep, these visual pieces will enhance your appreciation of the game, no matter what level you play on.
