Borg vs. McEnroe

R

Released Apr 13, 2018

1h 48m

Drama

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List

84%

147 Reviews

Tomatometer

74%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

It's the summer of 1980, and Björn Borg is the top tennis player in the world, dominating the sport both on and off the court. A powerful and rigorously disciplined player, there is only one obstacle in his pursuit of a record-breaking fifth Wimbledon championship: the highly talented but ferociously abrasive young American John McEnroe. With three days until the tournament begins, Borg trains religiously in his lavish Monaco home, aided by his coach and mentor Lennart and girlfriend Mariana.

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Critics Consensus

Borg vs McEnroe makes tennis improbably cinematic -- and brings the absolute best out of Shia LaBeouf, who delivers some of the best work of his career.

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Lucy L

A well-told sports pic that will entertain even non-tennis fans.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/24/23

Full Review

Gareth v

One of 2018's more underrated movies. As someone who isn't a tennis fan, I found the telling of this great sporting rivalry to be meaningful and well executed.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/22/23

Full Review

Kyle M

One of the best contemporary sports films as it serves balance and strikes intensely. Without looking up the score of the climatically thrilling match, the film properly builds up through both sides' humble determinations with quite a focus detailing their personal stakes, which is the main play over the sport being typically formulaic by statistics. Within the buildup, aligned with professionally perfected performances at their respective peaks, tension develops, producing one of the most gripping playoffs ever played from the genre, even if you're not a frequent sport fan. (A-)

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

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Gabriele F

Fantastic movie, very psychological like tennis is. Incredible interpretations! Unmissable movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

Full Review

isla s

This I found to be a relatively gripping watch towards the end, in terms of seeing what happened at the main tennis match. I know tennis isn't known to be an especially exciting sport but I thought it was a decent drama overall. The acting isn't too bad and I felt engrossed in the two mens feud - the anger/aggression seemed pretty believable. I'm not sure I can say I felt entirely sorry for them, although I certainly saw that pushy paprenting played a part in things. For a tennis film, this is surprisingly fast paced and even energetic at times - worth a watch, if your not a big sports fan as I'm not usually. As a character drama I thought it was ok, although maybe slightly depressing for some and some aspects of the mens personalities may not be entirely likeable or relatable to some - its still pretty decent and tense at the end. I can't comment on how historically accurate it is but as an entertaining film, its pretty good, so I'd recommend it on that basis.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

It's well casted... Shia Labeouf as McEnroe was a perfect choice, he delivers a spirited performance. Unfortunately the movie is mostly about human nature, learning what made them tick, with a stronger focus on the blank Borg narrative, little on McEnroe's, thus delivering poquito heat in the drama department. It's a long, and meditative film, your fingers will want to fast forward to that final match, for some welcomed stimuli, and needed energy.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

Full Review

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Janus Metz

Director

Sverrir Gudnason

Björn Borg

Shia LaBeouf

John McEnroe

Stellan Skarsgård

Lennart Bergelin

Tuva Novotny

Mariana Simionescu

Ian Blackman

John McEnroe Senior

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G. Allen Johnson

San Francisco Chronicle

McEnroe, Faraut asserts, was "a man who played on the edge of his senses." His film brings that home.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 31, 2018

Full Review

Ann Hornaday

Washington Post

A psychological portrait of competition, friendship and a complicated, temperamental prodigy, whose outbursts and lack of self-control threaten to derail what promises to be a fruitful athletic career.

Rated: 3.5/4

Apr 19, 2018

Full Review

Richard Brody

New Yorker

"Borg vs. McEnroe" is an anecdotally gratifying, psychologically nuanced, and dramatically agile character study of Borg, but, despite its extended depictions of a celebrated match, it's not a satisfying tennis movie at all.

Apr 15, 2018

Full Review

Q.V. Hough

Vague Visages

Borg vs McEnroe loses momentum during its tennis sequences, but thats just a minor complaint. Advantage LaBeouf.

Feb 20, 2022

Full Review

Matt Neal

ABC Radio (Australia)

Between this and Battle Of The Sexes, it makes you wonder why there aren't more tennis movies.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 19, 2022

Full Review

Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

Gives insight into the lives of these two gold star athletes, revealing the men behind the game.

Rated: 3.5/5

Mar 4, 2021

Full Review

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Synopsis

It's the summer of 1980, and Björn Borg is the top tennis player in the world, dominating the sport both on and off the court. A powerful and rigorously disciplined player, there is only one obstacle in his pursuit of a record-breaking fifth Wimbledon championship: the highly talented but ferociously abrasive young American John McEnroe. With three days until the tournament begins, Borg trains religiously in his lavish Monaco home, aided by his coach and mentor Lennart and girlfriend Mariana.

Director: Janus Metz
Producer: Tim King, Lone Korslund
Screenwriter: Ronnie Sandahl
Distributor: Neon
Production Co: Yellow Film & TV, SF Studios, Nordisk Film, Film i Väst, Sirena Film
Rating: R (Some Nudity|Language Throughout)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English (United Kingdom)
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 13, 2018, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 12, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $228.8K
Runtime: 1h 48m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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