Chess films: top 5 best films and series to watch

Chess on screen is far more than a board in the background. Some films have masterfully captured the psychological intensity, genius and madness surrounding this age-old game. From the worldwide success of The Queen’s Gambit to Bergman’s classics, here are the must-see films for every chess enthusiast.

Table des matières

The essential films

1. The Queen’s Gambit (2020)

Synopsis

Beth Harmon, an orphaned prodigy in 1960s America, climbs the ranks of the chess world while battling her addictions. A 7-episode Netflix mini-series, adapted from Walter Tevis’s novel (1983).

Why watch it

Anya Taylor-Joy delivers a masterful performance. The games are realistic (supervised by Garry Kasparov and Bruce Pandolfini). The series sparked a worldwide boom in chess set sales (+300% in 2020). To find out more, read our detailed analysis of the series.

2. Pawn Sacrifice (2014)

Synopsis

The film traces the life of Bobby Fischer, from his childhood in Brooklyn to the “Match of the Century” against Boris Spassky in Reykjavik in 1972, at the height of the Cold War. Tobey Maguire portrays Fischer with unsettling intensity.

Why watch it

The film perfectly shows how Fischer’s genius and paranoia were inextricably linked. The geopolitical backdrop (chess as a weapon of the Cold War) is fascinating. Fans of chess history will find plenty of authentic references.

3. Bobby Fischer Against the World (2011)

Synopsis

An HBO documentary charting the full life of Bobby Fischer through archive footage, interviews with contemporaries and game analysis. From his meteoric rise to his descent into isolation and paranoia.

Why watch it

Unlike Pawn Sacrifice (fiction), this documentary gives voice to direct witnesses: Spassky himself, Fischer’s seconds, and the journalists present in Reykjavik. An irreplaceable document for understanding the Fischer myth.

4. The Seventh Seal (Det sjunde inseglet, 1957)

Synopsis

Ingmar Bergman’s masterpiece. A crusader knight, returning from the Crusades, meets Death on a beach and challenges her to a game of chess to buy himself time. The film explores faith, doubt and the meaning of life in a Europe ravaged by plague.

Why watch it

The image of the knight playing chess against Death has become one of the most iconic in world cinema. The film cemented chess as a metaphor for existential struggle in popular culture. An absolute classic.

5. Queen of Katwe (2016)

Synopsis

The true story of Phiona Mutesi, a young girl from the slums of Kampala (Uganda) who discovers chess through a local coach and becomes national champion. A Disney film starring Lupita Nyong’o and David Oyelowo.

Why watch it

A radiant, uplifting film that shows chess as a vehicle for social empowerment. Phiona’s true story proves that chess talent knows neither borders nor social class. Ideal for the whole family.

6. Computer Chess (2013)

An independent film by Andrew Bujalski about a tournament of chess computer programs in the early 1980s. Shot in black and white with vintage cameras, the film captures the unique atmosphere of the pioneers of chess AI. A must for fans of chess history and technology.

7. Dangerous Moves (La Diagonale du Fou, 1984)

A French-Swiss film starring Michel Piccoli. A Soviet world champion faces a challenger in a match in Geneva. The film explores the political and psychological tensions surrounding the match, inspired by the Karpov–Korchnoi duels. A little-known but excellent film for French-speaking chess enthusiasts.

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Bonus: The Queen’s Gambit series inspired millions of new players. If you’re one of those who fell under Beth Harmon’s spell, treat yourself to a beautiful chess set to move from screen to board. Discover also our portraits of Kasparov and Carlsen, the real geniuses who inspire cinema.

“Cinema has understood what players have always known: chess is the most human of all games.”