‘Challengers’ Blu-Ray Review – An Endlessly Entertaining Erotic Sports Drama

From visionary filmmaker Luca Guadagnino, Challengers stars Zendaya as Tashi Duncan, a former tennis prodigy turned coach and a force of nature who makes no apologies for her game on and off the court. Married to a champion on a losing streak (Mike Faist – West Side Story), Tashi’s strategy for her husband’s redemption takes a surprising turn when he must face off against the washed-up Patrick (Josh O’Connor – The Crown) — his former best friend and Tashi’s former boyfriend. As their pasts and presents collide, and tensions run high, Tashi must ask herself, what will it cost to win.

For in-depth thoughts on Challengers, please see my colleague Brandon Lewis’s review from its original theatrical debut here. 

Video Quality

Challengers comes to Blu-Ray with a stunning 1080p transfer which captures the film exactly as intended. As we have come to expect from Luca Guadagnino, this project was shot on film, and this transfer handles the filmic qualities of the presentation with great care. Everything looks very natural with an undeniable amount of distinct clarity and detail. Subtle details on faces such as dripping perspiration are amazingly clear and fine textures hold up immensely well both in close-ups and long shots. The vibrant palette radiates throughout the film with notable splashes of color in elements of the clothing, production design, and landscapes. Black levels hold up favorably with no major instances of black crush present. Digital noise and banding are not much of an issue with this release. This is a great presentation from Warner Bros., but we would welcome a 4K UHD Blu-Ray if it ever materialized. 

Audio Quality

This disc comes equipped with a knockout Dolby Atmos presentation that brings a ferocious energy to what might not seem like a traditional sonic powerhouse. The most prominent feature throughout this narrative is the score from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. It establishes a propulsive atmosphere that comes through with nice fidelity. Dialogue is presented clearly without ever being overpowered by any of the competing sonic elements. The mix brings this film to life with the perfect engagement of all the channels.

The utilization of the height channels allows this story to feel much more grandiose and all-encompassing than its humble interpersonal story may call for at first glance. Sounds are appropriately rendered with precise directionality from the more active tennis scenes to the dialogue-driven scenes filled with subtle inflections. The sound design of this film is surprisingly complex, and the implementation of environmental sounds is executed very effectively. The low end complements with some texture when it calls for it. Warner Bros. has done an incredible job with this one. English SDH and an array of other optional subtitles are provided. 

Special Features

There are no special features provided on this disc. 

Final Thoughts

Challengers is yet another win from Luca Guadagnino, as he crafts an endlessly entertaining erotic sports drama that is intimate without feeling exploitative. The shifting power dynamics are thrilling to witness as you come to learn more about these characters and the perceived hold they have on one another. The performances from the main trio are key to making this film work, and there is not a weak link in the bunch. This is all elevated further with an eye for craft that makes this feel like a true artistic endeavor rather than just creating buzzy content. There’s a sense this could have been tightened up just slightly in the edit, but it remains one of the best films you will see all year. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has released a Blu-Ray featuring a terrific A/V presentation but nothing in the way of special features. Highly Recommended 

Challengers is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray, DVD, and Digital. 

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.