“King Richard” is a great sports movie, right up there with many of the great sports movies. And there are many great sports movies.

How many sports-themed movies have you seen? Do you enjoy sports movies? I do.

The 1980s and 1990s had many popular and critically-acclaimed sports-themed movies, including “Raging Bull” (1980), “Chariots of Fire” (1981), “The Natural” (1984), “The Karate Kid” (1984), “Hoosiers” (1986), “Bull Durham” (1988), “Field of Dreams” (1989), “Cool Runnings” (1993), “Rocky” (1994), “Hoop Dreams” (1994), ”A League of Their Own” (1992), ”Rudy” (1993), “Jerry Maguire” (1996) and “Any Given Sunday” (1999).

In the New Millennium, there have been “Remember The Titans” (2000), “Bend It Like Beckham” (2002), “Friday Night Lights “ (2004), “Million Dollar Baby” (2004), “Miracle” (2004), “The Wrestler” (2008), “The Blind Side” (2009), “Secretariat” (2010), “Moneyball” (2011), “42” (2013) and “I, Tonya” (2017).

The Internet Movie Database lists no fewer than 150 “Best Sports Movies Of All-Time.” Think “Slap Shot” (1977), “The Hustler” (1961) and “Pride Of The Yankees” (1942). The list could go on.

Sports movies are the ultimate aspirational films, often telling stories of an underdog overcoming the odds, and typically based on actual players, teams and events. These are among the cinema elite of inspirational and feel-good films.

Whereas, most of the aforementioned sports movies focus on the protagonist, usually an athlete or athletes (with some exceptions, for example, “Hoosiers,” which concentrates on the coach), “King Richard” concentrates on the family, and especially the father, hence the title,“King Richard,” referring to Richard Williams (Will Smith), father of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams (Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton, respectively).

Richard Williams is a security guard. His wife, Oracene “Brandy” Price (Aunjanue Ellis), is a nurse. He is also raising three step-daughters. They live in Compton, Calif.

Richard Williams and his wife coach their daughters on the tennis court. Pro tennis coach Rick Macci (Jon Bernthal) is brought on board to coach Venus. Venus competes in the International Tennis Federation Junior Circuit before going pro in 1994 at age 14.

Richard Williams resisted several lucrative sports product endorsement contracts before Venus at age 15 signed with Reebok for $15 million.

Reinaldo Marcus Green (director, “Joe Bell,” 2020; “Monsters And Men,” 2018; TV’s “Amend: The Fight for America,” 2021) directs from a screenplay by Zach Baylin (feature film screenplay debut). Venus and Serena Williams are executive producers of “King Richard.”

The film has a good balance of drama and humor. The drama is inherent on the Williams’ sisters rise in the sport of tennis. The humor is mostly the result of Richard’s conversations with his wife, daughters and coaches. The film isn’t called “King Richard” for nothing. It’s Richard’s rules of order.

Will Smith (Oscar nominee, actor, “The Pursuit of Happyness,” 2006, and “Ali,” 2001) is extraordinary in the lead role of Richard Williams. Smith creates a hunched-over, jut-jawed, shrewd-eyed presence that is so convincing you forget you are watching Will Smith.

Excellent in supporting roles are Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton as Venus and Serena Williams, respectively; Aunjanue Ellis as Richard Williams’ wife, Oracene “Brandy” Price, and Jon Bernthal as coach Rick Macci.

Sports biopics don’t always fare well in the Oscars race. “King Richard” may be an exception. Look for an Oscar acting nomination for Will Smith, and possibly supporting actor nominations and a director and screenplay nomination.

If you’re a fan of sports movies, Will Smith and Venus and Serena Williams, don’t miss “King Richard.” Compared to other many movies now in release, it’s 40-love.

“King Richard,”

MPAA rated PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. Parents are urged to be cautious. Some material may be inappropriate for pre-teenagers.) for some violence, strong language, a sexual reference and brief drug references; Genre: Drama, Biography. Sport; Run time: 2 hr., 24 min. Distributed by Warner Bros.

Credit Readers Anonymous:

“King Richard” was filmed in Los Angeles, and at the Claremont Club, Claremont, Calif.

The closing credits includes newsreel and home movie footage of Venus and Serena Williams, Richard Williams, family, events and interviews. “Be Alive” co-written and sung by Beyoncé for the film, is heard on the soundtrack.

At The Movies:

“King Richard” was seen on the big screen at the Movie Tavern Trexlertown.

Theatrical Movie Box Office,

Dec. 3 - 5: “Encanto” continued at No. 1 two weeks in a row, with $12.7 million, in 3,980 theaters, $57.9 million, two weeks. 2. “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” continued in place, $10.3 million, in 4,059 theaters, $102.1 million, three weeks. 3. “House of Gucci” continued in place, $6.7 million, in 3,477, $33.6 million, two weeks.

4. “Christmas with the Chosen: The Messengers,” opening, $4.1 million, in 1,700 theaters, $8.7 million since opening. 5. “Eternals,” $3.9 million, in 3,230 theaters, $156.5 million, five weeks. 6. “Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City” dropped one place, $2.6 million, in 2,803 theaters, $13.1 million, two weeks. 7. “Dune” moved up one place, $1.8 million, in 1,217 theaters, $104.5 million, seven weeks. 8. “Clifford the Big Red Dog” dropped two places, $1.8 million, in 3,261 theaters, $45.7 million, four weeks. 9. “King Richard” dropped two places, $1.2 million, in 2,654 theaters, $13.4 million, three weeks. 10. “Sword Art Online: Progressive - Aria of a Starless Night,” opening, $1 million, in 840 theaters.

Box office information from Box Office Mojo as of Dec. 5 is subject to change.

Unreel,

Dec. 10:

“West Side Story,”

PG-13: Steven Spielberg directs Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler, Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez in the Musical, Romance, Drama. The screenplay by Tony Kushner is an adaptation of the 1957 stage musical with a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and choreography by Jerome Robbins. The story, inspired by William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” is about two rival teenage gangs. The first film version was released in 1961.

Movie opening date information from Internet Movie Database as if Dec.5 is subject to change.

Five Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes