Wondering if Challengers is ok for teens? This R-rated tennis threesome may not be for kids, but it will work you up in a sweat. Zendaya gets a little steamy in more ways than one. Here’s what parents need to know in this Challengers Parents Guide.
Challengers Parents Guide 2024
From 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. After an accident on the court at a young age, Tashi is now player turned coach and must help her tennis champion husband (Mike Faist) who is on a losing streak.
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 ), his former best friend and Tashi’s former boyfriend. As their pasts and presents collide, it all turns very soap opera on a tennis court.
Age Rating: Why is Challengers Rated R?
Challengers is Rated R for language, sexual content, and graphic nudity which means some content may not be suitable for children under the age of 17 years old.
Parents need to know that Challengers is less of a sports story and more of a drama. Expect nudity and sexual situations.
Language
There are a lot of f-words in Challengers, like a lot. So if that doesn’t bother you, then the rest of the profanity won’t either. There are uses of sh*t, b*tch, d*ck, p*ssy, and words of Deity like Jesus Christ and “oh g-d.”
Mature Content: Is Challengers Kid Friendly?
While there may not be explicit sex scenes in Challengers, there are themes of infidelity and non-sexual full frontal male nudity.
There is making out and same-sex and opposite-sex relationships. Yes, there’s an implied threesome that can get quite sexual, but you’re not seeing the characters have sex.
A female character is shown in a see-through bra making out with another character.
There is sexual and crass humor and a conversation about masturbation.
A scene in a locker room shows male characters walking around naked. There is frontal and backside nudity.
Characters drink alcohol and smoke.
There is moderate violence including a character slapping another. A character sustains a knee injury.
Is Challengers Appropriate for Kids Under 17?
Mature themes are prevalent in Challengers and it is not appropriate for kids under 16 years old. However, if your teens have seen Euphoria, then this is tame compared to that. Many teens will want to watch due to Zendaya and Mike Faist (who starred in West Side Story).
Challengers just wasn’t made for kids and teens in mind. This is for mature audiences, and truthfully, there just isn’t enough to hold the attention of a younger audience.
Some will find it sexy; others will find it trashy. Some will find it entertaining; others will find it boring. It’s doubtful there’s a camp in the middle. And maybe that’s the point.
The talent is there, the story is kinda there. When there’s tennis, the scenes are exciting. Zendaya is the main player, but her character Tashi is just not that interesting. I wanted to know more about her to help me understand why she is the way she is, and why she ultimately is in this tennis throuple of boring characters.
If you’re looking for sexual tension, then Challengers just may be your ace.