It takes a lot of passion, intensity, and work to become a champion on the court. But sometimes those same things are required to keep our relationships alive. That’s all at the core of Challengers, a new film from Luca Guadagnino that smolders with intensity from start to finish.

The film follows three tennis players over the course of 13 years. We begin at the end—a finals match in a U.S. Open qualifier between one-time friends and teammates Art Donaldson (Mike Faist) and Patrick Zwieg (Josh O’Connor). There in the stands is Art’s wife, Tashi (Zendaya), who has a complicated history—and present—with each of them.

We quickly go back 13 years. Art and Patrick were doubles partners set to square off in the Junior Finals. Tashi was at the top of the women’s game, winning the women’s final in dominant and impressive fashion. Both Patrick and Art are drawn to Tashi, and she seems drawn to them. A chance at a relationship becomes the stakes for their finals clash.

Patrick wins, and as we move through time in flashbacks, we see Tashi’s relationship with both play out. It goes through the varying arcs of their lives and careers, until we reach the present. Art is a decorated champion making a comeback after injury. Patrick is a talented player that flamed out and is hanging on—barely—to the professional ranks. Tashi is a wife and mother, becoming Art’s coach after her own career was cut short.

Their collision at this tournament—and in this finals match—is the catalyst to explore old wounds, current struggles, and their once fierce bonds.

This is a powder keg of a film. The three leads work well here and are the sole focus of this film. We see their story tensely play out between points and volleys on the court, where Art and Patrick are squaring off on a blistering August day in New York and Tashi is left to watch at center court.

Guadagnino is no stranger to showcasing fraught and tense relationships in film. This slides right into that genre, as we see these three drawn together and pulled apart throughout the course of this film and the 13 years it showcases. We see their story play out as the tension beautifully builds in the game on the court we’ve come to see.

The use of editing, the tight shots on these performers, and the captivating and up-tempo soundtrack all bring the intensity of the film as it moves toward its climax. And what a climax it is. The smoldering final 15 minutes is something to behold, ending on a high-charged note.

I particularly enjoyed the performances and direction here. Guadagnino builds a beautiful world and makes the most of his cast. The performers give it their all, too. I thought Zendaya was brilliant, and O’Connor smolders in several sequences. Faist is quite good as well, particularly in the film’s closing moments.

This is a tense and intense film, but one that’s captivating and well-told. It’s one of the better releases so far in 2024.

Challengers opens nationwide on Friday in theaters.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.