KING RICHARD
An inspiring story of faith, family, and God-given talent.
Should You Watch It?
Yes. King Richard is a beautiful, heartfelt, gripping film about a father who supports his daughters and helps them pursue their God-given talents. Its strongest messages concern Christian faith, virtue, character, family love, parental guidance, hard work, and humility.
The movie also includes hard scenes related to gang violence and some foul language. Those moments call for parental discernment with younger children, but they do not overwhelm the film’s strong moral and pro-family message.
If you are watching with teenagers or adults, King Richard is worth the trip.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESRichard has five daughters, including Venus and Serena, who are talented tennis players. He works tirelessly to find them a coach, trains them on public tennis courts in Compton, and labors as a security guard at night.
When a well-known coach sees Venus and Serena play, he agrees to train Venus without charge. As Venus begins winning competitions, Richard must decide how to protect his daughter’s character and well-being while helping her pursue tennis at the highest level.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is an exceptionally well-made film. King Richard is beautiful, heartfelt, and gripping, with emotional moments that can make audiences cry and lighter moments that bring laughter.
The characters are appealing, and viewers become totally immersed in the story. Will Smith does a great job as Richard, portraying a loving, sacrificial father. Aunjanue Ellis gives an incredible performance as the mother of Venus and Serena, a woman who fights for her daughters and openly talks about serving God.
The Worldview
King Richard presents a strong Christian, moral, pro-family worldview. It celebrates prayer in Jesus’ name, commitment to God, family love, parental guidance, sacrifice, humility, and the pursuit of natural, God-given talents.
Richard protects his daughters from people who might tempt them and insists that success must not produce pride. He and Brandi want their daughters to grow up with faith, virtue, and Christ-like character rather than becoming burned out at a young age. The film’s central vision of parenting is active, loving, protective, and willing to sacrifice.
The film does include gang-related violence and some foul language, but these elements do not erase its emphasis on faith and moral character. Its call to guide children toward wisdom and purpose aligns with Scripture: “Train up a child in the way he should go” (Proverbs 22:6).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Very strong Christian worldview includes prayer in Jesus’ name, mother says she’s committed to a relationship because she follows God, and mother who talks about her faith, plus strong moral elements stress the love of a family, parental guidance, strong father protects his daughters, and following one’s natural, God-given talents
Foul Language
20 obscenities (including one “f” word) and one strong profanity
Violence
Man beaten by gang, gang member shot and killed, police beat a man, man is tempted to shoot someone but doesn’t
Sex
No sex
Nudity
No nudity
Alcohol Use
No alcohol use
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No smoking or drugs
Miscellaneous Immorality
Some hard scenes related to gangs.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Richard works hard to guide and protect his daughters. What does faithful parenting require when a child has a God-given talent?
Proverbs 22:6 · Ephesians 6:4Richard insists that winning must not produce pride. How can success affect our hearts, and how does Scripture call us to respond?
Philippians 2:3–4 · James 4:6The family practices, works, and encourages one another day after day. Where do you need perseverance, and how can your family encourage you?
Galatians 6:9 · Hebrews 10:24–25Brandi openly talks about serving God. How can faith shape the way we use our abilities and serve others?
1 Peter 4:10 · Colossians 3:23–24The Final Word
King Richard offers an inspiring picture of faith, sacrifice, family love, and godly parenting. Its gang violence and foul language call for discernment with younger children, but teenagers and adults can find much to admire. Our answer is WORTH THE TRIP — MIDDLE SCHOOL AND UP.
