BORG VS. MCENROE
An uplifting tennis rivalry, reserved for discerning adults.
Should You Watch It?
BORG VS. MCENROE is a riveting sports drama built around the classic 1980 Wimbledon match between Swedish champion Bjorn Borg and American “bad boy” John McEnroe. It understands the pressure behind the spectacle: Borg is trying to win his fifth straight championship, while McEnroe’s volatile personality makes him one of the most unpopular players in tennis.
The film is excellent in its performances and ultimately uplifting in its portrait of a rivalry that grows into friendship. The final half hour, centered on the match, gives the movie real dramatic power.
But the R rating matters. Strong foul language is frequent, and the film includes brief nudity, alcohol use, and references to wild partying. Adults who can accept those concerns should take the trip; families with children or young teens should choose something else.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESAt Wimbledon in 1980, reigning champion Bjorn Borg faces his passionate American rival, John McEnroe. Borg is the Number One seed and has won four straight Wimbledon Tournaments, but the pressure of defending his title is beginning to affect him.
McEnroe’s tennis prowess is matched by his foul-mouthed outbursts on and off the court. As the championship approaches, both athletes must confront the emotions that threaten to overtake their extraordinary abilities.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is an excellent, highly engaging sports drama. Shia LaBeouf gives a wonderful performance as John McEnroe, while Sverrir Gudnason is perfectly cast as Bjorn Borg. Stellan Skarsgård delivers another impeccable performance as Borg’s long-time coach, and Tuva Novotny gives an appealing performance as Borg’s fiancée.
The movie is riveting most of the way, and its clear conflict benefits from the personalities of its two central athletes. The many flashbacks to Borg’s childhood and teenage years reveal important parts of his character, but two of them are unnecessary and slow the film as the match approaches. The last half hour is devoted to the match’s ups and downs and provides an uplifting ending.
The Worldview
The film presents a strong moral worldview with strong pro-capitalist implications. It promotes self-control, resisting anger, putting emotions into work and relationships, and eventually setting differences aside so that enemies can become friends. At the same time, it mixes those themes with some lawless pagan behavior.
Its central moral insight is that powerful emotions do not have to control a person. The film values discipline, perseverance, and the possibility of reconciliation between rivals. Its worldview is strongest when it shows people learning to direct their anger and pressure toward constructive purposes, though its adult partying and pagan elements do not align cleanly with a biblical view of holiness.
Scripture likewise calls believers to self-control and peace: “Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city” (Proverbs 16:32).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Strong moral worldview with strong pro-capitalist implications promotes the idea of self-control and not letting your anger get the best of you, putting your emotions into your work and those around you, and being able eventually to set aside your differences with others to become friendly or even fast friends, mixed with some lawless pagan behavior
Foul Language
54 obscenities (mostly “f” words, about 40), one GD and one light profanity, plus player is nervous before a tennis match and gets sick into a toilet
Violence
Teenager gets upset at coach and goes into woods where he angrily flings pieces of wood at trees, athletes get angry on tennis courts, one throws a tennis racquet to the ground
Sex
Brief sex talk at a club about a woman’s breasts, male athletes appear to have female groupies there, one protagonist has a relationship with his fiancée
Nudity
One quick shot of upper female nudity at a notorious nightclub in the 1970s, images of upper male nudity and an image of rear male nudity when athlete has a stress/panic attack in the shower
Alcohol Use
Some alcohol use, and side character appears to be drunk in one scene (two scenes of people drinking at two different clubs)
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
Woman smokes in several scenes, but no drugs;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Two athletes under pressure are sometimes rude to others and prickly with their friends.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Both athletes struggle with anger and pressure. What helps you respond wisely when strong emotions rise?
James 1:19–20 · Proverbs 16:32The film values putting emotions into work and relationships. How can discipline help turn frustration toward something constructive?
Colossians 3:23 · Proverbs 14:23Borg and McEnroe’s rivalry eventually makes room for friendship. When should you seek peace with someone who disagrees with you?
Romans 12:18 · Ephesians 4:32What does it mean to win with humility and lose without bitterness?
Philippians 2:3–4 · 1 Corinthians 10:31The Final Word
BORG VS. MCENROE is a beautifully acted, riveting sports drama with an uplifting view of discipline, pressure, and friendship. Its frequent strong language and adult content make it unsuitable for children and young teens. For discerning adults, it is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For family viewing, start with.
