Every Chess Film

There follows, a list of chess films - those where chess is integral to the film rather than simply appearing in the film. Films such as “The Thomas Crown Affair”, “2001” and “Blade Runner” don't make this list.

This is the list of Dramatic films’ titles (may include ‘based on a true story’) and my thoughts on each one I've seen. Both are in alphabetical order. Documentary films are in a separate post.

If you think I've missed any films then let me know either in the comments or as a DM ...or share thoughts and ideas at the Movie Fan's Chess Club

“Chess” (2020, India)*

“Chess Fever” (1925)

“The Chess Players” (1977)

“A Chess Sonata in 8 Movements” (1957)*

"Coldest Game" (2019)

“Computer Chess” (2013)

“Critical Thinking” (2020)

“Dangerous Moves” (1984)*

“The Dark Horse” (2014)*

“Final Move” (2006)

“A Game of Chess” (2015, NL)*

“The Grass Arena” (1991)*

"Grossmeyster" (1973)*

"Hatley High" (2003) *

“Ivory Tower” (2010, US)*

"Le Joueur d'échecs" ("The Chess Player", 1927, Fr)

“Joueuse (Queen to play)” (2009, Fr)

“El Jugador de Ajedrez” ("The Chess Player", 2017, Spain)*

“King of Chess” (1991, Taiwan)*

“Knight Moves” (1992)

"Knights of the South Bronx" (2005)

“Life of a King” (2013)

“A Little Game” (2014)*

“Long Live the Queen” (1995, NL)*

“The Luzhin Defence“ (2000)*

“O Xadrez das Cores” (2004)*

“Pawn Sacrifice” (2014)

“Queen of Katwe” (2016)

“Queen Sacrifice” (1988)*

"Searching for Bobby Fischer" (AKA "Innocent Moves") (1993)

“The Seventh Seal” (1957)

“Three Moves to Freedom” (1960)*

“The Tournament” (2015)*

“Uncovered" (1994)*

“Wazir” (2016, India)

"White Snow of Russia" (1980, USSR)

"Zatoichi And The Chess Expert" *

Below are my thoughts on those of the above I've seen:

Chess Fever (1925, Russia, Silent) At only 20 minutes long, this film should really be in the shorts section but I’m going to add it here because it includes cameos by real players including Capablanca and real footage of the Moscow 1925 chess tournament. You may know the feeling when chess takes over every aspect of your life? Then you'll be familiar with the observational humour of this film. As a bonus, its on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLuZRIY6k34  Chess Relevance 9. Positions 7. Plot 3

The Chess Players  (1977, India) Set in 1856 in the backdrop of the beginning of the Raj. It is interesting as much from an historical point of view as well as a cultural perspective.  There is a lot of chess in the story but no particular gameplay.  It also has some beautiful chess pieces. Urdu, Awadhi and English with English subtitles. Chess Relevance 7. Positions 7. Plot 5

The Coldest Game (2019, Poland) A fictional story at the height of the cold war during the Cuban Missile Crisis.  A tense spy story with chess as a major theme as a vehicle for getting information of the status of Russian missiles in Cuba. The American player is drafted in at the last minute to play against Russian grandmaster. Although fictional, the games seem realistic in their play although not easy to follow. Equally, the plot is interesting too making it a watchable film for non-chess-heads. Chess Relevance 7. Positions 8. Plot 8

 
Computer Chess (2013, US). This is such a weird film. It’s as much avant garde than it is comedy and as much about 1983’s AI computers as it is chess. It’s about a chess tournament of different computer algorithms to play each other and the winner plays a human. It’s black and white and a fly-on-the-wall view of the contending teams and the other residents of the hotel. You’ve got to be in the mood to watch this film. I’m just not sure which mood. Chess Relevance 8. Positions 6. Plot 2

Critical Thinking (2020, US). This is another true, rags to riches story from the poor Miami Jackson High School, Florida to win a national championship. Led by their inspirational teacher, they're shown there's more to life than dealing drugs. It may not be chessy enough for enthusiasts and too chessy for non-enthusiasts but the sub-plots in this film might add enough to keep it entertaining enough. Chess Relevance 8. Positions 4. Plot 6

The Dark Horse (2014, NZ) Wow. I loved this film. I'd say, if you're going to watch any of the numerous chess-gives-underprivileged-kids-a-purpose films, then make sure it's this one. Based on a true story and set in rural New Zealand in the poverty of a largely Maori neighbourhood, the film manages to deal with mental illness, gangs, violence yet still is very firmly a chess film.  Chess Relevance 8. Positions 6. Plot 9

Le Joueur d'échecs (“The Chess Player” 1927, Fr, Silent) The chess player could refer to the automaton or Boleslas, the leader of the resistance in Russian occupied Poland in 1776. With a bounty on his head his escape to Germany Boleslas is aided by an inventor who hides him inside his travelling, chess playing automaton drawn heavily from 'The Turk'. The film is epic in its length (135 mins) and delivery with lavish sets and costumes and huge battle scenes. It is a beautiful and important film if slow in places.  Chess Relevance 5. Positions 2. Plot 9

Joueuse (Queen to play) (2009, Fr) I really enjoyed this film. It's got such a French (Corsican actually) feel to it in it's setting, pace and plot and though chess is a key theme in the film there is enough going on with the characters to be engaging to non-chess fans.   Chess Relevance 8. Positions 7. Plot 6

Knight Moves (1992, US) Starring Christopher Lambert as a chess master who is implicated in a series of gruesome serial murders. Tom Skerritt is the cop who’s rightly or wrongly, out to get him. Although dated (in fashion and technology), its not a bad film as a cop/murder drama.  Chess Relevance 4. Positions 3. Plot 7

Knights of the South Bronx (2005, US) Sam from ‘Cheers’ is an inner city teacher who tries to inspire naughty kids using chess in his lessons. Based on a true, and not unfamiliar, story of chess creating a more level playing field for deprived children.  Chess Relevance 8. Positions 6. Plot 5

Life of a King (2013, US) Another true story of Inner City kids finding an alternative to drugs and crime through chess. This is probably one of the best of this true story. Cuba Gooding Jr stars as an ex-con who reconnects with his previous life using the chess skills he learnt in jail. Chess Relevance 8. Positions 5. Plot 8

 Pawn Sacrifice (2014, US) Tobey Maguire (Spiderman) stars as Bobby Fischer in a sort of biography of the era of the cold war game against Boris Spassky. Maguire is always good at playing the geek and doesn’t look dissimilar to Fischer. You’d probably be better off watching a documentary if you actually wanted the story of Bobby Fischer or the cold war/chess angle. There are plenty to choose from. However, its a very enjoyable film to watch. Chess Relevance 9. Positions 7. Plot 6

Queen of Katwe (2016, Uganda) The Queen of Katwe is Phiona, a girl from Katwe in the slums of Kampala who learns chess and ultimately raises herself and her family out of extreme poverty through winning chess tournaments. It’s a lovely film and surprisingly feel-good given the poverty of Katwe.  Chess is obviously the main theme and played throughout but the story is one of hope and resilience. Made all the more poignant because it’s true - the film is based on a 2012 book which was expanded from a magazine article by Tim Crothers. I highly recommend this film. Chess Relevance 8. Positions 7. Plot 7

 
Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993, US) (AKA Innocent Moves) True story based on the life of child prodigy, Josh Waitzkin from the viewpoint of his father. It stars Laurence Fishburne and Ben Kingsley. It’s a very exciting film to watch and really well done. Chess Relevance 8. Positions 8. Plot 7

 
The Seventh Seal Ingmar Bergman (1957, Sweden) I like Swedish films and I like chess so this one had my name on it. Its quite a good story and a famous film. Black and white and quite dated in its style but interesting idea and interesting from a history of cinema (rather than history) point of view. Its about a man who questions life and God in the age of the black death. He is visited by Death who he challenges to a game of chess to prolong or save his life. A potentially practical reason to improve ones chess! Chess Relevance 6. Positions 4. Plot 6

For documentaries please see my documentaries post.

NB: Rocky64 compiles scenes in chess films at https://www.chess.com/blog/Rocky64/top-10-greatest-chess-scenes-in-movies