TOP 21 NOTABLE MOVIES WHERE CHESS WAS PLAYED
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TOP 21 NOTABLE MOVIES WHERE CHESS WAS PLAYED

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Here’s a list of Top 21 notable movies where chess is played ranked by IMDb ratings to reflect their overall quality and popularity. These films feature chess either as a central theme or through significant scenes, appealing to both chess enthusiasts and general audiences.

This selection includes iconic films like The Shawshank Redemption, known for its chess-playing scenes, and Searching for Bobby Fischer, which dives deep into the world of competitive chess. Each movie offers a unique take on the game, from strategic battles to personal dramas, ensuring a broad appeal.

Below is the list, ordered by IMDb ratings, showcasing the diversity of chess portrayals in cinema:

  1. The Shawshank Redemption (1994) - IMDb: 9.3
    Features Andy Dufresne teaching chess and carving pieces, symbolizing hope and resilience in prison. Highly rated, chess as a subplot, resonates with themes of hope.https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111161/goofs/?item=gf0907970&ref_=ext_shr_lnk
  2. Queens Gambit (2020) - IMDb 8.5 
    Set during the Cold War era, orphaned chess prodigy Beth Harmon struggles with addiction in a quest to become the greatest chess player in the world. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10048342/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk 
    IMDb
  3. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) - IMDb: 8.3
    Includes a chess game between astronaut Frank Poole and AI HAL 9000, highlighting technology's role. Iconic sci-fi chess scene adds to tech narrative. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062622/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
  4. The Seventh Seal (1957) - IMDb: 8.1
    Famous for the knight’s chess game against Death, a metaphor for life’s struggles, rated highly for its depth. Critically acclaimed, chess central to plot, historical significance. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050976/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk 
    IMDb
  5. Blade Runner (1982) - IMDb: 8.1
    Shows a chess game between Tyrell and Sebastian, adding to the film’s exploration of artificial intelligence. Sci-fi classic, chess as a plot device. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083658/
  6. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001) - IMDb: 7.9
    Includes a thrilling wizard chess game, memorable for its magical stakes and visual impact. Popular family film, chess scene popular for fans. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0241527/ 
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  7. From Russia With Love (1963) - IMDb: 7.5
    Features a chess tournament scene with Kronsteen, blending espionage with strategic gameplay. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057076/ 
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  8. Queen of Katwe (2016) - IMDb 7.4
    Living in the slum of Katwe in Kampala, Uganda, is a constant struggle for 10-year-old Phiona and her family. Her world changes one day when she meets Robert Katende, a missionary who teaches children how to play chess. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4341582/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk 
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  9. The Dark Horse (2014) - IMDb 7.4
    A brilliant but troubled New Zealand chess champion finds purpose by teaching underprivileged children about the rules of chess and life. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2192016/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk 
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  10. Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993) - IMDb: 7.3
    Centers on a young chess prodigy, offering an intimate look at the competitive chess world. Chess focused, inspired scholastic boom, well regarded by players. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108065/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk 
    IMDb
  11. Brooklyn Castle (2012) - IMDb 7.2
    Amidst financial crises and unprecedented public school budget cuts, Brooklyn Castle takes an intimate look at the challenges and triumphs facing members of a junior high school's champion chess team. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1800266/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk 
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  12. Magnus (2016) - IMDb 7.1
    Magnus Carlsen, Norwegian chess prodigy, becomes a grandmaster at age 13 and world champion in 2013. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5471480/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk 
    IMDb
  13. The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) - IMDb: 7.0
    Known for a seductive chess game between Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway, adding tension to the plot. Cult classic, chess as a tension building element. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0155267/ 
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  14. Life of A King (2013) - IMDb 6.9
    Ex-felon, Eugene Brown, establishes a Chess Club for inner city teenagers in Washington, D.C. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2708254/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk 
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  15. Chess Story; Schachnovelle (2021) - IMDb 6.8
    To withstand the psychological torture of the Gestapo, a lawyer imprisoned by the Nazis finds refuge in the world of chess. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12058584/ 
    IMDb
  16. Game Over: Kasparov and the Machine (2003) - IMDb 6.7 
    A documentary about Kasparov playing the IBM Supercomputer Deep Blue. In 1997, chess champion Garry Kasparov goes head-to-head against IBM's computer, Deep Blue, and accuses IBM of cheating its way to victory. Interviews with Kasparov, his manager and members of the Deep Blue team illuminate the controversy. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0379296/ 
    IMDb
  17. Knights of the South Bronx (2005) - IMDb 6.7 
    A business man decides that he wants to teach school in the inner city and chooses a tough school in the South Bronx. He teaches the children how to play the game of chess, and along the way they learn a lot about life. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0471768/plotsummary/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk 
    IMDb
  18. The Luzhin Defense (2000) - IMDb 6.6
    Focuses on a troubled chess champion, exploring the psychological toll of the game. Niche appeal, chess central to character study https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0211492/ 
    IMDb
  19. Critical Thinking (2020) - IMDb 6.5 
    A Cuban-American teacher named Mario Martinez leads the Miami Jackson High School chess team to win their first-ever national championship title. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7870102/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk 
    IMDb
  20. Pawn Sacrifice (2014) - IMDb 6.4
    Depicts Bobby Fischer’s life and his famous match against Spassky, capturing Cold War tensions. Biographical, chess as main narrative, mixed critical reception https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1596345/ 
    IMDb
  21. The ChessPlayer (2017) - IMDb 6.3 
    Leaping from Spain's civil war to German occupied France, this period drama follows a chess master who is falsely accused of being a spy and sent to an SS prison in Paris. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5732530/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk 
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