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7.9/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 7.9/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Wimbledon remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Look, if you like lazy afternoons and the sound of a ball hitting a racket, then yeah, obviously you should watch this. It is the ultimate 'vibe' broadcast.
If you hate sports or the color green, you will probably be bored out of your mind within five minutes. There is no plot, unless you count someone's backhand failing them in the third set as a plot twist.
I watched this for three hours straight yesterday and honestly? It’s better than most 'prestige' TV shows right now. 🎾
The first thing you notice isn't the players, it's the quiet. That weird, heavy silence before a serve that makes you hold your breath for no reason.
Then John McEnroe starts talking. He sounds like your uncle who has seen everything and isn't impressed by anything anymore, but he still loves the game.
His voice is like a gravelly old blanket. Sometimes he goes off on a tangent about how players today have it too easy, and it’s just great. 🎙️
The BBC does this thing where they let the ambient noise breathe. You hear the pigeons, the squeak of the shoes, and that very specific thwack of the ball.
There was this one moment where Iga Swiatek just stared at her racket for like a full minute after a bad shot. It wasn't even 'dramatic' in a movie way, she just looked like she was trying to use telekinesis on the strings.
And Nicolás Jarry has this serve that looks like it should be illegal. He’s so tall it feels like he’s just dropping the ball into the court from a skyscraper.
I also noticed Sonay Kartal during a break. She just looked so tired, but in a way that made me want to get off my couch and do a lap around the block. I didn't, but the thought was there.
The camera work is weirdly personal too. They zoom in on the grass stains on people's knees. Why? I don't know, but I like it. It makes it feel real.
The pacing of a tennis match is wildly inconsistent. It’s like watching The Man Who Stood Still but with more sweating.
One minute it's fast and blurry, the next it's just two people sitting on chairs eating bananas in total silence. 🍌
There was a shot of a ball girl trying to catch a stray ball that took forever. She missed it twice. The crowd didn't even laugh, they just waited. That kind of awkward tension is something you can't script.
It reminds me of the slow parts in Nobody, where you're just waiting for the explosion, except here the explosion is just a really fast volley at the net.
I found myself rooting for Rinky Hijikata just because his name is fun to say. That's how I choose my favorites. Don't judge me.
Probably. It goes on for hours. But that’s the point. It’s not something you sit down to 'finish'. It’s something that happens to your living room.
The rain delays are the best/worst part. Everything stops, the covers come out, and then you just get to watch Clara Tauson or whoever wait in a hallway. It’s strangely hypnotic.
It makes you realize how much of life is just... waiting for things to happen. ☔
The writers, Eddie Butler and Barry Flatman, they don't really 'write' this, they just curate the chaos. It feels less like a broadcast and more like a documentary that hasn't been edited yet.
I think I enjoyed watching the crowd almost as much as the tennis. There was a guy in a very bright hat who looked like he was asleep for three sets. Iconic.
Wimbledon doesn't try to be cool. It’s old-fashioned and a bit stiff, but that’s why it works. It’s the opposite of a superhero movie. Nothing is exploding, but everything feels important.
Go watch it if you want to feel calm but also slightly stressed about a yellow ball hitting a white line. It's a good way to spend a Tuesday.
One last thing: the way the light changes on the court as the sun goes down is actually pretty. I won't say it's cinematic because that's a cliché, but it looks nice on a big TV.
IMDb 5.5
1935
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