Challengers set the internet aflame with its sexy love triangle drama. As Mashable Tech Reporter Elena Cavender noted, “It’s got everything you want in a movie: a steamy love triangle between incredibly good-looking people (West Side Story‘s Mike Faist, La Chimera‘s Josh O’Connor, and Dune‘s Zendaya), thrilling tennis sequences, and an electrifying score from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.” What’s not to love?
The film hit theaters at the end of April and it’s still making headlines. The movie initially made its streaming debut on MGM+, but as of Sept. 19, it’s heading to Prime Video. You can finally see what director Luca Guadagnino is serving up in Challengers and discover whether you’re Team Art, Team Patrick, or Team Tashi. Here’s everything you need to know about how to watch Challengers at home.
What is Challengers about?
Zendaya stars as a teenage tennis star on the rise, Tashi Duncan, who has what it takes to turn pro until an injury pitches her to the sidelines. Best friends and tennis players Art Donaldson (Mike Faist) and Patrick Zweig (Josh O’Connor) are both in love with Tashi. She dates one, then marries the other, but who she’ll end up with remains an ongoing question throughout the film. The love triangle plays out in and around the tennis court, with the audience getting smacked back and forth like a ball across a net.
Here’s the official trailer:
Is Challengers worth watching?
“While it may be too much for some audiences to handle, there’s no doubt Challengers is hands down one of the best and sexiest movies of the year,” declares Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko. And she’s not alone, as the film currently holds an 89% critic rating at Rotten Tomatoes.
It earned 15 million at the box office on its opening weekend and has gone on to earn about $47 million domestically, meaning it’s still going strong a month later.
While many of the film’s WTF moments are certainly a hit on social media, the film is more than just a collection of memes. As Puchko noted, “Challengers is not just a sexy love story or a suspenseful sports movie. Imbued with adrenaline in every frame, note, and beat, it is a breathtaking cinematic experience that thrusts you into the center of this love triangle, bounces you about like a ball that lives for the racket’s smack, and leaves you breathless with a finale that is indulgent yet deeply satisfying.”
Read our full review of Challengers.
How to watch Challengers at home
We’re pretty sure the entire internet has seen this movie still by now.
Credit: MGM Amazon Studios
Just a month after its theatrical debut, Challengers officially made its video-on-demand debut on sites like Prime Video and Fandango at Home (Vudu). You can rent it from any of the retailers below for 30 days. Just remember: once you start watching a rental, you’ll only have 48 hours to finish before you lose access. You’re also able to purchase the film from the same retailers and add it to your digital library.
As of May 17, you can rent the film at the following retailers:
Is Challengers streaming?
Challengers is an Amazon MGM Studios film, so originally we thought it would make its streaming debut on Prime Video. Instead, the film actually kicked off its streaming life on MGM+ in July. As of Sept. 19, though, Challengers will finally be available to stream on Prime Video. We’re uncertain if the film will leave MGM+ altogether or will live on both platforms, so we’ve included the best deals below for both.
Can I get MGM+ for free?
Yes! If you’re new to MGM+, you can sign up for the streaming service for free for a week through MGM+ directly or as an add-on via Prime Video. If you’re a Prime member and want to condense your streaming services (and future payments) to one place, the add-on is a great option.
Best MGM+ streaming deals
Save $24.89: MGM+ annual subscription
As a relatively unknown streaming service compared to Prime Video or Netflix, MGM+ isn’t exactly brimming with great deal options. All hope isn’t lost, though. If you want to score the streamer for a deal, your best option is to sign up for the annual subscription versus the monthly subscription. You can save 30% by paying for a year up front — more savings than annual subscriptions at most other streamers.
Mashable Deals
Save $1.99/month: Sign up for MGM+ via Sling TV
Another option to save some money is to sign up for MGM+ through Sling TV. No need to pay for a base plan of Sling — you can get access to all of the MGM+ content for only $5 per month if you sign up through Sling. If you do want to sign up for a base package through Sling (Orange or Blue), you can even score a free month of MGM+.
Can I get Prime Video for free?
If you’ve never been a Prime member before, or you’re returning after some time away, Amazon offers a free 30-day trial to test things out. With that trial, you’ll have full access to the Prime perks — including Prime Video. After your trial, you’ll be charged the full price for a Prime membership, which is currently $14.99 per month. So, be sure to cancel before the month is up if you wish to avoid charges.
The best Prime Video streaming deals
Save $6/month: Prime Video only
If you don’t want or need all of the extra Prime member perks, you can simply subscribe to Prime Video as a standalone service instead for just $8.99 per month. That’s $6 per month cheaper than a full Prime membership. Of course, Amazon makes it unnecessarily complicated to sign up for Prime Video alone. When you go to sign up for a subscription, you’ll have to select the option to “see more plans” or “change plans” and navigate to the option for Prime Video on its own. Like a Prime membership, you can still cancel whenever you want with no strings attached.
Save 22%: Amazon Prime annual membership
Another way to save would be to sign up for an annual Prime membership, as opposed to a monthly one. You’ll enjoy all of the perks of being a Prime member, including access to Prime Video, for an entire year. And instead of paying the $14.99 monthly fee, you’ll pay $139 up front, which works out to about $11.59 per month. That ends up saving you about 22% total.
Save 50%: Prime for Young Adults
Amazon’s Prime Student subscription has now evolved into Prime for Young Adults. Whether or not you’re a college student, you can score a free six-month trial to Prime, then pay just $7.49 per month if you’re between the ages of 18 and 24. That’s 50% in savings. You’ll just have to verify your age or student status, but after that, the world of Prime is yours — including Prime Video.