Project Detail

Battle of the Sexes

Synopsis

In the wake of the sexual revolution and the rise of the women’s movement, the 1973 tennis match between women’s world champion Billie Jean King and ex-men’s-champ and serial hustler Bobby Riggs was billed as the 'Battle of the Sexes' and became one of the most watched televised sports events of all time, reaching 90 million viewers around the world. As the rivalry between King and Riggs kicked into high gear, off-court each was fighting more personal and complex battles. The fiercely private King was not only championing for equality, but also struggling to come to terms with her own sexuality, as her friendship with Marilyn Barnett developed. And Riggs, one of the first self-made media-age celebrities, wrestled with his gambling demons, at the expense of his family and wife Priscilla. Together, Billie and Bobby served up a cultural spectacle that resonated far beyond the tennis court, sparking discussions in bedrooms and boardrooms that continue to reverberate today.
Official Selection Toronto International Film Festival 2017 - Special Presentations - International premiere

Details

Year
2017
Type of film
Features
Running time
121 mins
Director
Valerie Faris, Jonathan Dayton
Producer
Christian Colson, Danny Boyle, Robert Graf
Editor
Pamela Martin
Screenwriter
Simon Beaufoy
Director of Photography
Linus Sandgren
Production Designer
Judy Becker
Music
Nicholas Britell
Principal cast
Emma Stone, Steve Carell, Andrea Riseborough, Sarah Silverman, Bill Pullman, Alan Cumming, Elisabeth Shue, Austin Stowell, Natalie Morales

Categories

Production Status

Production Company

UK, US coproduction

Cloud Eight Films (UK), Decibel Films (UK), Fox Searchlight (US)

Cloud Eight Films

Green Park House
15 Stratton Street
London
W1J 8LQ

Decibel Films

39 Long Acre
London
WC2E 9LG

Sales Company

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Bldg. 38, Rm. 2009
10201 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles
CA 90064
USA

Page updates

This page was last updated on 12th May 2025. Please let us know if we need to make any amendments or request edit access by clicking below.

See also

You may also be interested in other relevant projects in the database.

Tramp Tramp

Director: Philip James McGoldrick

Year: 2025

An emotionally charged sports drama following Grazyna "The Tramp" Jarzynowska, a British-Polish MMA fighter whose meteoric rise is abruptly halted by an unexpected pregnancy.

No Women No Children No Women No Children

Director: Akporé Uzoh

Year: 2025

The aftermath of a sexual assault (rape). Exploring the deep-felt consequences for all involved. At its heart an epic story of a couple's fight for the survival of their love.

Honey Don’t! Honey Don’t!

Director: Ethan Coen

Year: 2025

Honey O’Donahue, a small-town private investigator, delves into a series of strange deaths tied to a mysterious church.<br /> Official Selection Cannes Film Festival 2025 - Midnight Screenings - World premiere