Disney+ Highlights Zendaya’s ‘Challengers’ as Must-Watch Movie of 2024

If you missed Zendaya at her most captivating, Disney+ is ensuring you don’t overlook it again. The official Disney+ account shared a teaser for ‘Challengers’ on May 3, captioning it “The drama is unmatched, on and off the court,” reminding bundle subscribers that the film is available to stream via Hulu on Disney+.

Directed by Luca Guadagnino, ‘Challengers’ features Zendaya as Tashi Duncan, a former tennis prodigy turned coach who unapologetically navigates her life both on and off the court. Married to a champion on a losing streak, portrayed by Mike Faist, Tashi’s strategy for her husband’s comeback takes an unexpected twist when he faces off against Patrick, his former best friend and Tashi’s ex-boyfriend, played by Josh O’Connor.

To prepare for their roles, Zendaya, Faist, and O’Connor trained for three months with pro-tennis coach Brad Gilbert. Faist reportedly gained 30 pounds for the film, consuming between 8,000 to 10,000 calories daily, according to Gilbert. Their commitment paid off, as the performances garnered widespread critical acclaim.

‘Challengers’ received strong reviews, achieving a Certified Fresh score of 88 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. The film earned four nominations at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards, including Best Actress in a Motion Picture for Zendaya, and ultimately won Best Original Score for Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.

Disney+’s timing is strategic. Zendaya is set to lead five major projects releasing in 2026, including ‘The Drama’ alongside Robert Pattinson, ‘Euphoria’ Season 3, which has already premiered, Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey,’ ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day,’ and ‘Dune: Part Three.’ With Zendaya at the forefront of the cultural conversation, the streamer is astutely bringing attention back to the film that showcased her ability to carry a sophisticated love story.

Season 3 of ‘Euphoria’ debuted on April 12, with Zendaya reprising her Emmy-winning role as Rue Bennett. She will also portray the goddess Athena in Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey,’ arriving on July 17, alongside Matt Damon and Anne Hathaway. Zendaya has humorously mentioned needing to “go into hiding for just a little bit” after all her projects are released this year.

For those who watched ‘Challengers’ upon its initial release and wish to revisit Zendaya at her most compelling, or for newcomers catching it for the first time via the Disney+ bundle, now is the perfect time. If you’ve seen it, feel free to share your thoughts on the film’s ending in the comments.