Parents' Guide to

Battle of the Sexes

By Betsy Bozdech, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Moving dramedy serves up sexism, sexuality; lots of smoking.

Movie PG-13 2017 121 minutes
Battle of the Sexes Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 15+

Based on 18 parent reviews

Bri C.
Bri C. Adult
January 21, 2018
age 13+

Really shows the era

This movie is fine for kids and parents to watch together! The sex scene is implied at most, it is not shown though. Those reviewers went into this knowing who Billie Jean King was and her sexuality. It's not shoved down your throat but it is apart of who she is so you should have expected to see depictions of who she was interested in and how she felt emotionally. This is great to show kids about how times were back then and how they differ now. Also once again, movies/tv do not make your children gay, if they are then that has always been the case and if they aren't, watching two people of the same sex kiss won't make them gay and who cares anyway.
beebeebreast
beebeebreast Adult
August 4, 2019
age 15+

Potty humor and sex reffernce

I really loved this sexy humor movie. Be warn, too, a-lot of language. Such as Fuck-Goddamn,etc. A sex reffernce of inspecting 'it' meaning her butt.
See all 18 parent reviews

What's the Story?

It's 1973, and women's tennis superstar Billie Jean King (Emma Stone) is infuriated when she finds out that an upcoming tournament will offer the men's winner eight times as much as the women's champ. Disgusted by arguments such as "men are more exciting to watch" and "it's just biology," she and friend Gladys Heldman (Sarah Silverman) decide to set up their own tournament/tour -- and the Women's Tennis Association is born. A rough start gets smoother when the team lands a major sponsor (Virginia Slims), but the married King's internal turmoil grows as she acknowledges and eventually gives in to her powerful attraction to free-spirited hairstylist Marilyn (Andrea Riseborough). Meanwhile, former men's tennis star Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell) -- stifled by the quiet, domestic life he shares with rich wife Priscilla (Elisabeth Shue) -- comes up with the perfect idea to get himself back in the public eye: a big, publicized tennis match between him and King. She doesn't take the bait at first, but eventually King can't deny that it's her destiny to participate in the BATTLE OF THE SEXES.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (18 ):
Kids say (11 ):

Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris' thoughtful dramedy is really more about King's personal journey than it is the big match between King and Riggs -- and that's a good thing. She has to do a fair bit of soul-searching before she's really ready to put it all on the line, and her struggles make her even more sympathetic. As played by Stone, King's softer, more vulnerable moments, especially the ones with Marilyn (Riseborough), help make her a real, relatable person -- not "just" a legendary athlete. Carell's Riggs, meanwhile, is both funny and sad; it's difficult not to chuckle at his wild schemes and antics, but it's clear that he pursues them because he can't find any other source of joy and excitement in his life. (That said, you may be hard-pressed to hold on to any kind feelings toward him once he starts gleefully spewing extreme male-chauvinist rhetoric.)

As for the infamous match itself, let's just say that it's always a good sign when a movie based on real-life events with a widely known outcome can build genuinely suspenseful "how will it turn out?" tension at critical junctures (see: Apollo 13). Even non-tennis fans will be caught up in the serves and rallies. And while you can't help wishing that the issues King was fighting for -- equal pay and respect for women -- were as much a thing of the past as all of the movie's '70s cars, clothes, and props (airport TVs!), the fact that they're still timely makes Battle of the Sexes all the more relevant and compelling.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Battle of the Sexes' messages. What is it saying about gender roles and the way that men and women are treated? Was the situation in the '70s a lot different than it is today? Why or why not?

  • How do the characters demonstrate perseverance? Why is that an important character strength? How does Bobby's approach to preparing for the match differ from Billie Jean's? How does that work out?

  • Why do you think Billie Jean was reluctant to share her feelings for Marilyn publicly? Do you think someone in her position would face the same challenges today? Why or why not?

  • How does the movie portray cigarettes and smoking? Is smoking glamorized? Are there consequences? Why does that matter?

  • How accurate do you think the movie is to the way things really happened? Why might filmmakers choose to alter the facts in movies based on real life?

Movie Details

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