Carlsen, So, Niemann Take Center Stage As 'Grandmasters' Hits U.S. Theaters

Grandmasters, the documentary offering an inside look at GMs Magnus Carlsen, Wesley So, Hans Niemann, and the struggle over chess's future, has reached movie theaters across the United States. The film screened at 92 AMC locations on October 11 and 14 with a sold-out New York premiere. The theatrical debut and local chess events elicited positive reactions from critics and viewers.

Our beloved game has gotten another boost, and this time it's on the big screen. After a packed Tribeca Festival premiere on June 7, the documentary is now reaching more fans through an expanding theatrical run.

Grandmasters centers on German entrepreneur Jan Henric Buettner's effort to reshape elite chess alongside Carlsen through Freestyle Chess. The cameras follow the ambitions, negotiations, and clashes with FIDE, while also offering an intimate look at the lives of the top players themselves.

So's family life and Niemann's efforts to build his career also offer other perspectives on a world usually seen through tournament broadcasts and results.

Directed by Liza Mandelup and produced by Boardwalk Pictures, the studio behind Welcome to Wrexham, Cheer, and Chef's Table, Grandmasters was originally made as a three-part series. The first episode premiered at the Tribeca Festival in June, but the theatrical version brings all three chapters together in a 170-minute film.

A centerpiece of the launch was the sold-out October 11 screening at AMC Empire 25 in Times Square, New York. After the screening, Mandelup joined Chess.com CCO IM Danny Rensch and IM Levy Rozman, known to millions as GothamChess, for a live audience Q&A.

Mandelup said she kept thinking about Succession while making the documentary. She had been absorbed by the show even though she knew little about the world it depicted, and wanted to create a similar experience for viewers of Grandmasters: "How do you get locked in but also not need to know everything about chess?"

Rozman noted how the players appeal beyond their games. "The top of chess is such a fascinating place," he said, describing its leading players as "odd geniuses." He pointed to their different hobbies, languages, and lives around the world as a source of stories beyond the board.

At its New York screening, Rensch noted how chess needs more support for telling the stories behind the game and bringing its personalities to a wider audience. "These characters are worth your follow and worth your interest," he said.

These characters are worth your follow and worth your interest.
-Daniel Rensch

Rensch pointed to the potential for players such as So and GM Fabiano Caruana to connect with audiences through more than their moves. "Fans want to show up and hear Wesley So just like they are hearing Levy Rozman right now. They wanna show up and hear Fabi."

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The film has drawn enthusiastic and positive reactions from some early viewers. Out of 15 audience reviews on the movie review site RottenTomatoes, nine gave it 5/5 stars. Reviewer Nicole praised its "Terrific suspense, intriguing characters, fabulous musical score!" Another viewer called it "Very informative and lots of fun."

In a review on Letterboxd, user "Collin" wrote: "This captured the full spectrum of people in the world of chess so beautifully."

The release also gave several local chess clubs a chance to meet over the board before heading to the movies.

Alongside the New York sellout, these gatherings show how a chess documentary can bring people together. Fans had an opportunity to watch the game's popular figures on screen and make an evening of chess with their own communities.

Ahead of the release, Mandelup told Chess.com's State of Chess show: "I love the challenge of people thinking the chess world is boring."

Grandmasters is currently showing exclusively at AMC theaters in the United States, but additional locations are set to join the run. Visit the official website for the latest theaters and showtimes, and stay tuned to Chess.com for a full announcement on streaming availability.