Sundance 2026: Billie Jean King vs the World in ‘Give Me the Ball!’ Doc
by Alex Billington January 28, 2026
How does somebody really change the world? That is how. This exceptional story explains every thing. One of the vital rousing and thrilling documentaries enjoying on the 2026 Sundance Movie Competition is known as Give Me the Ball! – a biopic profile of the life and achievements of 1 Billie Jean King. Everybody is aware of who she is already as a result of she’s already world well-known and has already been the topic of many different docs and flicks – together with the Battle of the Sexes film (from 2017) by which Emma Stone starred as Billie Jean King. This model new doc movie, produced by ESPN and 30 for 30, is the definitive life story of this tennis maven & feminist celebrity and the way she really did change the world by conquering the tennis courtroom. I used to be fortunate to be in attendance on the world premiere of Give Me the Ball! at Sundance – it was an unforgettable expertise, particularly as a result of Billie herself was there to hitch the Q&A after. She’s now 82 years outdated but she hit some tennis balls means out into the viewers – a formidable feat within the big Eccles Theatre at Sundance.
Give Me the Ball! is co-directed by the proficient doc filmmakers Liz Garbus (additionally director of Bobby Fischer Towards the World, Love Marilyn, What Occurred Miss Simone?, Changing into Cousteau, and plenty of others) and Elizabeth Wolff (making her function directorial debut after directing on “I am going to Be Gone within the Darkish”). The title comes immediately from an interview phase early within the movie the place Billie Jean King is describing her preliminary curiosity in sports activities saying that each one she wished to do was play any sport involving balls: she exclaims to only “give me the ball!” This fascinating, energetic, upbeat, and massively inspiring documentary options an amusing modern-day Billie Jean King interview that they revisit all through your complete movie. Together with an infinite quantity of archival footage, outdated images, TV footage, appearances galore, and different interviews together with her mates, colleagues, and varied tennis champions. The narrative construction is considerably primary in that it takes us by means of her life story from begin to end; specializing in the yr 1973 when the long-lasting “Battles of the Sexes” occasion came about, and past, when she got here out of the closet then married her companion Ilana Kloss.
Despite the fact that this film follows the usual linear biopic doc move, Billie Jean King herself is something however customary. And that is what makes this movie so superior. Listening to her inform her personal story from begin to end, seeing all the unimaginable footage over many years, and most significantly, listening to & seeing how her want to vary the world and evolve society actually did occur is awfully shifting. From an early age, Billie’s purpose was to combat for girls’s liberation and equality. And he or she knew it might take years of laborious work and that her accomplishments on & off the tennis courtroom had been meant to assist future generations, not solely her & her mates on the time. This beautiful movie really takes the time and to indicate how this occurred and make all of the connections. It is not only a story about Billie’s life – it is also a narrative about how somebody can really affect society. It spends period of time with Billie discussing what was really vital, together with sponsorship offers, ultimatums, and daring steps ahead in solidarity that may set a precedent for girls in sports activities and equal pay & equity for girls in sports activities. Then got here her battle with the asshole Bobby Riggs, which solidified all that she was working in direction of turning it right into a historic second for girls in every single place.
What’s so inspiring and gratifying about watching this doc is that Billie Jean King remains to be as energetic and motivated as ever. In her modern interview within the movie, she speaks with as a lot confidence and fervor as she did when she was conquering the tennis courts within the Nineteen Sixties & Nineteen Seventies. She understands what it really takes to essentially make optimistic distinction on this planet and he or she makes everybody who meets her really feel as if they’ll do it, too. That comes throughout vividly on this doc. The viewers at Sundance was so wrapped up in it that they had been breaking out into full-on cheers throughout each main victorious second in her life. And that proper there’s the actual, wonderful, invigorating energy of nice documentary filmmaking. And likewise the facility of Billie Jean King and her gained’t-take-no-for-answer drive to make the world higher. Even when she was exhausted, even on the worst occasions of her life, she picked up her tennis racket and went on the market to indicate individuals what’s attainable once you imagine in your self and imagine in change. There’s nothing extra inspiring than that. They need to be displaying this movie to each younger technology rising up, educating them about this American icon.
Alex’s Sundance 2026 Score: 9 out of 10Comply with Alex on Twitter – @firstshowing / Or Letterboxd – @firstshowing
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