Zendaya’s ‘Challengers’ Already Receiving Oscars Buzz With $6.2M Opening At Box Office

Zendaya's newest film, 'Challengers,' is already receiving Oscars buzz as it brought in $6.2M at the box office on opening day.

The film, which also stars Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist, has been one of the biggest topics in just 24 hours since its theatrical release, with all three actors delivering Oscar-worthy performances.

The tennis/love triangle storyline has captivated fans worldwide, bringing in $6.2M after its debut.

The film tells the story of Tashi Duncan (Zendaya), who tries to help her husband (Mike Faist) regain his professional tennis career. He goes up against another player (Josh O'Connor), who happens to be his former best friend and Duncan's former lover.

After the film hit theaters, many are expressing their love for 'Challengers,' hoping it will be nominated at next year's Oscars. "Hot Take: Challengers Could be a Surprise Contender at the Academy Awards Next Year," one social media user titled a Reddit thread, prompting a conversation surrounding the potential.

"Gaining buzz over time and if some of the other contenders this year don't pan out, it could possibly surprise into the awards race," the user expressed. "I'm thinking of nominations for Best Picture, Director, Original Screenplay, Actress for Zendaya, and Original Score."

Other social media users joined in, expressing their thoughts and hopes for the film's success. "Personally, I'd love it to get in for score, director, editing, and Screenplay," one individual replied.

Another said, "People have been speculating about this film's Oscar buzz since it was announced, and that's only increased in the run-up to release."

A third stated, "The score was amazing in this movie, so hopefully, it will get a nomination in that, at least. We've got to wait for this year to pan out. It depends on competition, though. I really enjoyed the movie."

Ahead of its theatrical release, Zendaya sat down with The New York Times, where she expressed, "When we talked [about the script], I was like, 'I could just make her a straight-up B-word.' That was always our line to walk, never making her feel completely cold. How do we find nuance, and how do we make her feel sensitive and fragile?"

She added, "I think she’s falling apart, and you’re watching a woman scramble to pull her life together, and keep up the facade and hold all the pain in. The challenge with a character is not necessarily justifying their actions, but always making them feel human enough to empathize with their decisions."

Faist then chimed in, "And then all of us have to let it go, and then it becomes this co-creation with the audience. They’re going to run with it, and there’s nothing we can do except for our work and our prep. Hopefully, it is engaging enough for them to have those colors for themselves."

Zendaya has proven to be a talented actress, but could she become a director in the future?

"I love being on set because it is not just creatively stimulating, but it’s one of the few places where I feel free," Zendaya told the outlet. "Whatever that thing in my brain is where it’s overly critical and self-conscious, that is the one place where I can be spontaneous and exist for the purpose of just creating something with other people and feel no guilt about it. But I’m not at the place where I’m quite confident enough to step into directing."

After its release, many movie reviewers shared their thoughts on 'Challengers,' including Manohla Dargishe of the New York Times.

"All three leads in 'Challengers' are very appealing, and each brings emotional and psychological nuance to the story, whatever the characters’ current configuration," she said of Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O'Connor. "They’re also just fun to look at, and part of the pleasure of this movie is watching pretty people in states of undress restlessly circling one another, muscles tensed and desiring gazes ricocheting."

She added, "With the cinematographer Sayombhu Mukdeeprom, he shows them off beautifully, caressing them in light so that they look lit from within. Even during the fantastically staged and shot — and very sweaty — New Rochelle match, they glow."

'Challengers' is playing in theaters now.