The Queen’s Gambit introduced an entire generation to the world of chess, but Netflix’s new documentary Queen of Chess is arguably even better. When it released in 2020, The Queen’s Gambit instantly became one of the most successful Netflix miniseries of all time. Anya Taylor-Joy’s performance as chess prodigy Elizabeth “Beth” Harmon was captivating, unsurprisingly earning the actress numerous awards.
Yet, bingeing The Queen’s Gambit was far more impactful than many realize. The miniseries single-handedly attracted hordes of new chess players, spectators, and bona fide superfans. Furthermore, the meticulous mid-century costuming had a ripple effect within the fashion industry, cementing The Queen’s Gambit as a cultural touchstone. Nonetheless, chess has countless real stories worth telling, including 2026’s Queen of Chess.
Queen Of Chess Follows The Life & Career Of Grandmaster Judit Polgár
Polgár Is Widely Recognized As A Trailblazer Of Her Industry
Although critical response to Queen of Chess has been mixed, there’s no denying that its subject, Hungarian grandmaster Judit Polgár, is simply miraculous. Through a seamless collage of archival footage and present-day interviews, Queen of Chess chronicles Polgár’s rocky rise to fame, the immense pressure on her to succeed, and the endless obstacles of navigating a male-dominated sport.
Regardless, Polgár wasn’t a natural-born prodigy. Rather, her father used her as a human test subject to prove his hypothesis that genius is a construct. Nevertheless, Polgár’s training yielded sensational results, with Judit becoming a record-breaking grandmaster at the mere age of 15. After decades of giving her blood, sweat, and tears to the sport, Polgár officially retired in 2014.
Queen Of Chess & The Queen’s Gambit’s Similarities Go Beyond Chess
The Boundary-Breaking Grandmaster Bears A Striking Resemblance To A Fictional Icon
Judit Polgár’s trials against the sport’s rampant sexism, paired with her unusual upbringing, make her analogous to The Queen’s Gambit‘s Beth Harmon, the fictional grandmaster that stole hearts worldwide. Just like Polgár, the closest person Beth had to a father figure instilled in her a devotion to chess, which, over the years, grew into an obsession.
For both Beth Harmon and Judit Polgár, however, chess was far more than a game. During Polgár’s career, her results informed the world’s opinion of Hungary and, more importantly, women in chess. Similarly, Beth tied her very identity to her chess career, with her feud with Soviet champion Vasily Borgov even mirroring Polgár’s extensive rivalry with Garry Kasparov.
Is Queen Of Chess Better Than The Queen’s Gambit?
Both Are Stories Worth Telling
Both Queen of Chess and The Queen’s Gambit are vivid stories about chess that deserve widespread acclaim, but they may appeal to different primary demographics. At its most basic level, The Queen’s Gambit is a well-crafted miniseries with stunning cinematography, a stirring soundtrack, and poignant thematic subtext. Queen of Chess is undeniably interesting, but its documentary format may not compare.
Even still, fans of the sport will likely appreciate Queen of Chess more for its true-to-life rumination on both Polgár’s career and the highs and lows of chess as a microcosm of society. Much like Beth Harmon, Judit Polgár had to work ten times harder than her male counterparts— but also, like Beth, Polgár’s indomitable legacy was forged in victory.
- Release Date
-
February 6, 2026
- Runtime
-
93 Minutes
- Director
-
Rory Kennedy
Cast
