How to Get the Sound of Challengers
There’s no shortage of splashy topics to talk about when it comes to tennis drama Challengers. Sexy young stars? Check. Buzzy, critically acclaimed director? Double check. A tease for a spicy threesome in the trailer? Triple check. That’s 3-love.
In a movie chock full of discussion fodder, the techno-heavy score stands out. That’s not too surprising, since it comes from prolific composing duo Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. Also, famous members of Nine Inch Nails, Reznor and Ross won an Academy Award for their work on The Social Network (2010), and scored Challengers director Luca Guadigno’s previous movie, Bones & All (2022).
Full of 80s synth wave elements and pounding electro bass beats, the Challengers score sounds like the final record the hottest club in Berlin would be spinning during the apocalypse. Its propulsive beats slickly guide the audience through the hyper-competitive world of professional tennis.
Universal Production Music licenses high-quality music for media projects of all kinds, keeping an eye on cultural trends. The Challengers score manages to keep the fun intensity of a hyper-techno action movie, while also keeping the drama grounded and human. Like in most storytelling, it’s a delicate balance.
Learn more about the Challengers soundtrack and find a similar sound for your next project with Universal Production Music’s licensing solutions.
Dancing in the Dark
Tennis, with its up-close-and-personal volleys and intense personalities, is an intimate sport, likened to a dance by purists and pros. Challengers is interested in tennis, but it’s more interested in the psychosexual games playing out between main characters Tashi (Zendaya), Art (Mike Faist) and Patrick (Josh O’Connor). After the three meet – and flirt – as young tennis prodigies, their interconnected relationships play out over the years amid a backdrop of euphoric wins and crushing losses on and off the court.
The movie centers on a consequential match between Art and Patrick that will not only determine their tennis legacies, but also their worth in world-weary coach Tashi’s eyes. Reznor and Ross’s dance floor score captures both edges of the match-up: raging competitiveness and the intimate dance between two people with a complicated emotional history.
Dance music works particularly well with the luxurious visuals of professional tennis, but if EDM and electro dance hits don’t suit your project’s aesthetic, listen to our different sports themed playlists to fuel your characters’ fire.
A Soundtrack to Reflect Your Characters’ Passion and Drive
Some critics have approvingly called the Challengers soundscape “unbearably stressful,” and how else to score such an intense sport? The pulsating dance music comes to a stop briefly for more dramatic scenes, but that doesn’t mean the score slows down. Discover the perfect music for your dramatic scenes with our extensive library.
Sports stories are about passion and drive. The nonlinear narrative of Challengers explores deep themes of what motivates a player in their craft and in life. Tashi, Patrick, and Art are all working on their own personal comeback of sorts as Reznor and Ross’s booming beats roar across the climax of the film. Listen to our comeback sports playlist filled with compelling tracks to find sounds to reveal the heart of your passion-driven characters.