The marketing of Challengers has largely revolved around two things: tennis and Zendaya having a threesome with ‘her little white boys’, as she puts it.
The trailer centred around this scene in large parts – setting up many fans to expect it to be an integral part of the film.
Don’t remember? Give yourself a reminder and rewatch the trailer:
So, the question becomes, does it live up to expectations? Is it crazier than Saltburn?
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The answer for many fans unfortunately, is no and no.
This is due to one very specific fact – they don’t actually have a threesome.
Whilst the scene is still extremely raunchy, featuring Mike Faist’s Art and Josh O’Connor’s Patrick taking turns kissing Zendaya’s character Tashi – before beginning to make out with each other, it stops at a certain point.
After laying back and watching the chaos she creates, Zendaya’s Tashi gets up and abruptly leaves.
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Whilst the scene is still absolutely incredible, with the chemistry between the trio palpable and still playing a key role in the film as a whole – some fans are disappointed.
One fan posted on Reddit to say: “Zendaya threesome scene everyone was waiting for in Challengers (2024) was a disappointment."
Fans on X (formerly known as Twitter) agreed.
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One posted a video saying: “me leaving challengers after the threeway kiss doesn’t end up in a threesome”.
Meanwhile, another said: “Wait there’s no threesome in CHALLENGERS ??”
They went on to reply and add that they had been ‘hoodwinked bamboozled led astray’.
Another posted a picture of writer Justin Kuritzkes and his wife, saying: “Wait from what I understand they don’t even have an actual threesome in Challengers? God this couple is so boring!”
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Before you think they’re just being mean to his wife for no reason, there is a logic here.
Kuritzkes, who wrote Challengers, is married to Celine Song, who wrote and directed Past Lives.
Whilst Past Lives is incredible – it has a common theme with Challengers, as it also focuses on an awkward throuple dynamic in which one woman is in love with two different men, one from her past and one she’s currently married to.
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Definitely nothing going on there.
Whilst Past Lives and Challengers may not either have a threesome scene, both have received rave reviews from critics and fans alike.
Past Lives was nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars last year, whilst Challengers is currently sitting at a near perfect 97% on Rotten Tomatoes – and was the biggest film in the US this past weekend.
Sounds like the lack of threesomes might not be the barrier to success some fans have expressed.
Featured Image Credit: Amazon MGM StudiosTopics: Film, TV and Film, Zendaya, US News