Hungarian chess prodigy Judit Polgár was raised to be a champion, and that’s exactly what she became. Alongside her sisters and under the controlling hand of her father, the Polgár family forwent formal education, instead focusing on a singular task—mastering chess. Judit especially had a knack for the game, and through interviews with Judit, her sisters, and her opponents, we watch her rise through the ranks and play alongside champions who are double and triple her age.
QUEEN OF CHESS
What’s it rated? TV-14
When? 2026
Where’s it showing? Netflix
Watching the early-’90s clips of footage is quite the reminder of how the world spoke of and to women not so long ago. Judit was dismissed as a frivolous threat—too young, too female—to ever be dangerous. However, she went on to become the world’s youngest grandmaster at the time at only 15 years and 4 months old.
It’s funny to think that watching a board game played by others is riveting, but this documentary manages to hook the audience from the start, and Judit’s story is truly fascinating. You can sense how big the win was when she beat her competitor Garry Kasparov, and there’s nothing but joy to feel for the young girl as we watch her shine and rise. (93 min.) ∆
This article appears in Health & Wellness 2026.