'Challengers' Reviews: Zendaya Performance Praised, 'Oscar Campaign Starts Immediately'

Zendaya is receiving critical acclaim for her performance in her new movie, "Challengers."

In the love triangle drama, Zendaya stars as Tashi Donaldson, a tennis prodigy-turned-coach who pits her husband, Art Donaldson (Mike Faist), against his ex-friend and her former flame, Patrick Zweig (Josh O'Connor), to improve his game.

The Luca Guadagnino-directed film currently has a score of 96% on Rotten Tomatoes from 54 critic reviews.

Screen Rant's Graeme Guttmann wrote that Zendaya, O'Connor and Faist gave "breathtaking performances with sizzling chemistry."

Describing Zendaya as the "beating heart" of "Challengers," the film critic said the movie marked "another earth-shattering turn" from the two-time Emmy winner after "Dune: Part Two."

Zendaya also received praise from film critic Peter Debruge, who noted in his review published by Variety that the "control" in her performance was "astonishing."

The Hollywood Reporter's David Rooney said Zendaya's portrayal of Tashi "cements her status as a born Movie Star," adding that she displayed "effortless command" akin to that of "an old-school screen siren."

Geek Girl Authority's Kimberly Pierce, meanwhile, called the former Disney star "magnetic."

However, it wasn't all praise as some film critics said Zendaya lacked gravitas at some points in the film.

Among these critics was Entertainment Weekly's Maureen Lee Lenker, who wrote in her review that the actress failed to show a "deeper maturity" in her acting that would have made her performance a "true grand slam."

However, the overwhelming praise for Zendaya's latest big-screen work is already starting to generate Oscar buzz for the 27-year-old star.

Reacting to the reviews of Zendaya's performance, one person wrote on X, formerly Twitter, "The Zendaya Oscar campaign starts immediately."

One fan tweeted, "...it's actually so lovely to see Zendaya, an actress who a lot of us grew up watching on Disney since she was 14 and we were even younger, achieve critical acclaim as an actor."

"I can't wait to see her continue to grow and achieve," the user added. "She deserves it."

In addition to her acting, Zendaya's tennis-inspired looks for the "Challengers" press tour received rave reviews.

For a photocall for the film in London Thursday, she rocked a vintage 1994 Vivienne Westwood striped mini skirt set, which featured a tail of light pink feathers.

Just a day prior, Zendaya also aced the red carpet in a floor-length white Thom Browne sequined gown with a pleated skirt and thigh-high slit.

She paired the look with an elegant white bow and a red lip.

"Challengers" was originally set to debut at last year's Venice Film Festival.

However, it was ultimately postponed due to the Hollywood writers' and actors' strikes.

"Challengers" will hit theaters on April 26. Watch the trailer for the film below.

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