Netflix revealed the full official trailer for Queen of Chess, a documentary on the remarkable true story of Judit Polgár, the Hungarian chess prodigy who shattered expectations and redefined what was possible in a male-dominated world.
With compelling archival footage, intimate interviews, and insights from chess greats, the documentary paints a vivid portrait of Polgár’s rise from a curious child in Budapest to one of the greatest players in chess history.
Directed by award-winning filmmaker Rory Kennedy, Queen of Chess will world premiere as an official selection at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, appearing in the Documentary Competition. Following its Sundance showcase, Queen of Chess is set to premiere globally on Netflix beginning February 6, 2026.
Queen of Chess chronicles the extraordinary life and career of Judit Polgár, widely celebrated as the greatest female chess player in history. From her early childhood in Budapest, where she and her sisters were part of a bold educational experiment by their father, to her rapid ascent through the global chess ranks, Polgár confronted deeply entrenched gender biases in the sport. Refusing to compete exclusively in women-only tournaments, she instead challenged the chess elite — men who dominated the game’s highest tiers, and by age 12 was ranked among the world’s top players. By age 15, she broke Bobby Fischer’s record to become the youngest grandmaster ever, and throughout her career, she battled giants such as Garry Kasparov.
Rory Kennedy has framed Queen of Chess as a documentary that goes beyond the 64 squares of a chessboard to explore broader cultural and societal questions. Kennedy told Tudum, “We are living in a moment when so many people are still fighting for equal footing — Judit’s life shows what can happen when one person has the resolve to break through barriers.” Kennedy and her creative team aimed to give Polgár “the spotlight that her groundbreaking journey deserves,” making the film not just a tribute to a chess icon but a narrative of empowerment that resonates far beyond the sport.
Watch the official trailer for Queen of Chess above.
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