Netflix chronicles the rise of a female prodigy in a new documentary, ‘Queen of Chess’
Netflix is rolling up its sleeves for a new documentary, Queen of Chess, which dates back before Searching for Bobby and The Queen’s Gambit, to trace the rise of a 12-year-old female chess prodigy, Judit Polgár.
In 1989, the Hungarian prodigy embarked on her dedicated mission to become the top chess player of her generation in a field once primarily dominated by men.
But this was no ordinary quest Polgár went on. Becoming the top chess player meant going head-to-head against a flock of men who thought little of women in chess, let alone someone of her age. She particularly had her eyes on the top-ranked Garry Kasparov, whom many consider the greatest chess player of all time.
Polgár’s determination paid off, and what followed was a 13-year streak of golden wins, high-stakes showdowns, and surprising allies.
Directed by Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning filmmaker Rory Kennedy, Queen of Chess is slated to premiere at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. The Netflix documentary aims to capture Polgár’s entry and rise in the chess world, offering fans a glimpse of how she hardened herself in the battle, proving herself in a domain populated by worn-out ideas of stereotypical gendered assumptions.
Queen of Chess is constructed with in-depth interviews with Polgár, who is now in her 40s. The documentary also features conversations with her family, Kasparov, and other chess experts. At 12, she became the number one female chess player in the world. And by the time she was 15, she broke Bobby Fischer’s record, achieving the title of the youngest grandmaster of all time.
“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 told Netflix. “I’m thrilled to be premiering Queen of Chess at Sundance, a festival that helped launch my career many years ago and means so much to me and Mark, my producing partner and husband.”
“With this film, my team and I hope to give Judit Polgár, the greatest female chess player in history, the spotlight that her groundbreaking journey deserves. We are excited to bring Judit’s story to Netflix, where people around the world will be able to witness just what is possible when we challenge assumptions about gender, talent, and opportunity,” Kennedy added.
In addition to directing Queen of Chess, Kennedy serves as the director for the documentary alongside Mark Bailey and Keven McAlester. Although it has been confirmed that the documentary will be available for streaming on Netflix in 2026, the platform has yet to reveal the release date. Hence, check back for more information.