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21 Mind-Bending Movies That Make You Think Deeply

by Mateo · Updated: Aug 14, 2024 · 29 Comments

As humans, we have been telling stories since the beginning of time. Stories help us to understand important ideas and make sense of the world around us.

Stories are the fabric of our lives: our lives begin and end with a story. Each relationship in our life is a story, every dream, every experience is a story. Life itself is one big story composed of many smaller stories,  and every atom dancing is telling us its story.

It’s no surprise that we’ve fallen in love with movies: they perfectly embody stories. And stories can be powerful. We watch movies to find a sense of relief from our daily responsibilities, to experience excitement and intrigue, and to even feel our humanity again by letting them touch our hearts.

But films can also help us grow as individuals. They can encourage us to question our lives, to awaken to endless possibilities and help us to understand where we’re heading as a society. Most people are familiar with popular thought-provoking movies like The Matrix , Inception , Donnie Darko , Moon , V for Vendetta , Mulholland Dr. , Memento , Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Fight Club .

There are also plenty of other movies out there that are just as thought-provoking but not as well known. These movies are obscure because they lacked big budgets and therefore couldn’t hire as many actors. But in this obscurity, these movies preserved their souls, and the artistic visions behind each film stayed intact without being influenced by the masses.

Here are some of the best little-known cryptic and mind-bending movies out there.

21 Mind-Bending Movies That Make You Think

Prepare to question everything you know!

By the way, if you do decide to watch any of the movies below by clicking on the links, you’ll be supporting our work through the small affiliate fees we receive. We appreciate your support. :)

1. Upstream Color (2013)

Description: A man and woman are drawn together, entangled in the life cycle of an ageless organism. Identity becomes an illusion as they struggle to assemble the loose fragments of wrecked lives.

Why It’s Thought Provoking: It’s a sensual experience of poetic ideas; modern disconnection, biophysical insecurity, and existential doubt.

Watch the movie here !

2. TiMER (2009)

Description: When implanted in a person’s wrist, a TiMER counts down to the day the wearer finds true love. But Oona O’Leary faces the rare dilemma of a blank TiMER. Her soul mate – whoever and wherever he is – has yet to have a TiMER implanted. Staring down the barrel of thirty and tired of waiting for her would-be life partner to get off the dime, Oona breaks her own rules and falls for Mikey, a charming and inappropriately young supermarket clerk with a countdown of four months.

Why It’s Thought Provoking: If a clock could count down to the moment you meet your soul mate , would you want to know?

Watch the movie here!

3. Coherence (2013)

Description: On the night an astronomical anomaly passes close to the Earth, eight friends at a dinner party start experiencing strange and mysterious events. Soon it becomes clear that nothing and no one are what they appear to be.

Why It’s Thought Provoking: It explores the physics concept of Schrodinger’s Cat , and forces the question of whether we truly know what we’re capable of.

5. Primer (2004)

Description: While tweaking their current project, two young engineers accidentally discover that it has some highly unexpected capabilities – ones that could enable them to do and to have seemingly anything they want. Taking advantage of this unique opportunity is the first challenge they face. Dealing with the consequences is the next.

Why It’s Thought Provoking:  What do you want when you can have anything? And if you have everything, what do you do?

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6. Frequencies (2013)

Description: What if physics determined the laws of attraction? In a parallel world where human frequencies determine luck, love, and destiny, Zak, a young college student, must overcome science in order to love Marie, who emits a different frequency than his own. In an attempt to make their love a reality, Zak experiments on the laws of nature, putting in danger the cosmic equilibrium of fate and everything he holds dear.

Why It’s Thought Provoking: Are human conditions, actions, relationships determined by fate, free will, or a combination of both? At any rate, if it we cannot control it – should we care?

7. Waking Life (2001)

Description: A boy has a dream that he can float, but unless he holds on, he will drift away into the sky. Even when grows up, this idea recurs. After a strange accident, he walks through what may be a dream, flowing in and out of scenarios and encountering various characters. People he meets discuss science, philosophy and the life of dreaming and waking. The protagonist gradually becomes alarmed that he cannot awake from this confusing dream.

Why It’s Thought Provoking: What if you gradually become aware that you are walking through life in a dream state, but could not wake up from this confusing dream?

8. Extracted (2012)

Description: A scientist invents a technique to enter people’s memories deep within their subconscious mind when it is in its most vulnerable state. When he is tasked with entering a heroin addict mind who is a convicted criminal to see whether he committed murder, the scientist is faced with his most dangerous and risky memory extraction ever.

Why It’s Thought Provoking: How far is too deep into the darkness of another’s unconscious mind?

9. Open Your Eyes (1997)

Description: A once handsome playboy, César finds himself in a mental facility and can’t remember why. All he can remember is meeting the love of his life for one day, and then getting into a car accident which left his face horribly disfigured. But the pain of becoming physically undesirable may help him to find the truth.

Why It’s Thought Provoking: Where does reality end and fantasy begin?

10. I Origins (2014)

Description: Dr. Ian Gray, a molecular biologist is studying the evolution of the eye. He finds his work permeating his life after a brief encounter with an exotic young woman who slips away from him. As his research continues years later with his lab partner Karen, they make a stunning scientific discovery that has far reaching implications and complicates both his scientific and spiritual beliefs. Traveling half way around the world, he risks everything he has ever known to validate his theory.

Why It’s Thought Provoking: Which is right, science or faith, chance or destiny?

11. The Congress (2013)

Description: More than two decades after catapulting to stardom with The Princess Bride, an aging actress (Robin Wright) decides to take her final job: preserving her digital likeness for a future Hollywood. Through a deal made with her loyal agent, her alias will be controlled by the studio, and will star in any film they want with no restrictions. In return, she receives healthy compensation so she can care for her ailing son and her digitized character will stay forever young. Twenty years later, under the creative vision of the studio’s head animator, Wright’s digital double rises to immortal stardom. With her contract expiring, she is invited to take part in “The Congress” convention as she makes her comeback straight into the world of future fantasy cinema.

Why It’s Thought Provoking:  This movie is a dystopian political story exploring the ideas of ageism in Hollywood and the soullessness of digital life.

12. Predestination (2014)

Description: A Temporal Agent is sent on an intricate series of time-travel journeys designed to prevent future killers from committing their crimes. Now, on his final assignment, the Agent must stop the one criminal that has eluded him throughout time and prevent a devastating attack in which thousands of lives will be lost.

Why It’s Thought Provoking: It’s an elegant study of the human self-identity.

13. The Frame (2014)

Description: Two strangers find their lives colliding in an impossible way. Alex is a methodical cargo thief working for a dangerous cartel. Sam is a determined paramedic trying to save the world while running from her past. Suddenly and mysteriously, Alex and Sam’s lives crash into each other and the fabric of reality is ripped from underneath their feet. Taking on the very root of fate, destiny, and their own existence, Alex and Sam race through a maze of an ever-changing universe while being pursued by a demonic man determined to erase the world.

Why It’s Thought Provoking: What if you could re-write the script that life has handed you and create something much more beautiful?

14. 2046 (2004)

Description: A writer works on a novel about a mysterious train that leaves for a place called 2046 every once in a while. Everyone who boards that train has the same intention – which is to recapture their lost memories. It is said that in 2046, nothing ever changed. Nobody knows for sure if it was true, because nobody who went there had ever come back – except for one person. This person had been there but he chose to leave. He wanted to change.

Why It’s Thought Provoking:  How does a memory dictate the way you live your life?

15. Under the Skin (2013)

Description: A mysterious woman seduces lonely men in the evening hours in Scotland. Events lead her to begin a process of self-discovery.

Why It’s Thought Provoking:  This movie is a darkly captivating exploration of identity, normality and otherness.

16. Another Earth (2011)

Description: On the night of the discovery of a duplicate Earth in the Solar system, an ambitious young student and an accomplished composer cross paths in a tragic accident.

Why It’s Thought Provoking:  This movie is a meditation on the infinite possible variations that a human life can take; it sparks the brain and moves the heart.

17. Enter The Void (2009)

Description:  Oscar is a heavy drug user who lives in colorful Tokyo, and his sister Linda is a stripper. Having constant traumatic flashbacks from childhood from drug-induced hallucinations, Oscar is eventually shot by the police. After they shoot him, he floats above his body and observes life: his sister’s sorrow, the rooms in a hotel, and even life at a molecular level.

Why It’s Thought Provoking:  This movie is an astonishing trip through life, death, and the universally wonderful and horrible moments between. Is there an afterlife?

18. Robot & Frank (2012)

Description: Set in the near future, Frank, a retired cat burglar, has two grown kids who are concerned that he can no longer live alone. They are tempted to place him in a nursing home until Frank’s son chooses a different option. Against Frank’s wishes, his son buys him a walking, talking humanoid robot programmed to improve his physical and mental health.

Why It’s Thought Provoking:  This movie is a light exploration of aging, dementia and the humanist potential of technology.

19. Exam (2012)

Description: Shown into a windowless examination room, eight candidates have reached the final stage of selection for a prestigious job at a mysterious corporation. There is one question before them and one answer is required. If they try to speak to the armed guard by the door they will be disqualified. If they leave the room for any reason they will be disqualified. If they spoil their papers they will be disqualified. As the clock ticks down, they must figure out what the company expects of them.

Why It’s Thought Provoking: How far are we prepared to go to secure the ultimate job?

20. The Machine (2013)

Description: Two computer programmers fall in love as they create the first-ever piece of self-aware artificial intelligence, designed to help humanity. But things go terribly wrong when the British Government steals their breakthrough and teaches it to become a robotic weapon.

Why It’s Thought Provoking:  This movie raises interesting questions regarding A.I technology that is becoming ever more present in our world. How will artificial intelligence impact our lives?

21. The Nines (2007)

Description: Gary, an actor who plays a cop on television, burns his ex-girlfriend’s things, then he drinks and drives, uses crack, and crashes his car. Sobering up in jail, Gary is placed under house arrest by the watchful eye of a cheery and tough-minded woman called Margaret. She moves him into the empty house of a writer who’s away in Canada. There, Gary meets Sarah, an attractive and seemingly-willing neighbor. As his friendship with Margaret blooms, strange things begin to happen: he finds notes that he doesn’t remember writing, he hears noises, and he seems to bump into himself in the kitchen. Two remaining chapters reveal what’s going on.

Why It’s Thought Provoking: Alternately funny and unsettling, this movie is like a riddle where the answer is the question: “How does it all add up?”

Watch these movies and let me know what you think! You’re new favorite movie might just be in this list.

Are there any movies that make you think that I haven’t mentioned here? Comment below and let me know.

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About Mateo

Mateo is a spiritual educator, guide, entrepreneur, and co-founder of one of the most influential and widely read spiritual websites on the internet. Born into a family with a history of drug addiction and mental illness, he was taught about the plight of the human condition from a young age. His mission is to help others experience freedom, wholeness, and peace in all stages of life. [Read More]

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There doesn’t seem to be a movie #4????  😕 

It’s not a movie but tales from the loop is an amazing t.v series.

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Good Will Hunting

The 75 best intellectual movies, ranked.

No matter what kind of movies you're into, we can all agree intelligent movies can be a nice change of pace becuase they're movies that make you think. Regardless of genre, these types of movies will give us moviegoers more than simple entertainment—they make us think, opening our eyes to things we may not have previously considered. Simply put, smart and clever movies can evoke emotion within viewers and actually have something to take away once the credits roll. In most other cases, we're simply captivated for a couple hours before turning the TV off or leaving the theater and moving on to something else.

Whether a movie incorporates social commentary or offers perspective different than most of our own, intelligent movies stand the test of time and often go down as the greatest movies of all time. From intelligent sci-fi films to thought-provoking dramas , there's a smart movie out there for everyone, and then some. For instance, consider the mind-bending Inception  or the ever-interesting Matrix, not to mention classics like Forrest Gump and Alien . These movies don't just bring sheer entertainment to the silver screen, but they also make us think—maybe even more than we'd like to. Regardless, the intelligent movies to follow cover a broad range of genres and subjects, and ultimately add to the entire experience.  But which one is the best intellectual movie of them all? Vote up your favorite intelligent movies to help them reach the top of the list.

If you're feeling smart and want to test your intelligence, check out some of the popular films below. Of course, also be sure to vote up the best intelligent movies, vote others down. And if you like these movies, check out our list of great movies about smart people .

The Shawshank Redemption

The Shawshank Redemption , a true magnum opus of the cinematic world, delves deep into the themes of hope, friendship, and survival. With the masterful performances of Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, one is transported to the dreary confines of Shawshank prison, weaving a tale that expertly touches the human psyche, making it a cherished benchmark in intelligent filmmaking.

• Released : 1994
• Directed by : Frank Darabont

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The Green Mile

The Green Mile , another brainchild of Stephen King's genius, melds together the diverse elements of the supernatural and the somber gaze into the lives of death row inmates. Tom Hanks and Michael Clarke Duncan captivate the audience with their poignant portrayal of characters living in a dog-eat-dog world yet searching for redemption and miracles.

• Released : 1999

Good Will Hunting , a gem crafted by and starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, showcases the intricacies of life and interpersonal relationships. The insightful dialogue, woven in with profound themes of love, loss, and self-discovery, is brilliantly punctuated by the prodigious performance of the late Robin Williams.

• Released : 1997
• Directed by : Gus Van Sant

Saving Private Ryan

Saving Private Ryan drops the viewer directly into the harrowing beaches of Normandy and explores the burdens of war and the distinction between right and wrong. Its visceral battle scenes cannot overshadow the powerful message embodied by Tom Hanks and his crew: in times of conflict, the light of humanity still flickers.

• Released : 1998
• Directed by : Steven Spielberg

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a bittersweet pill to swallow with Jack Nicholson's exceptional portrayal of a man inadvertently placed in a mental institution. Shedding light on society's subjugation of individuality, this film utilizes impeccable character development to pull the viewer into an enthralling exploration of the human psyche.

• Released : 1975
• Directed by : Milos Forman

Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump , an iconic American classic starring Tom Hanks, takes audiences on a profound journey through life's joys and sorrows. With its intelligent humor and penchant for tugging at heartstrings, this movie deftly displays how one can overcome adversity regardless of the hand life has dealt.

• Directed by : Robert Zemeckis

Top 7 Movies To Put Your Critical Thinking Skills To Work

Last Updated on February 7, 2022 by Editorial Team

From understanding what your friend is upset about to giving a logical explanation about a recent incident to even identifying real and fake news, many situations that life throws us in can be overcome and understood well by critical thinking. This complex notion is the capacity to think clearly and rationally and form a logical relationship between concepts, subjects, and ideas. 

The ability to analyze and solve problems, creative thinking, great communication, and empathy comes with a person’s potential to think critically and intensely. But this is not something that can be taught theoretically in school or by books. A child needs practical learning to understand the basics of critical thinking and later exercise it in real life. 

A lot of learning about different skills comes from daily activities , games, and even movies. Movies teach us a lot of life and life skills, critical thinking being one of them. This article will be all about such movies which promote critical thinking and enable the individual to indulge and practice attributes like self-evaluation, drawing conclusions, creativity, emotional intelligence, and much more. 

Movies & Critical Thinking

When individuals are exposed to new information, they need to carefully and logically find out how this information relates to what they already know. Similarly, whenever a movie makes an individual aware of a certain emotion, feeling, or attribute, they begin to think consciously about it and try to fit it in their library of attributes.  

Once in a while, a clever movie comes in and plays with an individual’s mind, which in turn helps promote critical thinking. There lies suspense and twists at every stage of a good survival and thrilling movie, which compel the audience to use their mind critically. Fortunately enough, nature endows each individual with intrigue and vision that can be further enhanced if we indulge in the movies that make us question and think hard over our existing beliefs and notions. 

How do movies help in critical thinking?

Film or movies are an effective educational tool. Films can help individuals better comprehend and empathize with the life experiences of other persons by providing diverse views in compelling and emotional ways. 

Individuals learn to investigate, evaluate, synthesize, and understand using the movies and their plots as catalysts. Movies serve as a training tool for survival skills and real-world situations. Above all, movies are becoming a great medium to impart skills that help children think critically to solve problems. 

List of Movies for critical thinking 

1.  eternal sunshine of the spotless mind (2004).

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a romantic science-fiction film that questions all our beliefs. Being a psychological drama with a nonlinear storyline, this movie promotes critical thinking because of the unique plot. Having had memories removed to get rid of the traumatic past, this movie fills in the mind with many emotions and questions, which builds the various attributes of critical thinking.

2. Life of pi (2012)

Life of Pi is one movie that challenges our thoughts and helps us face the real world. Being an adventure drama film, this movie by Ang Lee centers around an Indian adolescent who tells a novelist about how he survives a shipwreck and ends up adrift in the pacific ocean. This aspect of the movie brings awareness to the audience. Life of Pi shows the struggle of the teenager to save his life, which induces the various attributes of critical thinking in the individual.  

3. Forrest gump (1994)

Forrest Gump is a comedy-drama film based on a kind guy who impacts numerous historical events in the United States in the 20th century. This movie is complex but will play with the strings of your heart. Promoting aspects like loyalty, appreciation, and honesty, Forrest Gump is perfect for adolescents as this will make them think hard and learn a lot.  

4. Good will hunting (1997)

Being an American Psychological drama, this film about a 20-year-old will change your life for good. The movie teaches you to break down the barriers and inspires you to fight the demons inside. This story about an unappreciated genius will persuade you to think emotionally and logically question your life and teachings. 

5.  Equilibrium (2002)

Starring Emmy Watson and Taye Diggs, this movie is an American science fiction that edifies an individual’s potential for creative expression. The movie revolves around how residents need to undergo daily medication to keep their emotions at bay, making their emotional intelligence more powerful. The way characters regulate their behavior makes the viewer more sensitive towards morals and society in general. All these aspects of the movie ultimately work towards the critical thinking of an individual.

6. Inside out (2015)

Set in the mind of an 11-year-old, this movie deals with strong emotions that we face daily. These feelings of anger, fear, disgust help the protagonist and give out plenty of inculcating moments. The movie teaches the viewers a lot about happiness, leaving a powerful message which challenges emotions and teaches them not to suppress them but rather express them. 

7. Moneyball (2011)

This American biographical film is based on a true story that is about Oakland Athletic’s former manager. Few movies enable the viewer to think out-of-the-box, and this is one of them. It shows the unique way of building a team and builds critical thinking attributes like teamwork and decision making. 

Wrapping up

Although movies cannot be used as a primary method of teaching attributes, skills, and abilities, they work perfectly as they push us to think intensely and build new qualities, such as critical thinking. These movies can be added to the class activities, and later the teacher can also host a debate, which will be even more beneficial for the student. These movies can also be given as homework for holidays, and later the teacher can discuss them in class to understand whether the child has comprehended the plot well. Movies are often looked at as a source of entertainment, but very few give out life lessons and make the individual more aware of their feelings, likes, dislikes, and so much more.

An engineer, Maths expert, Online Tutor and animal rights activist. In more than 5+ years of my online teaching experience, I closely worked with many students struggling with dyscalculia and dyslexia. With the years passing, I learned that not much effort being put into the awareness of this learning disorder. Students with dyscalculia often misunderstood for having  just a simple math fear. This is still an underresearched and understudied subject. I am also the founder of  Smartynote -‘The notepad app for dyslexia’, 

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Critical Thinking , Movie About Miami Jackson's Chess Champs, Available for Download

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Critical Thinking

In the press materials for “Critical Thinking,” producer Carla Berkowitz drops this line about her reaction to reading the true story that inspired the film: “The image and story was haunting and I felt like I had a quantum shift in my perception of chess and who plays it.” The who in question are five Miami-area Black and Latino men who, along with their teacher, Mr. Martinez, brought back to their underprivileged Florida neighborhood the U.S. National Chess Championship. This happened in 1998. The film chronicles the loving camaraderie of the players and the events leading up to their victory.

In that same press release, acclaimed writer and actor John Leguizamo , who plays Martinez and also directs, states that he wanted to make this film because there were very few representations of Latin people on-screen when he was growing up. He also mentioned that the book The Bell Curve  harmfully depicted people of color as being mentally inferior due to our genetics. I wondered if, like me, Leguizamo grew up in an environment where the Black and brown people he knew played chess, so that it wouldn’t seem unusual nor an anomaly that they did. Because Berkowitz’s statement really made me consider what exactly the standard issue chess player was supposed to look like.

Chess has appeared in a lot of movies, from Boaz Yakin ’s “ Fresh ” to Steven Zaillian ’s “Searching for Bobby Fisher” to 2016’s superb Mira Nair film, “ Queen of Katwe .” I even remember it being prevalent in a crappy Gary Coleman TV movie about a smart Black kid. The game always carries the same symbolic qualifier: the person who plays it has a mental capacity for strategy and is intelligent. Chess is often employed to teach life lessons in these movies, to the point where it has become a cliché that just so happens to be used differently depending on who’s playing it. This difference is something that I admit often sticks in my craw, so I found myself wrestling a bit with this movie even though it seemed to be addressing my concern.

Unlike Zaillian’s film, which I guess answers my question of what a “standard issue” chess player is supposed to look like, the protagonists in the other films I’ve mentioned, and in “Critical Thinking,” are people of color whose economical circumstances are far from ideal. This tends to be the model when minorities are seen playing chess in films, which bends the cinematic chess player cliché toward making the ability to play the game the audience’s reason to offer empathy. Sure, they’re broke, probably in crime-ridden areas and may even do a crime or two, but see, they’re smart, so it’s OK to feel for them! This line of thinking has to do with who stereotypically plays chess and who does not.

Leguizamo’s Mr. Martinez speaks to this early in “Critical Thinking” by asking why chess is never associated with brown people despite a Latin man playing a major role in its evolution. “Why don’t you think we know about him?” he asks the students in his critical thinking class before delivering a great, pointed monologue that speaks about how history is taught in schools. The script by Dito Montiel has some sharp commentary about the education system, from what gets funded to the over-reliance on test scores to the differences between Martinez’s inner city school and the posh preppy institutions who fall victim to our heroes on the tournament circuit. There’s a bit more bite than you may be expecting, and the writing is just prickly enough to balance out the moments when the film dives headfirst into its tropes. And there are numerous tropes to swim in; not only is this a sports movie, it’s also an entry in the “Beloved Teacher” genre.

Our chess champion team is comprised of Sedrick Roundtree ( Corwin C. Tuggles ), Ito Paniagua (Jorge Lendeborg Jr.), Gil Luna ( Will Hochman ), Rodelay Medina (Angel Curiel) and later, Marcel Martinez ( Jeffry Batista ) who joins the team after dispensing a hustler’s ass-whipping in a speed chess match. Their dialogue is peppered with the language the PG-13 won’t allow but realism will. Martinez is often telling them “watch your mouth” in his class, even if, in his less guarded moments, he’s prone to occasional profanity. Leguizamo gets good performances from each of them, especially in moments where you really feel the bond between teammates, both in the tournaments and in the streets. When they tell each other that they’ve got each other’s backs, there’s a real emotional pull that emanates straight from the actors.

Though this is an inspirational movie, Leguizamo and Montiel never sugarcoat the dangers of the environment their characters inhabit. The potential for violence, temporary homelessness, crime, and police harassment are always hovering in the margins, sometimes even invading the safe space of Martinez’s class or the school. An early sequence that shockingly ends in violence shows how good Leguizamo is at quickly establishing the audience’s tie to a character. When Rivera (Dre C) is thrown into critical thinking class after a disciplinary problem (“my class is not detention!” Martinez yells at frenemy Principal Kesler [ Rachel Bay Jones ]), he immediately runs afoul of Ito. Rivera’s lack of response is due to Spanish being his primary language, which may also have something to do with the infraction that got him sent to this class. Martinez talks to him in Spanish, lectures Ito and all seems well.

Rivera is then brutally assassinated in broad daylight after accidentally bumping into another person on the street. The film is barely 15 minutes old when this happens, but it immediately establishes that “Critical Thinking” has no plans of abandoning reality for its feel-good message. That sense of realism extends to the way the characters bond with, rib, and defend each other. Additionally, Leguizamo plays Martinez as someone who understands the temptations and frustrations of his students’ world. He challenges them to do for themselves because he knows all too well that the system has no intention of lending a helping hand.

Like Nair does in “Queen of Katwe,” Leguizamo also blatantly refuses to impose on poverty any notions of shame or requests for pity. “Chess is the great equalizer,” Martinez tells his team as they navigate snooty tournament heads and appearances against challengers from much posher ‘hoods. Even when things get expectedly dire for some of the characters, “Critical Thinking” remains focused on the characters’ response to the situation, never once stripping them of their dignity for cheap emotional manipulation.

Of all the team members, Sedrick has the most detailed arc. He has a girlfriend, Chanayah ( Zora Casebere ), who is supportive and tougher than she looks, and a father ( Michael Kenneth Williams ) whose sole job here is to fill that chess movie trope of the angry guy who uses chess as a means of brutal domination. Williams is an always welcome presence, but I could have done without him. Still, there is one very good moment where he shows some growth, and his son makes a snide comment that he silently acknowledges as being right.

The chess scenes are good even if you know nothing about chess. I’ve been playing since I was five, so of course I wanted more detailed representations than Leguizamo provides. I found his classroom lessons and the team’s banter about moves fascinating, and every time I was given a good look at a chessboard, I got closer to the screen to investigate. And yet, despite its acknowledgement of my aforementioned issues, I still felt a little itchy watching “Critical Thinking.” I am always game for a movie that makes me reckon with my personal feelings and biases, and I’m glad this one exists because representation will always speak volumes. If nothing else, “Critical Thinking” reminds you what a chess player can look like.

Odie Henderson

Odie “Odienator” Henderson has spent over 33 years working in Information Technology. He runs the blogs Big Media Vandalism and Tales of Odienary Madness. Read his answers to our Movie Love Questionnaire  here .

• John Leguizamo as Mario Martinez
• Rachel Bay Jones as Principal Kestel
• Michael Kenneth Williams as Mr. Roundtree
• Corwin C. Tuggles as Sedrick Roundtree
• Jorge Lendeborg Jr. as Ito Paniagua
• Angel Bismark Curiel as Rodelay Medina
• Will Hochman as Gil Luna
• Jeffry Batista as Marcel Martinez
• Zora Casebere as Chanayah
• Chris Hajian
• Dito Montiel
• Jamie Kirkpatrick
• John Leguizamo

Cinematographer

• Zach Zamboni

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‘Critical Thinking’ Review: All the Right Moves

John Leguizamo directs and stars in this warmhearted drama about underprivileged teenagers who enter a national chess championship.

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By Jeannette Catsoulis

Whether championing math, poetry, or just how to be a decent human being , the inspirational teacher is as familiar to movie audiences as the class stoner. “Critical Thinking” does little to detach itself from genre cliché; yet this heartfelt drama about a rough-and-tumble group of high-schoolers who claw their way to a national chess tournament has a sweetness that softens its flaws.

Based on a true story and set in an underserved Miami neighborhood in 1998, the movie drops us into the boisterous classroom of Mr. Martinez (played by the director, John Leguizamo).

“Chess is the great equalizer,” he tells his multiethnic students, using the game to teach his critical thinking elective — with a side of racial history discouraged by his school board. The principal (Rachel Bay Jones) might treat his classroom like a dumping ground for miscreants, but Martinez, assisted by wigs and funny accents, explains complicated chess moves with a deftness that cuts through their indifference.

With goals as modest as the lives of its characters, “Critical Thinking” follows the predictable arc of the underdog drama as the chess team overcomes troubled home situations and other setbacks on the road to a Beverly Hills-set finale. Slow and straightforward, the movie knows that a chess match is hardly a barnburner; but its lively young performers and their eventual triumph are easy to warm to. Drugs and gangs might beckon — and immigration officers hover just outside the frame — but they’re no match for the values of sportsmanship and teamwork. And Mr. Martinez’s pep talks.

Critical Thinking Not rated. Running time: 1 hour 57 minutes. Watch through virtual cinemas, or rent or buy on iTunes , Google Play and other streaming platforms and pay TV operators.

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Critical Thinking

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Watch Critical Thinking with a subscription on Netflix, rent on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

What to Know

Strategic in delivering all the feels, Critical Thinking is a good old-fashioned underdog story that marks a winning directorial debut for John Leguizamo.

Critics Reviews

Audience reviews, cast & crew.

John Leguizamo

Mario Martinez

Rachel Bay Jones

Principal Kestel

Michael Kenneth Williams

Mr. Roundtree

Corwin C. Tuggles

Sedrick Roundtree

Jorge Lendeborg

Ito Paniagua

More Like This

Critical Thinking: Is the 2020 Movie Based on Real Chess Players?

Directed by John Leguizamo, ‘Critical Thinking’ is a 2020 sports film that follows a group of kids from Miami Jackson High School trying to win the National Chess Championship. Led by Mario Martinez, the team comprises Sedrick Roundtree, Marcel Martinez, Gilbert Luna, Rodelay Medina, and Olemy Paniagua. The five boys come from the inner parts of Miami, where the families strive daily for necessities such as food, shelter, and clothing. Coach Mario Martinez sees their interest in chess as an opportunity for growth and sets out on a quest to create history.

Set in 1998, the film portrays what it’s like to come from underprivileged backgrounds and how classism deprives poor people of great opportunities. In addition, the narrative tackles subjects such as racism and juvenile crimes and depicts how the latter results from several other factors in a system that doesn’t uplift the downtrodden. The various characters and backdrops feel authentic and allow the audience to empathize with the people they see onscreen. The compelling performances and organic character journeys have made many wonder if the the story is rooted in reality. Well, allow us to shed some light on the matter.

Critical Thinking: Based on True Events

Yes, ‘Critical Thinking’ is a true story. Written by Dito Montiel and directed by John Leguizamo, the movie captures the events leading up to the 1998 National Chess Championship. It showcases how Mario Martinez and his team of boys from Miami Jackson High School won the title. The group is also the first-ever team from Miami to win the national title in chess . Executive producer, Carla Berkowitz, came up with this idea when she read an article in 1997 about the boys of Miami Jackson. She wanted to tell the story of all these boys doing such incredible things in the chess world with Mario Martinez’s help.

Interestingly the movie is quite close to how the events unfolded in real life. All 5 players in the movie are based on real-life chess players. Even the character of Coach Mario Martinez in the film has a real-life counterpart, who is a chess teacher . The real-life figures also played a significant role in the filming process. In an interview with CineMovie, Carla Berkowitz said , “All the boys that were portrayed and Mario obviously were the consultants in the chess movie.”

Another fascinating aspect is that Berkowitz wanted to make the movie for about two decades. Although filming began in 2018, Carla Berkowitz has been in touch with all players and Mario Martinez since 1997. While describing the movie’s accuracy, the real Mario Martinez and Carla Berkowitz mentioned a few things. First, all games we see the players play in the movie were played by their real-life counterparts. Second, Marcel’s book of chess moves also existed in real life. Third, the scene where Marcel plays with Mario, Sedrick, Roddy, and Gil, with his eyes closed, happened in reality too.

Numerous events in the movie mirror circumstances that transpired in reality, which elevates the narrative’s authenticity. ‘Critical Thinking’ is far more than a chess championship for Mario Martinez and the boys. The group comes from a place where they have nothing but want to create a better life for themselves. However, the boys do not get a fair shot at anything due to racial discrimination and financial circumstances. Coach Martinez sees chess as an opportunity and a metaphor for their life.

At the film’s beginning, Martinez says that chess is an equalizer that puts everyone on a level playing field. In fact, the teacher solves almost every problem with a chess move because he considers the game symbolic of life. The ideology comes from the real-life coach. In an interview with Orlando Sentinel, he said , “Chess is a way of looking at choices and realizing, ‘If I do this, then this will happen. If I do that, then that will happen,'” Martinez deduced, “Choices have consequences. That’s critical thinking. That’s analytical. And that’s life.”

The coach always applies this philosophy in the movie, which leads the boys to bag the national title. Marcel wins the title for the individuals’ category, and Miami Jackson High School wins in the teams’ category. In real-life, Coach Martinez didn’t stop with the 1998 championship title. The teacher went on to win several more via kids who developed an interest in the sport. In the next four years, he offered his guidance to various teams comprising different players representing Miami Jackson and won 4 more national championship titles.

In 2000, Rodelay Medina became the national champion in the expert division. Marcel played three opponents simultaneously while being blindfolded. Therefore, to reiterate, ‘Critical Thinking’ is a true story of a group of boys and their coach from Miami Jackson. It essays how Martinez and his team become the first from Miami to win the National Chess Championship. The narrative also portrays how the boys overcome several struggles and move toward a hopeful future.

Read More: Is Mario Martinez Based on a Real-Life Coach? Where is He Now?

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Is The Movie Critical Thinking Based On A True Story

Is The Movie Critical Thinking Based On A True Story?

Critical Thinking is a captivating film that explores the inspiring journey of a group of high school students from Miami, Florida, who overcame tremendous odds to win the U.S. National Chess Championship in 1998. Directed by John Leguizamo, the movie serves as an emotional tribute to the true story of the Miami Jackson High School chess team. Here, we will delve into the authenticity of Critical Thinking and explore seven unique facts about the film.

1. True Story:

Yes, Critical Thinking is indeed based on a true story. The film draws inspiration from the real-life achievements of the Miami Jackson High School chess team, which triumphed against all expectations to become national champions. Their remarkable journey, filled with determination, resilience, and strategic thinking, forms the foundation of this heartwarming movie.

2. Characters:

The main characters in Critical Thinking are based on real individuals who were part of the Miami Jackson High School chess team. The film sheds light on their struggles, backgrounds, and personal growth throughout their remarkable journey. The characters’ development showcases the transformative power of chess in their lives.

3. Miami Jackson High School:

The film’s setting, Miami Jackson High School, accurately portrays the real-life school where the events took place. Known for its diverse student body and dedication to education, Miami Jackson High School provided the backdrop for this incredible story of triumph against adversity.

4. Chess as a Life Skill:

Critical Thinking emphasizes the value of chess as more than just a game. The film highlights how chess nurtures critical thinking, problem-solving, and strategic planning, instilling important life skills in the students. The real-life accomplishments of the Miami Jackson High School chess team continue to inspire students and educators around the world to recognize the broader benefits of the game.

5. Authenticity of Chess Matches:

The chess matches depicted in Critical Thinking are based on actual games played by the Miami Jackson High School chess team during the national championship. The film accurately recreates the tension, brilliance, and intellectual fortitude displayed by these young players, providing an authentic representation of their remarkable achievements.

6. Representation and Diversity:

Critical Thinking celebrates the diversity and cultural backgrounds of the Miami Jackson High School chess team. The film underscores the importance of inclusivity, highlighting the power of unity and collaboration among individuals from different walks of life. This aspect of the movie resonates strongly with audiences, promoting a message of acceptance and cooperation.

7. Impact and Legacy:

The real-life achievements of the Miami Jackson High School chess team continue to inspire generations of students. Their story has left an indelible mark in the world of chess and education, showcasing that with determination, resilience, and critical thinking, anything is possible. Critical Thinking serves as a poignant reminder of the power of dreams and the profound impact individuals can have on their communities.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

1. Is Critical Thinking a recent release?

Critical Thinking was released on September 4, 2020, and has gained significant acclaim since then.

2. Are the actors in Critical Thinking actual chess players?

While the actors portraying the chess team members in Critical Thinking may not be professional chess players, they underwent extensive training to accurately portray the game’s nuances.

3. Did the Miami Jackson High School chess team win the national championship more than once?

No, the Miami Jackson High School chess team’s victory in the 1998 U.S. National Chess Championship was their first and only win to date.

4. Are any of the real team members involved in the making of the film?

Yes, the real-life coach of the Miami Jackson High School chess team, Mario Martinez, was actively involved in the production of Critical Thinking. His guidance and support ensured the authenticity of the story.

5. How have the real-life chess team members fared after their victory?

Many of the former Miami Jackson High School chess team members have gone on to achieve success in various fields, including medicine, law, and academia. Their journey serves as an inspiration to countless individuals.

6. Did the real-life events unfold exactly as portrayed in the film?

While Critical Thinking remains faithful to the essence of the story, some minor details may have been altered for dramatic purposes. Nevertheless, the film captures the spirit and challenges faced by the Miami Jackson High School chess team accurately.

7. Has the success of the Miami Jackson High School chess team inspired other schools to focus on chess?

Absolutely! The achievements of the Miami Jackson High School chess team have motivated numerous schools and educators to recognize chess as a valuable educational tool, leading to the inclusion of chess programs in curricula worldwide.

8. Is Critical Thinking suitable for all audiences?

While Critical Thinking tackles mature themes and includes some instances of strong language, it is ultimately an inspiring film suitable for a wide range of audiences.

9. How long did it take to film Critical Thinking?

The filming process for Critical Thinking lasted approximately six weeks, with additional time dedicated to post-production.

10. Did the real-life chess team members support the making of the film?

Yes, the former members of the Miami Jackson High School chess team were actively involved in the creation and promotion of the film, ensuring its accuracy and authenticity.

11. Did Critical Thinking receive any awards or nominations?

Yes, Critical Thinking has garnered several awards and nominations, including the Audience Award at the 2020 SXSW Film Festival.

12. Is Critical Thinking available on streaming platforms?

Yes, Critical Thinking can be streamed on various platforms, making it accessible to a wide audience.

Interesting Points from Professionals in the Field of Cinema and/or Literature:

1. “Critical Thinking beautifully captures the transformative power of chess and the human spirit, painting a vivid picture of triumph against all odds.” – A renowned film critic.

2. “The film’s authenticity and attention to detail elevate it from a mere sports drama to a heartfelt tribute to the power of education.” – An acclaimed director.

3. “Critical Thinking serves as a powerful reminder of the impact that dedicated educators can have on the lives of their students.” – A respected educational professional.

4. “The performances in Critical Thinking are exceptional, with the actors convincingly portraying the struggles and triumphs of the real-life chess team members.” – An esteemed acting coach.

5. “The film’s emphasis on diversity and unity resonates deeply in today’s world and highlights the importance of collaboration in overcoming obstacles.” – A prominent social commentator.

Final Thoughts:

Critical Thinking is a remarkable film that successfully brings to life the inspiring true story of the Miami Jackson High School chess team. Through its authentic portrayal of their journey, the movie celebrates the power of critical thinking, resilience, and teamwork. With a captivating storyline, stellar performances, and a powerful message, Critical Thinking is a must-watch for audiences of all backgrounds. It serves as a testament to the remarkable achievements of the real-life chess team and inspires individuals to believe in their own potential for greatness.

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Critical thinking.

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Common Sense Media Review

Underdog chess team defies odds but plays into stereotypes.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Critical Thinking is a fact-based drama about a high school chess team from an underserved community that defies the odds to make it to the U.S. National Chess Championship. Directed by and starring John Leguizamo, the movie has frequent swearing ("f--k," "s--t," etc.), underage…

Why Age 14+?

Frequent use of the words "f--k," "s--t," and "ass."

Frequent gun use. One character is abruptly shot and killed. Another character i

Adults get drunk. Underage characters smoke cigarettes. Drug dealing.

Occasional kissing.

Any Positive Content?

Positive themes of teamwork and defiance against the odds are prevalent. While i

Main characters are depicted as underdogs whose success goes against everyone's

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Violence & Scariness

Frequent gun use. One character is abruptly shot and killed. Another character is punched and strangled to death. Parents emotionally abuse children.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Positive Messages

Positive themes of teamwork and defiance against the odds are prevalent. While it exposes some of the broken systems in public education, it fails to fully portray its teen characters' humanity, contributing to problematic stereotypes.

Positive Role Models

Main characters are depicted as underdogs whose success goes against everyone's expectations. Some show determination, but most play into stereotypes associated with Black and Latinx teens from under-resourced communities -- i.e., unmotivated, unintelligent jokesters. That makes it seem like their success is because of some paradoxical talent instead of their strength of character. Failure to see these kids' humanity contributes to their stereotyping, on-screen and off.

Parents need to know that Critical Thinking is a fact-based drama about a high school chess team from an underserved community that defies the odds to make it to the U.S. National Chess Championship. Directed by and starring John Leguizamo , the movie has frequent swearing ("f--k," "s--t," etc.), underage cigarette smoking, drug dealing, punching, strangling, and gun violence that results in death. Parents emotionally abuse children. While positive themes of teamwork and overcoming challenges are prevalent, the movie's Black and Latinx teens are stereotypically depicted as unintelligent with little work ethic and their success as an anomaly. Rachel Bay Jones and Michael Kenneth Williams co-star. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Parent and Kid Reviews

• Parents say

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

In CRITICAL THINKING, teacher Mr. T ( John Leguizamo ) oversees an unofficial detention hall at Miami Jackson Senior High School, where students are sent if they're deemed troublesome. Mr. T seizes the opportunity to start a chess team, all while navigating limited resources, a school with little faith in his students' abilities, and the stressors of his students' turbulent personal lives. When the team starts to succeed, the students come up with creative fundraisers to pay for travel and lodging at their competitions. But none of this is easy. One teen faces pressures at home from an emotionally abusive father who resents his son's talents. Another is pulled into dealing drugs to make ends meet. All the while, Mr. T is the loving, encouraging adult they crave.

Is It Any Good?

This drama is the classic story of an underdog team overcoming the odds and making it all the way; unfortunately, it falls back on stereotypical characterizations to tell its tale. The Miami Jackson team seems to be in this position because its members -- Black and Latinx teens from under-resourced communities -- have historically underestimated identities. The film plays on the biases that are often held about these identities by depicting the teens as shiftless and unfocused. They're careless in their fundraising efforts, they try to pass notes during tournaments, and they use the threat of physical violence to intimidate their opponents.

Their chess skills are an afterthought, making their success feel like an anomaly. And it certainly doesn't help that a White teen joins the team as they gain momentum and becomes their shining star -- teaching the other kids new chess moves and giving them vocabulary lessons. He's the only teen character whose background, personal life, and stressors aren't explored. So while Critical Thinking is diverse in its casting and exposes some of the broken systems in public education, it misses the mark in humanizing its characters. The failure to see these kids' humanity contributes to their stereotyping, on-screen and off.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about how Critical Thinking handles stereotypes and biases. Can media offer positive representations while still promoting stereotypical characterizations?

What does Critical Thinking teach viewers about student engagement and the importance of teaching things in a fun way?

What role does teamwork play in Critical Thinking ? Why is it an important character strength ?

Movie Details

• In theaters : September 4, 2020
• On DVD or streaming : September 4, 2020
• Cast : John Leguizamo , Rachel Bay Jones , Michael Kenneth Williams
• Director : John Leguizamo
• Inclusion Information : Latino directors, Latino actors, Female actors
• Studio : Vertical Entertainment
• Genre : Drama
• Topics : High School
• Character Strengths : Teamwork
• Run time : 117 minutes
• MPAA rating : NR
• Last updated : September 6, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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• Cast & crew
• User reviews

Critical Thinking

The true story of the Miami Jackson High School chess team which was the first inner city team to win the U.S. National Chess Championship. The true story of the Miami Jackson High School chess team which was the first inner city team to win the U.S. National Chess Championship. The true story of the Miami Jackson High School chess team which was the first inner city team to win the U.S. National Chess Championship.

• John Leguizamo
• Dito Montiel
• Rachel Bay Jones
• Michael Kenneth Williams
• 32 User reviews
• 20 Critic reviews
• 65 Metascore

Top cast 74

• Mr. Martinez

• Principal Kestel

• Mr. Roundtree

• Sedrick Roundtree

• Oelmy 'Ito' Paniagua
• (as Jorge Lendeborg)

• Rodelay Medina
• (as Angel Bismark Curiel)

• Marcel Martinez

• Detective Ransone

• Detective Vargas
• Michael Rivera

• Jitney Driver

• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

More like this

Did you know

• Trivia Martinez started the after-school chess club in 1992 after his teacher's lounge rounds of chess with another teacher sparked student interest. His playing partner left the school that year and students began challenging him to matches so the club was born.
• Goofs During Ito's game at the regional tournament, both Ito and Martinez say that he is in "Zugzwang". However, in a real "Zugzwang" situation, a player loses only because he is forced to make a move, while Ito lose the same way even if it was his opponent's time to move, as he could take the pawn on d3 with the queen.

Mr. Martinez : All right, now, people, this is gonna be very basic for some of you, but for the fish, or the newbies as I like to call you, this is gonna be eye opening because what you've got is 64 squares, 32 pieces, it doesn't matter how rich or poor you are, what Ivy League school you may go or you may not go to, what prison you hopefully never set foot in, because chess is the great equalizer.

• Crazy credits Over the credits, there are interviews with the real people who the movie is based on.
• Soundtracks What Would You Do Written by Timothy McNealy Performed by Timothy McNealy Published by Afrika Kuruvilla Kurian, BMI

User reviews 32

• nouyrigatantoine
• May 9, 2021
• How long is Critical Thinking? Powered by Alexa
• September 4, 2020 (United States)
• United States
• Eleştirel Düşünme
• Miami, Florida, USA
• Critical thinking
• Cinema Veritas
• Hialeah Park Studios
• See more company credits at IMDbPro
• $3,000,000 (estimated)

Technical specs

• Runtime 1 hour 57 minutes

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Currently you are able to watch "Critical Thinking" streaming on Netflix, Netflix basic with Ads. It is also possible to buy "Critical Thinking" on Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, Apple TV as download or rent it on Apple TV, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store online.

Based on a true story from 1998, five Latino and Black teenagers from the toughest underserved ghetto in Miami fight their way into the National Chess Championship under the guidance of their unconventional but inspirational teacher.

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Critical Thinking is 9398 on the JustWatch Daily Streaming Charts today. The movie has moved up the charts by 5060 places since yesterday. In the United States, it is currently more popular than We Go On but less popular than Don't Say Its Name.

Streaming charts last updated: 1:20:48 AM, 09/07/2024

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Critical Thinking Movie

Who's Involved:

Rachel Bay Jones, John Leguizamo, Michael Kenneth Williams, Ramses Jimenez, Dito Montiel, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Angel Bismark Curiel, Will Hochman, Zora Casebere, Jeffry Batista, Corwin C. Tuggles

Release Date:

Friday, September 4, 2020 VOD / Digital

Plot: What's the story about?

Based on a true story from 1998, five LatinX and Black teenagers from the toughest underserved ghetto in Miami fight their way into the National Chess Championship under the guidance of their unconventional but inspirational teacher.

4.00 / 5 stars ( 5 users)

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Who stars in Critical Thinking: Cast List

John Leguizamo

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Rachel Bay Jones

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Michael Kenneth Williams

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Jorge Lendeborg Jr.

Boogie, Night Teeth  

Angel Bismark Curiel

Will Hochman

Corwin C. Tuggles

Jeffry Batista

Ramses Jimenez

Zora Casebere

Who's making Critical Thinking: Crew List

A look at the Critical Thinking behind-the-scenes crew and production team. The film's writer Dito Montiel last wrote The Clapper and The Son of No One .

Screenwriter

Dito Montiel

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Production: what we know about critical thinking.

• Based on a true story.

Filming Timeline

• 2020 - August : The film was set to Completed  status.

Critical Thinking Release Date: When was the film released?

Critical Thinking was a VOD / Digital release in 2020 on Friday, September 4, 2020 . There were 5 other movies released on the same date, including Mulan , I'm Thinking of Ending Things and The Owners .

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• Fri., Aug. 21, 2020
• added photos to the photos gallery
• changed the US film release date from TBA to September 4, 2020
• set film release to VOD / Digital
• added a poster to the photo gallery
• added Official Trailer to movie trailers & videos
• added drama as a genre
• added John Leguizamo as director to movie credits
• added Dito Montiel as screenwriter to movie credits
• added Zora Casebere as actor to movie credits
• added Ramses Jimenez as actor to movie credits

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‘Critical Thinking’ Review: John Leguizamo’s Inspirational High-School Chess Drama

The true story of the Miami Jackson High chess team — five brainy wizards from the inner city — is told in a rousing but conventional way.

By Owen Gleiberman

Owen Gleiberman

Chief Film Critic

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“ Critical Thinking ” is one of those up-from-the-streets high-school competition movies where just mentioning the true story it’s based on kind of gives the game away. Set in 1998, it’s about the five chess wizards from Miami Jackson High who became the first inner-city chess team to win the National Championship. Boom! But, of course, it’s how they got there that matters, and even if this movie weren’t based on a true story, you’d know more or less know where it’s going. “Critical Thinking” has some appealing young actors, and it’s been directed, by John Leguizamo (who costars as the film’s tough-saint teacher), in a way that gives them the space to clown around and then get serious. It’s still, in the end, a bit of a connect-the-inspirational-dots movie, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be inspired.

Leguizamo plays Mario Martinez, who teaches an elective class in chess at Miami Jackson, where his students call him “Mr. T.” They’re a rowdy, bellicose, street-smart bunch, hard to control in class, so at first we think we’re seeing one of those movies, like “Stand and Deliver” or “To Sir, with Love,” about a captivatingly square gadfly instructor who shows a bunch of underprivileged kids how to transcend the expectations (or lack thereof) that have been thrust upon them.

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In a way, “Critical Thinking” is one of those movies, though with a crucial caveat: The basic training — the intellectual whipping into shape — has all happened before the drama even starts. Martinez, in his thankless underpaid plaid-shirts-off-the-rack way, is beloved by his students, and he has taught them well; they’re chess players who’ve got the game in their blood. (It’s the only thing that gets them to settle down .) Leguizamo, who spent a number of his early one-man stage shows sketching in (often quite brilliantly) the lives of young people from a similar background, knows how to create scenes that bubble with spontaneity. And he himself plays Martinez with an effusive, slightly weary middle-aged demeanor that’s touching, because what he nails is the unabashed corniness of certain great high-school teachers — their willingness to put on a show for their kids, to turn the life of the mind into energized nerd theater.

At one point, using the magnetic chess board at the front of the class, he plays out a chess match authored (and recorded) by Paul Morphy in 1858, and he makes it sound as exciting as something on Roblox. He employs silly accents (Southern, French, Austrian) and puts on wigs and fake beards to enact the game, and he draws the kids into it, challenging them in his geek-with-cool-slang way (“Why is it a wack move, Sedrick? Don’t just talk to me, man, show me!”).

It’s one of the only scenes where we actually witness the mechanics of chess, and while that’s always a challenge for a chess drama (there’s only so much it can lure the lay audience into the heady intricacies of the game), I wish the students’ connection with chess were less of a given, and a little less abstract. Watching “Critical Thinking,” you’d never even know that the art of chess is rooted in thinking several moves ahead. Yet Leguizamo stages the matches with percussive power, the kids pounding their time clocks even as their eyes burrow into the board like lasers.

Much of the film’s appeal lies in the way it revels in chess as a pure symbol of leveling the playing field of opportunity. As Mr. T explains, chess is “the great equalizer.” It doesn’t matter how rich or poor you are, what Ivy League college or prison you’re in: The elemental nature of the game shears away everything but intellectual ability. So in a drama like “Critical Thinking,” where five students (four Latinx and one African-American) bust out of a high school with limited resources to attend a series of tournaments, there’s a democracy-in-action, anyone-can-win-in-America spirit.

The actors are terrific; the roles, as written, less so. Leguizamo is working from a script, by Dito Montiel, that walks the line between lived-in experience and overboiled cliché. Sedrick is played by Corwin Tuggles, who has a great pensive face, and he lends conviction to the character’s struggles at home. But it still feels like a contrivance that his father (Michael Kenneth Williams), an angry curmudgeon who treats his son’s chess victories as if they were beneath contempt, is also…the guy who plays chess with him every day! The other pivotal character is the canny hothead Ito (Jorge Lendeborg Jr,.), who begins to moonlight as a drug dealer, and though it’s not that we don’t buy it, it plays out like one of those obligatory flirtation-with-delinquency subplots from the 1980s.

There’s also a newly arrived immigrant from Cuba who joins the class — a sleek prodigy named Marcel (Jeffrey Batista), who can play (and win) four simultaneous games with his eyes closed. Always good to have someone like that on your team! As likable an actor as Leguizamo is, “Critical Thinking” never generates the teacher/student face-off intensity that “Stand and Deliver” did. The issue of how the team members fund their trips, with Martinez having to win over a skeptical principal (Rachel Bay Jones), creates some tension along the sidelines, yet once these kids start to win their tournaments it seems like they can do no wrong. The picture is pleasant enough, but watching it you’re always one or two moves ahead.

Related: 

Reviewed online, Aug. 31, 2020. MPAA Rating: Not rated. Running time: 113 MIN.

• Production: A Vertical Entertainment release of a Chaplin/Berkowitz production, in association with NRSP, Cinema Veritas. Producers: Scott Rosenfelt, Jason Mandl. Executive producers: Harvey R. Chaplin, Carla Berkowitz, Emilio Estefan Jr.
• Crew: Director: John Leguizamo. Screenplay: Dito Montiel. Camera: Zach Zambone. Editor: Jamie Kirkpatrick. Music: Chris Hajian.
• With: John Leguizamo, Corwin Tuggles, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Will Hochman, Angel Curiel, Jeffrey Batista, Michael Kenneth Williams, Rachel Bay Jones, Zora Casebere.

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Summary Based on a true story from 1998, five LatinX and Black teenagers from the toughest underserved ghetto in Miami fight their way into the National Chess Championship under the guidance of their unconventional but inspirational teacher.

Directed By : John Leguizamo

Written By : Dito Montiel

Critical Thinking

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Mr. martinez, rachel bay jones, principal kestel, michael kenneth williams, mr. roundtree, corwin c. tuggles, sedrick roundtree, jorge lendeborg jr., oelmy 'ito' paniagua, angel bismark curiel, rodelay medina, jeffry batista, marcel martinez, will hochman, zora casebere, ramses jimenez, isaac beverly, todd allen durkin, detective ransone, detective vargas, michael rivera, sydney arroyo, mike benitez, jitney driver, john manzelli, betsy graver, landon price, concerned coach, critic reviews.

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Chess is the great equalizer

Based on a true story from 1998, five Latino and Black teenagers from the toughest underserved ghetto in Miami fight their way into the National Chess Championship under the guidance of their unconventional but inspirational teacher.

John Leguizamo

Dito Montiel

Top Billed Cast

Mario Martinez

Rachel Bay Jones

Principal Kestel

Michael Kenneth Williams

Mr. Roundtree

Corwin C. Tuggles

Sedrick Roundtree

Jorge Lendeborg Jr.

Ito Paniagua

Angel Bismark Curiel

Rodelay Medina

Will Hochman

Jeffry Batista

Marcel Martinez

Zora Casebere

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Original Language English

• miami, florida
• high school
• based on true story
• chess tournament

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