References in Pop Culture Chess has penetrated far into pop culture, appearing in film, television, music, and even video games. As a metaphor for power, intelligence, strategy, or fate, chess continues to be fascinating to audiences across the world.
Chess in film and television // From Hollywood to international cinema, chess often plays a pivotal role in storytelling:
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) - The giant wizard’s chess scene serves as a metaphor for bravery and strategic thinking. © IMDb
The Queen’s Gambit (2020) - This Netflix series completely revived global interest in chess, portraying the struggles and triumphs of a female prodigy in a male-dominated field. © Netflix
The Seventh Seal (1957) - A medieval knight plays chess against Death itself, symbolizing a battle against fate. © Britannica
X-Men (2000) & X-Men: First Class (2011) & X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019) - Professor X and Magneto’s ongoing chess matches reflect their intellectual rivalry and profound ideological conflicts. © Entertainment Weekly
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011) - Holmes and Moriarty face off in an intense mental chess duel, mirroring their real-life battle of wits. © Reddit
Chess in music and literature
The Wu-Tang Clan reference chess in their lyrics, seeing it as a metaphor for strategic thinking in life. VIDEO
Nabokov’s The Defence (1930) tells the story of a chess prodigy whose obsession with the game consumes him. © Raptis Rare Books
Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass (1871) structures the entire story like a chess game, where Alice moves from pawn to queen. © US Chess Federation
Chess in video games and animation
The Simpsons , Brave , and Death Note all feature chess as a symbol of intellect, manipulation, and balance. © US Chess Federation; Apprentice of the Chosen One; Netflix
Persona 5 and Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood integrate chess into their storylines as a metaphor for power and control. © Surreal Resolution; Assassin's Creed Wiki - Fandom