Match Point (2005)

Last updated:
September 15, 2025

Match Point (2005) is one of Woody Allen’s most celebrated later-career films, often described as a dark psychological thriller wrapped in an elegant London setting. Below is a detailed exploration of the movie across multiple aspects.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

Chris Wilton’s New Beginning

Chris Wilton (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) is a former professional tennis player who transitions into the London elite by becoming a coach at an upscale club. His charm and ambition quickly attract the attention of Tom Hewett (Matthew Goode), a wealthy young man who introduces Chris to his family.

Climbing the Social Ladder

Chris is soon drawn into the upper-class lifestyle. He begins a relationship with Tom’s sister, Chloe Hewett (Emily Mortimer), a kind but somewhat naive woman. Marrying Chloe offers Chris financial stability and access to the prestigious social circles he craves.

Enter Nola Rice

Things get complicated when Chris meets Nola Rice (Scarlett Johansson), Tom’s fiancée, an aspiring actress from America who feels constantly judged and rejected by Tom’s family. Chris and Nola share a strong sexual attraction, leading to a dangerous affair.

The Dangerous Obsession

While married to Chloe, Chris secretly continues his relationship with Nola. When Tom eventually breaks up with Nola, Chris intensifies his pursuit, caught between his responsibilities as a wealthy husband and his burning desire for Nola.

The Threat of Exposure

Nola grows impatient and frustrated with Chris. She wants him to leave Chloe and be with her. When Chloe struggles with infertility and pressures Chris about having a child, Chris becomes increasingly desperate. His double life threatens to implode.

The Murder Plot

Chris, unable to envision a future where he leaves his privileged life behind, makes a chilling decision. He murders Nola and her elderly neighbor in a staged burglary, eliminating the threat she poses to his social standing.

Movie Ending

The climax is chilling and morally devastating. After the double murder, Chris disposes of incriminating evidence by tossing Nola’s jewelry into the River Thames. One key piece—a ring—hits the railing and bounces back onto the dock, a seemingly small mistake that should have sealed his fate.

When the police investigate, suspicion briefly falls on Chris. But in a cruel twist of fate, the ring is later found in possession of a drug addict, making it look like he was responsible for the burglary and murders. Chris escapes justice entirely.

The film ends with Chris maintaining his life of wealth and privilege, married to Chloe, who is now pregnant. His internal guilt is hinted at, but outwardly, he suffers no consequences. Woody Allen leaves us with a haunting meditation on luck, morality, and the terrifying possibility that evil can prosper when fortune tilts the balance.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No. Match Point does not have a post-credits scene. The movie concludes definitively with its chilling final act, leaving the audience unsettled without additional material.

Type of Movie

Match Point is a psychological thriller and crime drama. It blends themes of ambition, lust, betrayal, and morality with Woody Allen’s existential philosophy about chance and fate.

Cast

Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Chris Wilton
Scarlett Johansson as Nola Rice
Emily Mortimer as Chloe Hewett
Matthew Goode as Tom Hewett
Brian Cox as Alec Hewett
Penelope Wilton as Eleanor Hewett

Film Music and Composer

The soundtrack features classic opera recordings rather than an original score. Particularly important are the works of Giuseppe Verdi and Gaetano Donizetti, which serve as a dramatic counterpoint to the action. The use of opera underscores the film’s themes of tragedy and fate.

Filming Locations

London, England: The city itself is central to the film, representing class, wealth, and opportunity.
Key locations include the Tate Modern, the Royal Opera House, and upscale Mayfair neighborhoods, each reinforcing the contrast between Chris’s humble origins and his ascent into privilege.

Awards and Nominations

Nominated for Academy Award: Best Original Screenplay (Woody Allen)
Nominated for Golden Globe Awards: Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress (Scarlett Johansson)
Nominated for BAFTA Awards: Best Original Screenplay
Although it did not win major awards, the film is widely regarded as one of Allen’s best-written works.

Behind the Scenes Insights

Woody Allen originally planned to shoot the movie in New York, but financing required a move to London. This shift gave the film a fresh European elegance.
Scarlett Johansson was not the first choice for Nola but was cast after Allen met her on another set. Her performance became one of the most talked-about elements of the film.
Jonathan Rhys Meyers adopted a colder, restrained acting style under Allen’s guidance to highlight Chris’s moral detachment.

Inspirations and References

The story draws inspiration from Fyodor Dostoevsky’s “Crime and Punishment”, particularly in the exploration of guilt, morality, and luck. It also borrows themes from classic film noir, where an ambitious man is corrupted by desire and greed.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

No official alternate ending has been revealed, but Woody Allen mentioned that the story originally had a version where Chris was caught and punished. Ultimately, Allen chose the more unsettling ending, where chance saves Chris from justice.

Book Adaptations and Differences

Match Point is not directly based on a book, but as noted, it heavily echoes Crime and Punishment. The difference lies in the conclusion: Dostoevsky’s protagonist ultimately confesses and faces moral redemption, while Allen’s Chris escapes, reinforcing his thesis about random luck ruling life.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

Chris and Nola’s first encounter at the ping pong table, where their chemistry is immediate.
The opera scene, foreshadowing the film’s tragic tone.
Chris discarding the jewelry by the river—an act where luck literally determines his fate.

Iconic Quotes

Chris Wilton: “It would be fitting if I were apprehended and punished. At least there would be some small sign of justice. Some small measure of hope for the possibility of meaning.”
Chris Wilton: “The man who said ‘I’d rather be lucky than good’ saw deeply into life.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

The recurring motif of tennis and “match point” symbolizes how luck, not skill, often determines victory or defeat.
Opera isn’t just background music—it mirrors the film’s tragic themes, echoing Chris’s descent into moral corruption.

Trivia

This is one of Woody Allen’s rare films without his typical comedic elements.
It marked Allen’s first significant collaboration with Scarlett Johansson, who would go on to star in Scoop and Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
Many critics praised the London setting as revitalizing Allen’s work.

Why Watch?

If you enjoy psychological thrillers, morally complex characters, and stories that challenge ideas of justice, this film is essential. It’s stylish, thought-provoking, and haunting, with a finale that will stay with you long after the credits roll.

Director’s Other Movies

Annie Hall (1977)
Manhattan (1979)
Husbands and Wives (1992)
Blue Jasmine (2013)
Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

Match Point (2005)