Chess Documentary Magnus Now Sold To 38 Countries

In an interview with Dagens Næringsliv the producer of Benjamin Ree’s documentary Magnus, Sigurd Mikal Karoliussen, spoke of the potential for the film now that it has been sold to 38 countries:

“Magnus has been sold to countries on three different continents, which is absolutely incredible. It shows that the story of a ‘different boy’, who is the best chess player of all time, is something that captivates across both culture and language.”

“We posted a clip on NowThis, and it has been watched 6.5m times in one short month. If that response translates to a large cinema audience, then I think Magnus could become the most watched Norwegian film in history.”

Magnus, which premiered at Tribeca in April, is a portrait of Magnus Carlsen who from a young age had aspirations of becoming a chess champion. While many players seek out a rigid environment to hone their skills, Magnus’ brilliance shines brightest when surrounded by his loving and supportive family.

The project began life as a simple five minute report for VGTV, but as director Ree gained greater access to Magnus the potential to turn it into something more became clear. Through archival footage and home movies, the documentary reveals the unusual and rapid trajectory of Magnus to the pinnacle of the chess world.