We Need to Talk About the Churros Scene in ‘Challengers’

Samantha Allen: In the history of Them roundtable discussions, I’m not sure we’ve ever assembled a more important brain trust than this: We are gathered together today to discuss the ubiquitousness of phallic foods in Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers.

Immediately after the movie ended, I wanted to talk with somebody about the churros scene. Maybe we’d touch on the banana moment, but the churros were obviously the centerpiece, right? But then Sally, you reminded me that there was also a scene in which Art and Patrick eat hot dogs together. So my first, very important question is: What is your ranking of the erotic phallic food sequences in this tennis threesome movie?

Juan Velasquez: I think since I forgot the hot dogs, that would be my least favorite, followed by the banana and the winner is the churros, for sure. The Foley work on those crunchy cinnamon dough sticks was ASMR gold.

Sally Tamarkin: I think we have to give it to the churros. Of all the times Art and Patrick eat phallic foods with and around each other, I think the chemistry — honestly, “sexual tension” does a disservice to what’s happening with these two — between Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist is at its most potent in the churro scene. The way they hold eye contact while Patrick holds the churro up to Art’s mouth, who — without breaking eye contact — smirks and opens up to take a bite…. well, move over, Call Me by Your Name peach.

I do want to shout out Art eating a packet of sports gel, pulling on the container with his teeth until the goo comes out (sorry), which happens alongside Patrick’s banana-eating. I just can’t not point this out.

S.A.: Right? That was such a smart contrast between Art, the supplement-swilling cuck, and Patrick, the fruit-eating Chad. Not to mention the pink hydration elixir Art is sipping on during the entire challenger match. What works so well in the churro scene is that it’s basically a psychosexual dance between the two men, as you pointed out, Sally. When Patrick finishes off the rest of Art’s churro, he’s saying, “I’m hungrier than you,” in multiple senses.