Knights of the South Bronx is a 2005 American drama television film directed by Allen Hughes and written by Jamal Joseph and Dianne Houston.

Based on a true story, it stars Ted Danson as a teacher who helps students at a tough South Bronx elementary school to succeed by teaching them to play chess.

The screenplay portrays whistle-blowing and a mid-life crisis that combine to remove Richard Mason (played by Ted Danson) from his old life.

Then a student whose father is in jail sees Mason in the park playing chess in a simultaneous exhibition, and beating fourteen opponents at once.

David MacEnulty, the inspiration for the film's main character, taught the basics of chess to the child actors.