McEnroe is an intimate portrait of one of the most explosive and compelling sporting icons of all time. John was an era-defining talent, Number One in the world in four consecutive years, but also a man prone to self-destruction. It’s this internal conflict that drove John to the very top, and very nearly broke him too. McEnroe features completely unseen film archive from some of the biggest matches in tennis history – including the US Open and Wimbledon - as well as home video footage from John himself. Contributions from John’s children and his wife Patty Smyth provide a level of intimacy that takes the film beyond a mere sports biopic and into the realms of something deeply personal and confessional. Featuring icons such as Billie Jean King, Bjorn Borg and Keith Richards, the film brings to life a golden age of tennis and the 80’s excess of John’s hometown: New York City. Beyond John’s tennis legacy (his combined 149 titles still rank as the highest in the Men’s Open era), John’s story grows to become a search for connection, a journey towards acceptance of himself and others. Compassionate, human and heartfelt, McEnroe is the definitive portrait of a force of nature powered by the beating heart of New York.

Barney has written and directed two previous feature theatrical documentaries: Warriors (2015) about Kenyan Maasai Warriors that used sport to end FGM in their village, and TheEdge (2019) the story of England’s greatest cricket team. He has also directed promos for the Ashes and Investec Derby, as well as films for FIFA and UEFA. He is a huge music fan and plays catastrophic guitar.