Spellbound

G

Released Apr 30, 2003

1h 37m

Documentary

List

97%

139 Reviews

Tomatometer

83%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Eight youthful competitors, sponsored by their hometown newspapers, travel with their families to Washington, D.C., to compete in the 1999 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Now in the national spotlight and under heavy pressure to perform from parents, teachers and their audience, the children struggle to advance toward the championship -- and its accompanying scholarships and cash prizes -- while approaching competitive spelling with the focus and intensity of Olympic athletes.

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Critics Consensus

A suspenseful, gripping documentary that features an engaging cross section of American children.

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Leaburn O

I recall watching this about twenty years back. Spelling Bees aren't a thing in the UK so I was fascinated by this tasteful documentary. Weirdly American but interesting.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/15/24

Full Review

UneXplainabl

Nice little documentary about the 1999 national spelling bee.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/08/22

Full Review

Evan M

Watching a documentary about spelling bees is slightly more entertaining than watching paint dry.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

07/02/23

Full Review

robert p

A very good show/Movie about how kids love to be loved and also a terrific film get's *4* star from Me.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The best documentary about the Scripps National Spelling Bee!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Minimal, ineffective attachment defines the sort of engagement this structured home video compilation diving into the meaning and importance of its psychologically gripping subject that inspires in youthfully gifted admirable determination before facing the ultimate test. (B)

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

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Jeffrey Blitz

Director

Paige Kimble

Self

Jonathan Knisely

Self

Balu Natarajan

Self

Julianne Ruth

Self

Jeffrey Blitz

Writer

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Spellbound: Movie Clip

1:37

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Neil Norman

London Evening Standard

The result is a powerful, moving and often very funny exploration of what it is to be an American.

Jan 11, 2018

Full Review

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Families should see this m-a-r-v-e-l-o-u-s film.

Rated: 5/5

Dec 28, 2010

Full Review

Empire Magazine

Rated: 4/5

Dec 30, 2006

Full Review

Farah Cheded

A Good Movie To Watch

An endearing use of the sports documentary format to celebrate child geniuses [...] An alternately emotional, funny, and always gripping watch.

Sep 16, 2023

Full Review

Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

A charming and entertaining view into the world of the National Spelling Bee and a glimpse into the challenges its competitors face...

Mar 17, 2014

Full Review

Film Threat

Rated: 3.5/5

Dec 6, 2005

Full Review

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Synopsis

Eight youthful competitors, sponsored by their hometown newspapers, travel with their families to Washington, D.C., to compete in the 1999 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Now in the national spotlight and under heavy pressure to perform from parents, teachers and their audience, the children struggle to advance toward the championship -- and its accompanying scholarships and cash prizes -- while approaching competitive spelling with the focus and intensity of Olympic athletes.

Director: Jeffrey Blitz
Screenwriter: Jeffrey Blitz
Distributor: ThinkFilm
Production Co: Blitz/Welch
Rating: G
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 30, 2003, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 13, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.7M
Runtime: 1h 37m

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