Searching

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Searching

PG-13

2018

1h 42m

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

260 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

David Kim becomes desperate when his 16-year-old daughter Margot disappears and an immediate police investigation leads nowhere. He soon decides to search the one place that no one else has -- Margot's laptop. Hoping to trace her digital footprints, David contacts her friends and looks at photos and videos for any possible clues to her whereabouts.

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Critics Consensus

Searching's timely premise and original execution are further bolstered by well-rounded characters brought to life by a talented cast.

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Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

09/14/2022

A mystery that’s far meatier than its virtual framing would suggest.

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Andrea Gronvall

Chicago Reader

03/20/2020

Shot mostly with iPhones and GoPro cameras, the movie is visually drab and a little too gimmicky - ultimately it's a stunt, albeit an engrossing one.

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Roxana Hadadi

Chesapeake Family Magazine

09/21/2018

3.5/5

Searching follows Eighth Grade as another thought-provoking film about the intersection between teens' lives and their presence-and reliance-on social media.

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Ankit Ojha

Cinema Elite

07/09/2024

4.5/5

Going against the Heightened Realism 101 rulebook in films of this kind, Chaganty underlines his storytelling with a terrific score and appropriate rhythm-heavy editing.

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Kate Boyle

InSession Film

07/08/2024

The writing is amazing, the use of technology is great, and it doesn't feel cheesy as it has in past films.

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Manuel São Bento

MSB Reviews

07/24/2023

A

A tremendously unique style of filmmaking elevates an almost seamlessly written mystery, containing constant twists and puzzling clues that leave the audience captivated throughout the entire runtime.

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William L.

@LiveFromNYC 5d

Fantastic viewing of family values and love

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Alain E

@AlainE Feb 19

The first 19 minutes is mostly the father typing emails and texts searching for his missing daughter. As exciting as hell. And I always enjoy the realistic 555 phone numbers. Sayonara!

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Kmss G.

@pianississimo Feb 11

It's a complete nightmare for Asian parents in San Jose. I was scared.

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Landon B.

@LandonThe3rd Dec 13

There wasn’t a second in the movie where I wasn’t fully engaged, and every scene had me guessing what was gonna happen next. The ending is perfect too.

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Oz S

@Ozsoffy Dec 7

Searching tells the story of a father who uses every digital trace available to find his missing daughter. The entire film unfolds through screens, calls, and messages, yet it manages to stay tense and emotionally engaging. The format draws you close to the characters and makes each new clue feel personal. The performances are sincere, and the pacing moves with purpose as the mystery deepens. The twists arrive steadily and keep you guessing, even if a few moments ask you to suspend a bit of disbelief. What makes the film stand out is how naturally it integrates modern technology into its storytelling. It turns everyday digital habits into a powerful narrative tool and delivers a clever, gripping thriller that leaves an impression long after the search ends.

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Jalvzz ..

@jalvzz Dec 7

Good watch I really like the plot

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Aneesh Chaganty

Director

John Cho

David Kim

Debra Messing

Detective Vick

Joseph Lee

Peter

Michelle La

Margot

Sara Sohn

Pamela Nam Kim

Searching: Official Clip - What Did You Do to My Daughter?

3:57

Searching: Official Clip - Crazy Dad Theater Attack

3:31

Searching: Official Clip - Mommy's Gonna Make It Better

1:52

Searching: Official Clip - Detective Rosemary Vick

2:28

Searching: Official Clip - Stock Photo Killer

2:55

Searching: Official Clip - Finding the Killer

4:16

Searching: Official Clip - fish_n_chips

3:46

Searching: Official Clip - You Told Me She Ran Away

2:27

Searching: Official Clip - You Don't Always Know Your Kid

2:06

Searching: Official Clip - When We Were a Family

1:43

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Synopsis

David Kim becomes desperate when his 16-year-old daughter Margot disappears and an immediate police investigation leads nowhere. He soon decides to search the one place that no one else has -- Margot's laptop. Hoping to trace her digital footprints, David contacts her friends and looks at photos and videos for any possible clues to her whereabouts.

Director: Aneesh Chaganty
Producer: Sev Ohanian, Timur Bekmambetov, Adam Sidman, Natalie Qasabian
Distributor: Screen Gems, Stage 6, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co: Screen Gems, Stage 6 Films, Bazelevs Production
Rating: PG-13 (Some Drug References|Language|Some Sexual References|Thematic Content)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 31, 2018, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 13, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $26.0M
Runtime: 1h 42m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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