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Play trailer 1:00 Poster for Searching PG-13 2018 1h 42m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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92% Tomatometer 259 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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Critics Reviews

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Kevin Maher The Times (UK) Sep 14, 2022
A mystery that’s far meatier than its virtual framing would suggest. Go to Full Review
Andrea Gronvall Chicago Reader Mar 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. Go to Full Review
Roxana Hadadi Chesapeake Family Magazine Sep 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. Go to Full Review
Ankit Ojha Cinema Elite Jul 9, 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. Go to Full Review
Manuel São Bento MSB Reviews (Ghost.io) Jul 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. Go to Full Review
Adrian Ruiz But Why Tho? Jan 17, 2023
10/10
If you like suspense movies, innovation, and John Cho you do not want to miss the movie. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Louise F @RT68710698 5 days ago This film was quite honestly, amazing. I decided to forego watching it in theaters when it was released, as I was low on funds, but I see now what a huge mistake that was. This film tells a story in a way that is entirely unique. Sure, it's been tried, once or twice, by horror films and such. And it was always cheesy, unconvincing and unmotivated. Here, the immersion is never broken for a moment by inplausability. The film not only focuses on an Asian-American family, which in and of itself, is worthy of praise, given how few important roles are given to Asian-Americans in Hollywood but even goes beyond that. Cho's performance as a worried, grieving, desperate father shows just how capable of an actor he is. Harold Lee, Hikaru Sulu, and now this? His range is impressive. I recommend this film quite highly, if your idea of horror or thriller is a little more complex than that of the average Friday The Thirteenth or Nerve fan. See more John C @JohnClasky Sep 4, 2026 Searching was completely captivating from the very first frame to the ending credits. Telling the entire story through computer screens, phones, and security footage could have felt like a gimmick, but instead, it made the mystery feel terrifyingly realistic and intimate. John Cho's performance as a desperate father looking for his missing daughter was grounded, emotional, and kept me glued to the screen the entire time. Every detail, notification, and browser tab built a level of tension that kept me guessing nonstop. And then came the plot twist I was genuinely shocked. I usually pride myself on predicting thriller endings, but this caught me completely off guard while still making absolute sense looking back. It is rare for a film to keep you on the edge of your seat like this while delivering such a powerful emotional core. If you love incredible storytelling, sharp pacing, and mind-bending mystery, this is an absolute must-watch. 10/10! See more Michizou T @RT56442117 Aug 30, 2026 Amazing twist! Unexpected and wonderfully executed! Great story, and heartfelt premise. See more Diniru W @RT57969406 Aug 28, 2026 I liked this movie. This unlocked a completely new cinematography angle in my view. And I think the main thing that stopped this from crossing the line to a gimmick is that the implementation of this new angle was done incredibly. Necessarily not flawless but almost near perfection. The reason I didn't give this film a 5/5 is that the story gets "lazy" near the end. But I loved the initial parts leading to David's daughter's disappearance and he discovering her completely different side that he never saw. I would recommend this. See more Cinema S @cinema_sensei Aug 21, 2026 A surprisingly effective mystery that turns computer screens, messages, video calls, and social media into the entire filmmaking language. The concept could easily have felt like a gimmick, but the editing and pacing keep the investigation tense and engaging. John Cho gives the story an emotional center, while the twists keep changing what you think you know. Some reveals feel a little too convenient, but overall it's a clever and gripping thriller. See more idcluc T @RT91171310 Aug 7, 2026 Amazing movie, serving as a strong warning against strangers we meet on social media, stronger now than ever as social media has fully become a part of our lives. See more Read all reviews
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Movie Info

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
Sony Pictures Entertainment, Screen Gems, Stage 6
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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