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Searching

Play trailer 1:00 Poster for Searching PG-13 Released Aug 31, 2018 1h 42m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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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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Critics Reviews

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Kevin Maher Times (UK) A mystery that’s far meatier than its virtual framing would suggest. Sep 14, 2022 Full Review Andrea Gronvall Chicago Reader 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. Mar 20, 2020 Full Review Roxana Hadadi Chesapeake Family Magazine Searching follows Eighth Grade as another thought-provoking film about the intersection between teens' lives and their presence-and reliance-on social media. Rated: 3.5/5 Sep 21, 2018 Full Review Ankit Ojha Cinema Elite 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. Rated: 4.5/5 Jul 9, 2024 Full Review Kate Boyle InSession Film The writing is amazing, the use of technology is great, and it doesn't feel cheesy as it has in past films. Jul 8, 2024 Full Review Manuel São Bento MSB Reviews 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. Rated: A Jul 24, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Worst movie I’ve ever seen Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/11/25 Full Review Layth E movie was predictable and the build up was too long, Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/10/25 Full Review Luis I I can’t believe this film managed to keep me entertained and intrigued while only showing screen recordings of a computer and phone for its entire runtime (around 1 hour and 40 minutes). The merit has to go to the writing, the way the story is structured, and how the mystery unfolds piece by piece. That said, it’s not perfectly knit, some clues should have come up earlier in the investigation, and a few moments feel slightly unrealistic for this type of scenario. However, the character work and the emotional depth of the story are strong enough to make these issues easy to overlook. One small flaw I noticed was in certain phone and video calls. Some didn’t feel like live conversations; the pacing, timing, and rhythm seemed slightly off. It’s not a major issue, and I only picked up on it a few times, but it was noticeable. Overall, this is a very well-crafted mystery that explores family dynamics, communication, and trauma, all told in a creative and unique format that ties into the film’s theme. I definitely recommend watching it. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/06/25 Full Review Ralph R *Searching* is one of those movies that grabs your attention from the very start with its unique storytelling style. The entire film unfolds through digital screens, which adds an intriguing layer to the narrative and feels surprisingly natural. The story builds a solid foundation, with good pacing and character development that makes you genuinely invested in what's happening. John Cho delivers a strong and emotional performance as a father searching for his daughter, and the way the movie balances suspense with heartfelt moments is impressive. One of the highlights of *Searching* is how it incorporates technology into the story without feeling forced. It's refreshing to see a film that uses tools we interact with every day-like social media and video calls-in a way that feels realistic, even if some details are slightly dramatized. The film does a great job of keeping you on edge, and the twists keep coming at just the right moments to keep things interesting. However, the last act felt a bit underdeveloped, with some pieces of the puzzle not landing as effectively as the rest of the movie. Overall, *Searching* is a well-executed thriller that deserves credit for trying something different and pulling it off. While it isn't perfect, especially toward the end, the innovative approach and strong performances make it worth a watch. If you enjoy a good mystery with a fresh presentation, this one's definitely worth your time. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/26/25 Full Review Daniel C. M A rushed ending fortunaly can't bring down this original and innovative screenlife film with impressive direction and a unpredictable story. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/25/25 Full Review Audience Member Really Really Cool Movie. I LOVE that it is almost all shot on a computer screen or through one. It's as original as it can be- nothing like it. Great performances all around and some unexpected plot twists that totally kept me guessing and interested. This isn't quite a 5/ that is for a very small handful of movies, but it is better than most of my fours and an easy buy for your collection. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 12/29/24 Full Review 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
Timur Bekmambetov, Sev Ohanian, Adam Sidman, Natalie Qasabian
Screenwriter
Aneesh Chaganty, Sev Ohanian
Distributor
Sony Pictures Entertainment, Screen Gems, Stage 6
Production Co
Bazelevs Production, Stage 6 Films, Screen Gems
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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