Searching for Bobby Fischer

Play trailer

Searching for Bobby Fischer

PG

1993

1h 50m

Biography

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

98%

Tomatometer

44 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

After he beats his dad in a chess match, Josh Waitzkin, a 7-year-old, gets noticed for his talent. He becomes interested in speed chess at the park and learns the game from a hustler named Vinnie. However, Josh's parents invest in the services of Bruce, a famous coach who has very different practices. Between Bruce's methods and the stress of the competitions, Josh learns that even a chess prodigy cannot make all the right moves.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

As sensitive as the young man at its center, Searching for Bobby Fischer uses a prodigy's struggle to find personal balance as the background for a powerfully moving drama.

Read Critics Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

02/13/2019

It makes for a good old-fashioned inspirational story, absorbing and pointed.

Go to Full Review

Kenneth Turan

Los Angeles Times

02/13/2019

Zaillian proves as much of a prodigy as his chess-playing subject, turning out a film that is a beautifully calibrated model of honestly sentimental filmmaking, made with delicacy, restraint and unmistakable emotional power.

Go to Full Review

David Ansen

Newsweek

05/15/2018

The story he is telling--about parenting, teachers and students, and the nature of competition--is a rich one, and Zaillian tells it with warmth, humor and zest. The cast is first-rate.

Go to Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

03/17/2025

5/10

While it’s all agreeable and pleasant, it’s far from outstanding; it’s a very basic, formulaic, moderate inspirational drama.

Go to Full Review

Mark Jackson

Epoch Times

08/13/2021

4/5

The fields of math, music, chess, and acting all produce child prodigies. Luckily for us, lead child actor Max Pomeranc can check two prodigy boxes.

Go to Full Review

Leigh Paatsch

Herald Sun (Australia)

09/11/2020

4/5

Newcomer Max Pomeranc is nothing short of brilliant as Josh, handing in one of the best performances by a child actor you could ever hope to see.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Lisa M.

@LMMARIN Jun 4

Love this movie. That’s all.

See more

Y K

@Yousefq80 Feb 16

Is ok movie. Not about technical aspects of chess, but a story of a kid who is a prodigy and i guess the ending is known from the start. Slow slow slow slow. The music makes it even slower , typical of thr 90s movies when i was in colleage. Back then, all the movies had the same music style, meant to make you emotional. It might have worked back then, but now, and after 120 years of cinema, we have seen everything, i does not do anything to your emotions and actually the opposite, gets in your nerves. Watchable and ok movie for the kids to learn to be winners. By the way, that kid became martial art champion and advisor for the Boston Celtics, who won NBA championship!!! Go figure! Maybe part 2 would be more crazier and intriguing, martial champion and NBA advisor and champion.... Truth to be said, true winner this Josh Waitzkin.

See more

john e

@RT23744116 Dec 3

This movie was very very slow to get going - a loner 8 year old... OK he's great at chess, but... I didn't make it past the first 35 minutes.

See more

The R

@RT23999627 08/04/2025

It is a very good movie about chess but I was not so convinced by its dark photography and the acting of the main child is not very charismatic

See more

Sergio L

@RT64012239 03/12/2025

Great Kid prodigy learning chess storie is fun and with a super strong story but the name is a trap to make you think this had something to do with bobby ficher when it really dosent.

See more

Erica B

@RT29941355 03/04/2025

Good feature film ………

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Steven Zaillian

Director

Joe Mantegna

Fred Waitzkin

Max Pomeranc

Josh Waitzkin

Joan Allen

Bonnie Waitzkin

Ben Kingsley

Bruce Pandolfini

Laurence Fishburne

Vinnie

Searching for Bobby Fischer: Official Clip - Grandmaster

2:08

Searching for Bobby Fischer: Official Clip - Josh Offers a Draw

2:13

Searching for Bobby Fischer: Official Clip - Contempt

1:38

Searching for Bobby Fischer: Official Clip - Master Certificate

1:54

Searching for Bobby Fischer: Official Clip - Fear of Losing

1:40

Searching for Bobby Fischer: Official Clip - Josh Loses

1:41

Searching for Bobby Fischer: Official Clip - The Next Bobby Fischer

1:35

Searching for Bobby Fischer: Official Clip - Learning From the Master

2:12

Searching for Bobby Fischer: Official Clip - This Chess Thing

1:37

Searching for Bobby Fischer: Official Clip - A Prodigy

0:58

View more videos

Stand and Deliver

89%

79%

Stand and Deliver

Watchlist

Selena

66%

78%

Selena

Watchlist

The Elephant Man

91%

93%

The Elephant Man

Watchlist

Mahler

75%

77%

Mahler

Watchlist

Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius

27%

62%

Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

After he beats his dad in a chess match, Josh Waitzkin, a 7-year-old, gets noticed for his talent. He becomes interested in speed chess at the park and learns the game from a hustler named Vinnie. However, Josh's parents invest in the services of Bruce, a famous coach who has very different practices. Between Bruce's methods and the stress of the competitions, Josh learns that even a chess prodigy cannot make all the right moves.

Director: Steven Zaillian
Producer: William Horberg, Scott Rudin
Screenwriter: Steven Zaillian
Distributor: Argentina Video Home, Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Mirage Entertainment
Rating: PG
Genre: Biography, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 11, 1993, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $7.9M
Runtime: 1h 50m
Sound Mix: Surround

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings