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Trailer+1 trailer

Searching for Bobby Fischer

1993Movie1 h 50 minPG

Drama
84
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.3Metacritic897.4Rotten Tomatoes98%85%

A hopeful, wholesome drama movie about sports and games.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

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Not for laughs, scares or brutality.

Movies with

Story

Every journey begins with a single move.

A seven-year-old chess prodigy refuses to harden himself in order to become a champion like the famous but unlikable Bobby Fischer.

Feels like

  • Chess Prodigy
  • Coming-of-Age Drama
  • Family Relationships
  • Psychological Depth
  • Character-Driven
  • Sports Drama
  • Nineties Nostalgia
  • Good vs. Evil
  • Morality
  • Sacrifice

Cast

24 of 26

Crew

Directed by
Steven Zaillian
Written by
Steven Zaillian, Fred Waitzkin
Produced by
Scott Rudin, William Horberg
Music by
James Horner

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

August 13, 1993 · 1 h 50 min · PG

Released
August 13, 1993
Runtime
1 h 50 min
Age rating
PG
Genres
Drama
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Budget
$12 million
Box office
$7 million
Available in
54 countries

Tropes

Pragmatic Adaptation, Big Game, Real-Person Cameo +9

  • Pragmatic Adaptation
  • Big Game
  • Real-Person Cameo
  • Suddenly Shouting
  • Oh, Crap!
  • Serious Business
  • All of Them
  • Sports Dad
  • Handshake Refusal
  • Worthy Opponent
  • Good-Times Montage
  • Bait-and-Switch Comment

12 of 38 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream Searching for Bobby Fischer?"

Questions about Searching for Bobby Fischer

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Searching for Bobby Fischer?

Hoopla

In the United States, Searching for Bobby Fischer is free with ads on Hoopla. You can rent or buy it from JustWatch TV Free, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 26 other countries.

Is Searching for Bobby Fischer worth watching?

84
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 84 (IMDb 7.3, Rotten Tomatoes 98%, and Metacritic 89). Critics rate it higher (94 out of 100) than audiences (77).

Is Searching for Bobby Fischer okay for kids?

PG

Yes: it's rated PG in the United States, and the viewing guide lists it for kids.

Will I feel good after watching Searching for Bobby Fischer?

BleakHopeful

Yes, it's an uplifting movie: the title analysis rates it 8 of 10 for hopefulness and 7 for wholesome.

Is Searching for Bobby Fischer plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (8 of 10) and dialogue centrality (7 of 10) more than on its plot.

Was Searching for Bobby Fischer a box office flop?

Budget$12 million
Box office$7 million

Yes: it cost about $12 million to make and earned $7 million worldwide, 61% of its budget.

What tropes does Searching for Bobby Fischer use?

Pragmatic AdaptationBig GameReal-Person CameoSuddenly ShoutingOh, Crap!Serious BusinessAll of ThemSports DadHandshake RefusalWorthy OpponentGood-Times MontageBait-and-Switch Commentand 26 more

TV Tropes lists 38 tropes for it, including Pragmatic Adaptation, Big Game, and Real-Person Cameo.