Sign up
Trailer

The Searchers

1956Movie1 h 59 minNR

Western
85
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb7.8Metacritic947.7Rotten Tomatoes87%88%

A deeply moving, open-ended western movie about history and the mind, with standout direction and performances.

Good for friends night · teens · thought-provoking

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood · you want fast pacing

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for warmth, laughs or comfort.

Movies with

Story

He had to find her... he had to find her...

As a Civil War veteran spends years searching for a young niece captured by Indians, his motivation becomes increasingly questionable.

Feels like

  • Psychological Western
  • Obsessive Revenge Quest
  • Visually Monumental
  • Complex Moral Ambiguity
  • Iconic Lead Performance
  • Deconstruction of Myth
  • Epic Scale & Intimacy
  • Melancholic Atmosphere
  • Racial Tension & Commentary
  • Cinematic Masterpiece

Cast

24 of 25

Crew

Directed by
John Ford
Written by
Alan Le May, Frank S. Nugent
Produced by
C.V. Whitney
Music by
Max Steiner

Everyone

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

Facts

May 16, 1956 · 1 h 59 min · NR

Released
May 16, 1956
Runtime
1 h 59 min
Age rating
NR
Content
Violence, Disturbing Imagery, Strong Language
Genres
Western
Original language
English
Also spoken
Spanish, Navajo
Made in
United States
Budget
$4 million
Available in
83 countries

Tropes

Bookends, A Minor Kidroduction, Victory by Endurance +9

  • Bookends
  • A Minor Kidroduction
  • Victory by Endurance
  • Darker and Edgier
  • Grey-and-Gray Morality
  • Fake Shemp
  • Clueless Chick-Magnet
  • Defiled Forever
  • Nothing Is Scarier
  • Recurring Camera Shot
  • I Will Find You
  • No-Respect Guy

12 of 151 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream The Searchers?"

Questions about The Searchers

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Searchers?

fuboTVYouTube TVFawesome

In the United States, The Searchers streams on fuboTV and YouTube TV, and it is free with ads on Fawesome. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, and Spectrum On Demand. It also streams in 33 other countries.

Is The Searchers worth watching?

85
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 85 (IMDb 7.8, Rotten Tomatoes 87%, and Metacritic 94). Critics rate it higher (91 out of 100) than audiences (81).

Can I half-watch The Searchers?

Easy watchDemanding

No, it needs your attention: the title analysis rates it 9 of 10 for ambiguity and 7 for complexity.

Will I feel good after watching The Searchers?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 8 of 10 for bleakness and 8 for melancholy, against 2 for hopefulness.

What tropes does The Searchers use?

BookendsA Minor KidroductionVictory by EnduranceDarker and EdgierGrey-and-Gray MoralityFake ShempClueless Chick-MagnetDefiled ForeverNothing Is ScarierRecurring Camera ShotI Will Find YouNo-Respect Guyand 139 more

TV Tropes lists 151 tropes for it, including Bookends, A Minor Kidroduction, and Victory by Endurance.