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Spotlight

2015·Movie
2h 9min·R
IMDb8.1Metacritic938.1Rotten Tomatoes97%93%

Where to watch

PrimefuboTVKanopyShout! Factory TVPlex

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

What's your score?

Your score

Spotlight fingerprint

Masterful craft, immersive world, no humor.

Energy

Tense

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension7
  • Fast Pace4
  • Adrenaline3

Heart

Deeply moving and melancholic

  • Pathos9
  • Melancholy7
  • Catharsis7

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay4
  • Satire & Parody1
  • Situational Comedy0

World

Everyday modern life, society, and crime

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion9
  • Dialogue Centrality9
  • Rewatchability7

Craft

Standout performances, direction, and storytelling

  • Acting10
  • Direction9
  • Narrative Structure9

Style

Standout cinematography and editing

  • Cinematography8
  • Editing8
  • Music Composition7

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightIntergenerationalPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensThought-Provoking

Skip it if

You want fast pacing

Find more like it

Suspense moviesPsychological moviesAtmospheric moviesEducational movies

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

Break the story. Break the silence.

The true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese, shaking the entire Catholic Church to its core.
Investigative DramaTrue StoryJournalistic IntegritySystemic CorruptionMoral ReckoningSocial JusticeEnsemble CastGritty RealismThought-Provoking

Crew

Directed by:
Tom McCarthy, Walter Gasparovic, Dug Rotstein
Written by:
Tom McCarthy, Josh Singer
Produced by:
Josh Singer, Jeff Skoll, Steve Golin
Composed by:
Howard Shore, Paul Hsu, Marko Costanzo

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Spotlight

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Spotlight legally?

PrimefuboTVKanopyShout! Factory TVPlexStarzTubi TV

Spotlight is included with a subscription to Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, and Amazon Prime Video with Ads in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Shout! Factory TV, and YouTube Free. You can also rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Spotlight worth watching?

89
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 89/100 (IMDb 8.1, Rotten Tomatoes 97%, and Metacritic 93). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Spotlight rated?

RDisturbing imagery

It's rated R in the United States. Content advisories: disturbing imagery.

How long is Spotlight?

2 h 9 min

Spotlight runs 2 h 9 min.

Is Spotlight based on a true story?

Yes. It's based on real events or a real person's life.

Do critics and audiences agree on Spotlight?

Critics95
Audiences85

Not quite. Critics rate Spotlight higher (95) than audiences (85). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

Was Spotlight a box office hit?

Budget$20 million
Box office$99 million

Yes. It cost about $20 million to make and earned $99 million worldwide, 4.9 times its budget.

What language is Spotlight in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch Spotlight?

87AEAGARATAUBBBEBGBHBOBRBSBYBZ+73

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Spotlight in 87 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Spotlight use?

Irish PriestFrom Bad to WorseFish out of WaterIncoming HamOh, Crap!Executive MeddlingVillain with Good PublicityKicked UpstairsVow of CelibacyTroubled AbuserWham LineThe Smurfette Principleand 92 more

TV Tropes lists 104 storytelling tropes for Spotlight, including Irish Priest, From Bad to Worse, Fish out of Water.