Missing

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Missing

PG

1982

2h 2m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

33 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

In 1973, U.S. businessman Ed Horman (Jack Lemmon) arrives in Chile to look for his son, Charles (John Shea), a politically left-leaning journalist who disappeared during a military coup. Charles' wife, Beth (Sissy Spacek), has been looking for some time, but her requests for help from the U.S. consulate have thus far produced few results. As Ed and Beth try to figure out what really happened to Charles, Ed realizes that the American officials may know more than they're telling.

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Critics Consensus

Thanks in large part to strong performances by Sissy Spacek and Jack Lemmon, Missing is both a gripping character exploration and an effective political thriller.

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Richard Corliss

TIME Magazine

Mar 29, 2009

A story that could have made for a brisk jeremiad on 60 Minutes is stretched to 122 minutes of heroes fuming and villains purring their oleaginous apologies. Spacek and Lemmon, an appealing sweet-and-sour combo, sink in the swamp of good intentions.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Mar 26, 2009

Lemmon is superior as a man facing up to issues he never wanted to confront personally.

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Derek Adams

Time Out

Jun 24, 2006

Spacek and Lemmon are fine as the missing man's wife and father, but what makes the film so overwhelming in places is its unending night-time imagery of a society coming apart at the seams.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Sep 2, 2024

3.5/4

A riveting political piece.

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Zita Short

InSession Film

Feb 7, 2023

Costa-Gavras made far more radical political thrillers than this but I think this was one of his sharpest efforts as it is able to package its political message within an engaging human story.

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Chase Burns

The Stranger (Seattle, WA)

Jan 20, 2022

Missing remains one of director Costa-Gavras's best works.

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 18, 2026

Missing = a 4.5 Star Movie!

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Carlos I

@carlosFibarra Aug 19, 2025

While Jack Lemmon delivers a great performance, giving an intensity you don't often see from him, the 1982 political thriller Missing is ultimately just an okay film. Despite Lemmon's captivating presence, the movie struggles to rise above being a standard entry in the genre. Its strengths are overshadowed by a narrative that, while competent, fails to leave a lasting impact, making it a decent watch but not a truly remarkable one.

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Patricia W

@RT52876138 Jun 23, 2025

This movie stinks.Not one likable character in the film.No one to root for.You won't care if they find the son or not.In fact,you'll with they'd all disappear.

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Aldo G

@RT54480587 May 23, 2025

Must watch film for Americans.

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Joseph G

@RT35614056 Apr 27, 2025

A bit dated and the premise that one American citizen will receive the kind of US government support seems stretched. The acting is fine but the dialogue is riddled with cliches and is forced.

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Stoner J

@Stoner Apr 23, 2025

Fantastic political thriller/drama, and super heartbreaking

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Costa-Gavras

Director

Jack Lemmon

Ed Horman

Sissy Spacek

Beth Horman

John Shea

Charles "Charlie" Horman

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Synopsis

In 1973, U.S. businessman Ed Horman (Jack Lemmon) arrives in Chile to look for his son, Charles (John Shea), a politically left-leaning journalist who disappeared during a military coup. Charles' wife, Beth (Sissy Spacek), has been looking for some time, but her requests for help from the U.S. consulate have thus far produced few results. As Ed and Beth try to figure out what really happened to Charles, Ed realizes that the American officials may know more than they're telling.

Director: Costa-Gavras
Producer: Edward Lewis, Mildred Lewis
Screenwriter: Donald Stewart
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 12, 1982, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 8, 2020
Runtime: 2h 2m

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