Searching for Bobby Fischer

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Searching for Bobby Fischer

PG

1993

1h 50m

Biography

Drama

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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.

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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.

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Feb 13, 2019

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

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Kenneth Turan

Los Angeles Times

Feb 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.

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David Ansen

Newsweek

May 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.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Mar 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.

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Mark Jackson

Epoch Times

Aug 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.

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Leigh Paatsch

Herald Sun (Australia)

Sep 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.

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Matthew P

@RT04736148 6 days ago

Winning true story about a child chess prodigy that has humanity and warmth, with a standout performance by young Max Pomeranc and back in the day when Steven Zaillian actually wrote worthwhile screenplays...

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Farah R

@Farah Aug 18, 2026

The plot is compelling, but the film’s execution makes it feel drawn out, as the plodding pace creates an expectation of depth that never really arrives. It’s like the movie was taking its time to build up to something meaningful, but by the end, I wasn’t sure what it was. Nevertheless, the score was beautiful and the performances were great.

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Lisa M.

@LMMARIN Jun 4, 2026

Love this movie. That’s all.

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Y K

@Yousefq80 Feb 16, 2026

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.

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john e

@RT23744116 Dec 3, 2025

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.

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The R

@RT23999627 Aug 4, 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

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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

Now Playing

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

2:13

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Searching for Bobby Fischer: Official Clip - Contempt

1:38

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Searching for Bobby Fischer: Official Clip - Master Certificate

1:54

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Searching for Bobby Fischer: Official Clip - Fear of Losing

1:40

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Searching for Bobby Fischer: Official Clip - Josh Loses

1:41

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

1:35

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

2:12

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Searching for Bobby Fischer: Official Clip - This Chess Thing

1:37

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Searching for Bobby Fischer: Official Clip - A Prodigy

0:58

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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

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