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Drama thriller

Searching (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Searching (2018) movie poster

Searching is a 2018 drama thriller directed by Director: and Aneesh Chaganty, starring John Cho as David Kim, Sara Sohn and Michelle La. It runs 1 hour 42 minutes and earned $75.5 million worldwide on a $880,000 budget. It earned 2 award nominations, including Micro Budget – Comedy or Drama at the Artios Awards 2019. Critics gave it 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 7.6/10.

IMDb rating
7.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes
92%
worldwide gross
$75.5M
award nominations
2
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Searching (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 42m (102 min)
Directors
Director: and Aneesh Chaganty
Genres
Drama , Mystery , Thriller
Original language
English
Budget
$880K
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Searching About?

The premise of Searching without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

When his 16-year-old daughter goes missing, David Kim frantically searches for her, finding no immediate leads. Desperate and with time running out, he turns to her laptop, hoping to uncover clues in her online activity. He follows her digital trail, navigating her world as he races against the clock to find her before it's too late, revealing unexpected twists and turns in his investigation.

Searching Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • father daughter relationship
  • social media
  • internet
  • webcam
  • missing person
  • facebook
  • digital footprint
  • search and rescue
  • police detective
  • asian american
  • instagram
  • widower
+38 more
  • disappearance
  • mysterious disappearance
  • police
  • smartphone
  • computer screen
  • one word title
  • brother brother relationship
  • forest lake
  • rainstorm
  • livestreaming
  • female detective
  • instant messaging
  • missing person investigation
  • video
  • car in water
  • internet search
  • cancer
  • google search
  • death
  • loss of mother
  • internet chat
  • video call
  • social media account
  • mother son relationship
  • laptop computer
  • attempted murder
  • interfering with an investigation
  • faked suicide
  • traffic camera
  • internet video
  • determination
  • presumed dead
  • photograph
  • chatting
  • cooking
  • year 2017
  • found footage
  • low budget film
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Cast & crew

Searching Cast & Characters

John Cho leads the cast as David Kim, with Sara Sohn as Pamela Nam Kim and Michelle La as Margot. Directed by Director: and Aneesh Chaganty; 15 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Searching

· 11 more
From the directors

More from Director: and Aneesh Chaganty

More films directed by Director: and Aneesh Chaganty, best-rated first: The Guilty, The Miseducation of Cameron Post, Run and Nug.

Ratings

Searching Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Searching 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 7.6/10. Our Echo Score gives it 85/100, strongest in character & emotion (88) and weakest in rewatch factor (75).

85 /100

Searching Echo Score Breakdown

Searching demonstrates a compelling blend of innovative presentation and emotional depth. The film’s screenlife format brings a fresh perspective, supported by dynamic editing and a suspenseful score. John Cho’s performance anchors the narrative with nuanced emotional beats, elevating the plot’s twists and thematic weight. The mystery unfolds with engaging pacing, though a few clues arrive unevenly and the final act leans toward a conventional resolution. The visual gimmick remains cohesive, even if certain moments feel slightly contrived in timing. Overall, Searching delivers a memorable thriller with enduring appeal.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 82

    In terms of art and craft, Searching excels with inventive direction and disciplined editing. The screenlife approach offers a cohesive visual palette, while the score and sound design heighten tension at key moments. Although the virtual framing occasionally feels formulaic in broadcasting clues, the production design supports the narrative’s modern context. The measured pace and visual consistency result in a polished technical execution.

  • Character & Emotion 88

    When it comes to character and emotion, the film is anchored by a nuanced central performance. John Cho conveys a believable progression of desperation, and the familial relationships carry genuine emotional weight. The supporting ensemble underscores the thematic focus on parent-child dynamics, contributing to sustained empathy. While certain interactions could feel slightly scripted, the overall portrayal achieves a resonant depth that engages the audience throughout.

  • Story & Flow 83

    In terms of story and flow, the mystery unfolds with engaging originality and a steady build of suspense. The narrative structure leverages the screenlife format to introduce twists that maintain intrigue. Pacing is generally effective, though a few revelations could have been timed more evenly to avoid periods of predictability. Despite a modest dip in the final act, the plot’s coherent progression keeps viewers invested from start to finish.

  • Sensory Experience 80

    When it comes to sensory experience, the film’s score and sound design effectively amplify tension at crucial points. The minimalist soundtrack complements the onscreen interface, while sound cues underscore moments of discovery. The visual style remains consistent, with a restrained color palette fitting the digital environment. Some cinematic elements feel constrained by the format, but overall the audio-visual cohesion supports the thriller’s immersive quality.

  • Rewatch Factor 75

    In terms of rewatch factor, the film’s inventive format and narrative twists encourage a second viewing to catch subtle clues. The coherent construction of the mystery lends itself to reexamination as viewers spot earlier foreshadowing in the digital interfaces. While the unique presentation remains engaging, the novelty may diminish slightly on repeat viewings once the structure is familiar. Nevertheless, the emotional resonance and thematic layers continue to offer worthwhile observations.

Plot

Searching Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Searching from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 16 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In San Jose, California, the life of David Kim (John Cho) has taken a dark turn since the passing of his wife Pamela (Sara Sohn) due to lymphoma nearly two years ago. Trying to connect with his daughter Margot (Michelle La), David spends his time reminiscing over old photographs and videos. Tragically, this loss has created a rift between father and daughter, leaving them emotionally distant.

Full summary

The whole story of Searching, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Searching Box Office & Budget

Searching grossed $75.5 million worldwide on a $880,000 budget, 86 times what it cost. $26 million came from the US and Canada and $49.4 million (66%) from the rest of the world.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$75.5M

86× its budget

US & Canada
$26M
International
$49.4M
Budget
$880K
US & Canada 34% Rest of the world 66%
Awards

Searching Awards & Nominations

Searching earned 2 award nominations, including Micro Budget – Comedy or Drama at the Artios Awards 2019. The 2 nominations come from 2 ceremonies.

2 nominations2 ceremonies

Videos

Searching Trailers & Videos

6 videos: 5 trailers and 1 behind-the-scenes video.

All 6 videos
Official Trailer
  • Trailer International Trailer
  • Trailer Official International Trailer
  • Trailer Official Trailer 2
  • Trailer 【人肉搜索】正式預告
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Searching?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who plays the lead role of David Kim?

Cars

Cars in Searching

13 cars on screen, including the 1997 Toyota Camry and the 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe.

All 13 cars
  • 1997 Toyota Camry in Searching 1997 Toyota Camry Important role
  • 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe in Searching 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe Minor role
  • Ford Crown Victoria in Searching Ford Crown Victoria Minor role
  • Ford Crown Victoria in Searching Ford Crown Victoria Minor role
Details

Searching Also Known As

31 alternative titles, including “Search, searching|” and “เสิร์ชหา....สูญหาย!?”.

Also known as
  • Search, searching|
  • เสิร์ชหา....สูญหาย!?
  • Recherche
  • Searching - Portée disparue
  • Buscando... [Searching] (2018)
  • Buscando...
  • 서치
  • 网络迷踪
  • Buscando... (2018)
  • Поиск
  • Пошук
  • Searching : Portée disparue
+19 more
  • Търсене
  • חיפוש
  • Paieška
  • 人肉搜尋
  • Keresés
  • Pesquisa Obsessiva
  • Pátranie
  • Pátrání
  • 人肉搜索
  • Kayıp Aranıyor
  • 网络谜踪
  • Претраживање
  • Căutarea, search/サーチ
  • เสิร์ชหา สูญหาย
  • Meklēšana
  • Truy Tìm Tung Tích Ảo
  • جستجو
  • Iskanje, ძიება
  • Otsing

Seen Searching?

FAQ

Searching FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Searching, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Searching?

Searching runs 1 hour 42 minutes (102 minutes).

When was Searching released?

Searching was released on August 24, 2018.

Who directed Searching?

Searching was directed by Director: and Aneesh Chaganty.

More films by Director:

Who is in the cast of Searching?

Searching stars John Cho as David Kim, Sara Sohn as Pamela Nam Kim and Michelle La as Margot, among 15 credited actors.

How much did Searching make at the box office?

Searching grossed $75.5 million worldwide ($26 million domestic, $49.4 million international) on a budget of $880,000.

How is Searching rated?

Searching has 7.6/10 on IMDb, 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, 76% on TMDB and 3.7/5 on Letterboxd.

Was Searching nominated for any awards?

Searching received 2 nominations across 2 ceremonies.

Does Searching have a post-credit scene?

No. Searching has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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