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Biographical thriller

Spotlight (2015): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Spotlight (2015) movie poster

Spotlight is a 2015 biographical thriller directed by Thomas McCarthy, starring John Slattery, Liev Schreiber and Stanley Tucci. It runs 2 hours 8 minutes and earned $98.7 million worldwide. It won 2 Oscars, including Best Picture and Writing (Original Screenplay), and 11 awards in all. Critics gave it 93 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 8.1/10.

IMDb rating
8.1/10
worldwide gross
$98.7M
Oscars won
2
Metascore
93
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Spotlight (2015) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 8m (128 min)
Director
Thomas McCarthy
Original language
French
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Spotlight About?

The premise of Spotlight without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A team of investigative journalists at The Boston Globe, known as Spotlight, embarks on a courageous quest to expose a disturbing pattern of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church. Their meticulous reporting uncovers a decades-long cover-up, revealing how institutional failings allowed predators to act with impunity. The story’s revelations shake the foundations of the Church and have far-reaching consequences, sparking a global reckoning and challenging the abuse of power.

Spotlight Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • child molestation
  • sexual abuse
  • investigation
  • catholic church
  • cover up
  • newspaper
  • investigative journalism
  • journalist
  • catholicism
  • child abuse
  • journalism
  • based on true story
+38 more
  • pedophile priest
  • newsroom
  • christmas
  • archdiocese
  • lawyer
  • rush to print
  • treatment center
  • investigative reporter
  • cardinal the priest
  • year 2001
  • newspaper reporter
  • boston massachusetts
  • boston globe the newspaper
  • title spoken by character
  • gay
  • homosexual
  • september 11 2001
  • abuse by catholic priest
  • serial child molester
  • catechism
  • armenian american
  • courthouse
  • psychotherapist
  • courtroom
  • catholic
  • victim
  • reporter
  • interview
  • court document
  • scandal
  • child
  • church records
  • pulitzer prize source
  • complicity
  • expose
  • one word title
  • sex offender
  • prologue
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Cast & crew

Spotlight Cast

John Slattery leads the cast, with Liev Schreiber and Stanley Tucci. Directed by Thomas McCarthy; 6 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Spotlight

· 2 more
From the director

More from Thomas McCarthy

More films directed by Thomas McCarthy, best-rated first: The Visitor, The Station Agent, Win Win and Stillwater.

Full filmography
Ratings

Spotlight Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Spotlight 93 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 8.1/10.

Plot

Spotlight Plot Summary

What happens in Spotlight from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In the year 2001, a pivotal change occurs at The Boston Globe as they bring in a new editor, Marty Baron. Baron first encounters Walter “Robby” Robinson, the experienced editor of the Spotlight team, a small but dedicated group of journalists focusing on in-depth investigative reports that require extensive research and time. Robby reveals that their work falls under the oversight of Ben Bradlee Jr. (John Slattery), who has shown unwavering support for their efforts thus far.

Full summary

The whole story of Spotlight, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Spotlight Box Office

Spotlight grossed $98.7 million worldwide. $45.1 million came from the US and Canada and $53.6 million (54%) from the rest of the world.

2015 box office

Worldwide gross

$98.7M

US & Canada
$45.1M
International
$53.6M
US & Canada 46% Rest of the world 54%
Awards

Spotlight Awards & Nominations

Spotlight won 2 Oscars, including Best Picture and Writing (Original Screenplay), and 11 awards in all. Its biggest night was the Spirit Awards 2016, with 4 wins from 4 nominations.

11 wins29 nominations9 ceremonies

Show all 9 ceremonies
Videos

Spotlight Trailers & Videos

5 videos: 2 trailers and 3 clips.

Spotlight | Official Trailer [HD] | Global Road Entertainment
  • Trailer Spotlight | Trailer 2 [HD] | Global Road Entertainment
  • Clip Spotlight - "Control Everything" Film Clip #SpotlightMovie
  • Clip Spotlight - "After The System" Film Clip #SpotlightMovie
  • Clip Spotlight Film Clip "Looks The Other Way" #SpotlightMovie
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Spotlight?

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

What year does the film 'Spotlight' primarily take place?

Cars

Cars in Spotlight

33 cars on screen, including the 2009 Ford Crown Victoria and the 1986 Toyota Camry.

All 33 cars
  • 2009 Ford Crown Victoria in Spotlight 2009 Ford Crown Victoria Important role
  • 1986 Toyota Camry in Spotlight 1986 Toyota Camry Important role
  • 2000 Toyota Camry in Spotlight 2000 Toyota Camry Important role
  • 1998 Audi A4 B5 in Spotlight 1998 Audi A4 B5 Minor role
Details

Spotlight Also Known As

29 alternative titles, including “스포트라이트” and “Gündem”.

Also known as
  • 스포트라이트
  • Gündem
  • 聚焦
  • اسپات‌لایت
  • دیده بان
  • اسپات لایت
  • کانون توجه
  • Il caso Spotlight
  • Spotlight: Όλα στο Φως
  • O Caso Spotlight
  • ספוטלייט
  • คนข่าวคลั่ง
+17 more
  • В центре внимания
  • Spotlight - Egy nyomozás részletei
  • Спотлайт
  • Spotlight: Segredos Revelados
  • 驚爆焦點
  • У центрі уваги
  • Spotlight : Édition spéciale
  • スポットライト 世紀のスクープ
  • Под лупом
  • En Primera Plana
  • Sensacija
  • 焦點追擊
  • V žarišču
  • Uzmanības centrā, სფოთაითი: ყურადღების ცენტრში
  • Tiêu Điểm
  • Päevavalgele
  • افشاگر

Seen Spotlight?

FAQ

Spotlight FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

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

How long is Spotlight?

Spotlight runs 2 hours 8 minutes (128 minutes).

When was Spotlight released?

Spotlight was released on November 6, 2015.

Who directed Spotlight?

Spotlight was directed by Thomas McCarthy.

More films by Thomas McCarthy

Who is in the cast of Spotlight?

Spotlight stars John Slattery, Liev Schreiber and Stanley Tucci, among 6 credited actors.

How much did Spotlight make at the box office?

Spotlight grossed $98.7 million worldwide ($45.1 million domestic, $53.6 million international).

How is Spotlight rated?

Spotlight has 8.1/10 on IMDb, 93 on Metacritic, 78% on TMDB and 4.1/5 on Letterboxd.

What awards did Spotlight win?

Spotlight won 11 awards from 29 nominations, including Best Director at the Spirit Awards 2016.

Does Spotlight have a post-credit scene?

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

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