Searching for Bobby Fischer

1993 Directed by Steven Zaillian

Every journey begins with a single move.

A prepubescent chess prodigy refuses to harden himself in order to become a champion like the famous but unlikable Bobby Fischer.

Max Pomeranc Joe Mantegna Joan Allen Ben Kingsley Laurence Fishburne Michael Nirenberg Robert Stephens David Paymer Hal Scardino Vasek Simek William H. Macy Dan Hedaya Laura Linney Steven Randazzo Tony Shalhoub

Alternative Titles

Das Königsspiel - Ein Meister wird geboren, En busca de Bobby Fischer, Innocent Moves, Lances Inocentes, Jaque a la inocencia, В поисках Бобби Фишера

drama

110 mins More details at IMDb TMDb Report this film

Popular reviews

Review by Gabriel Gundacker 7

Valuably sincere chess movie. Stoked bc chess is awesome. Very sweet stuff going on here. Saccharine score sometimes too heavy sometimes perfect. Watched while moving my pokémon cards from their original (1998) binder into a newer, safer one. About 5 cards away from the original 151. Some real gems, all in great condition. Looking to trade all of them for one holographic Vileplume PSA 10. LMK
Review by David Sims ★★★★ 3

one of the best films about Manhattan in the 90s along with Men in Black
Review by Aaron King ★★★½

A misleading film title. They never even looked for the guy.
Review by Bryce Receveur ★★★★½ 8

Chess is actually pretty badass guys.
Review by Rafael Jovine ★★★½

The directorial debut by the great screenwriter Steven Zaillian (Schindler’s List, The Night Of, Moneyball) and holding a whooping 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, needless to say this movie was pretty hyped for me.
And starting with the positives, most of the performances are really good. After the whole Baseball aspect was introduced, I legit thought this would be a movie where this kid would have to battle with his father to get the chance to play chess or something, so when the father himself (well played by David Rossi himself, Joe Mantegna), I genuinely didn’t expect that twist. That being said, the movie doesn’t shy away about the fact Chess is a very demanding game and rather than making the…
Review by Kunga Sagar ★★★★

I could be hyping up my man Steve Zaillian here, but what a fantastic directorial debut! Based off the book written by Fred Waitzkin, father of Josh Waitzkin, Zaillian’s utterly gripping script and poised direction make for a must watch sports movie. Pair that with a star studded cast, or at least a cast full of amazing journeymen actors and you can understand why I have rated this so highly (and why Roger Ebert also gave it 4 stars).
Time to address the elephant in the room: The Queen’s Gambit. Yes I saw the show, yes I really enjoyed it, and yes it prompted me to watch this movie that I had been putting off for too long. I’d look…
Review by Christian Ryan ★★★★ 38

When we were kids, my dad took my brothers and me down to Mexico to take in some local color. About an hour after releasing us bulls into the china shops, he found himself the begrudging new owner of a recently damaged, pricey marble chess set. Upon our return, as punishment for our misbehavior, the old man sat us all down and forced us to learn the game.
I was pretty good back in those days, or, as I’m beginning to learn, my opponents were pretty bad. I even won a little tournament my elementary school put on. But over the years I just kinda lost interest and stopped playing; it’s been decades since I’ve touched a chess piece.
You…
Review by russman ★★★ 3

My favorite sport is Chessboxing
Review by Marcin Wichary ★★★★ 7

“It doesn’t mean anything, it’s just a game.”
“No, it isn’t.”
This movie is about chess the same way Moneyball was about baseball. And yet, not being a player myself, it made me think of what might it mean for chess to be one’s life’s companion, to be able to feel the chessboard like not very many people do, to take lessons from all the games of chess back into the real life.
My favourite moments in the movie were those glimpses of chess being something more, something better, something beautiful: an early speed chess game interrupted by rain; a tower made for fun out of chess pieces; the rapid-fire, almost instinctive exchanges of moves.
Excellent cast of actors and characters, not to mention cameos from many famous chess players. Worth checking out. The only major problem is James Horner phoning it in, but hey, not the first time either. Just don’t watch it straight after Field of dreams.
Review by Brian Formo ★★★½ 3

Some kids/adults respond to rigidity, some wanna keep things loose and uncommitted, and some wanna combine what they learned in the street with what they learned in class and still offer a draw because the pressure of winning isn't as fun as the game itself.
My god, the character actors that were assembled here! Steven Zaillian was a well known script doctor in Hollywood so despite only having a few actual credits under his belt, he'd worked in the studio system for decades on high profile projects without credit, and was set up with a stunning cast for his directorial debut. A who's who of character actors from the early 90s from the David Mamet players (Joe Mantegna and William…
Review by Felipe Fritz ★★★½

It may seem like a typical inspirational sports movie, but it approaches its story from so many interesting and different perspectives that it manages to feel unique and stand out amongst other similar films.
Review by yarb ★★½ 13

One of the reasons I'm watching so many movies is to try and arrest my slide into the Sarlacc-pit of nocturnal online blitz chess. I typically begin with a couple of Caesars inside me (for courage and inspiration), and quickly win a few games by taking advantage of a comic blunder by my opponent, or simply by playing faster in a drawn or lost position. Then, as I sink deeper into my cups, my already laughable chess skills rapidly desert me. But like a chronic gambler, I can't quit while I'm ahead, nor can I quit while I'm behind. Concomitant with its deleterious effect on my chess, the booze stokes a righteous indignation that won't allow me to admit the…

Recent reviews

Review by Talha Riaz ★★★

Can't believe young magnus carlson didn't notice that simple check and lost the final.
Review by Juha ★★★

17. Be6!
Review by ThaneEconomou

Solidly made. Wildly stacked cast. Great finale.
The kind of movie that if I were flipping channels in 1998 and saw this was playing on HBO, I'd watch the entire dang thing.
Review by araracinza ★★★

Que criança insuportável e a mãe consegue ser mais insuportável ainda.
Review by Mars Oregel ★★★

gg
Review by lunchmoneymomo ★★★★

This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

Anyone else go into this movie having no prior knowledge of Joshua Waitzkin, like how he was a REAL person? Talk about a twist ending for me. This movie was very well-made though. It had a great message of the tortured youth simply trying to have fun, but the bigger people in his life making him see this game as something other than recreation. The realm of chess makes a whole subgroup of a certain people, people who immensely fascinate me in how their minds work and how they think things through, not just rooks and pawns. I adored Fishburne's character and his friends, especially. These people revolve their relationships and lifestyles off of betting off games in Washington Square, yet have superior ways of thinking compared to other junkies lying around. This film was incredibly entertaining, and I enjoyed it from start to harrowing end. Queen's Gambit stans should be going to this movie after they binge.
Review by Robby ★★★½

Someone get this kid a new pair of shoes
Review by pillole di cinema ★★★

Metà di #SearchingforBobbyFischer lo fanno il visino da mangiare di baci del bambino e le musiche. Con questo non voglio dire che non me lo sia goduto ma che bisogna un filo farci la tara. Poi certo, ha un messaggio di slow-life ammirevole. Però ha anche tanta tanta retorica.
Review by legolazz ★★★

Searching for Bobby Fischer - auch als Innocent Moves oder Das Königsspiel bekannt
Ein junges Schachtalent wird von seinem Vater und einem ehrgeizigen Trainer von einem Turnier zum nächsten getrieben, wobei diese sich über die gewonnen Pokale mehr zu freuen scheinen als der Junge selbst. Dieser geht seinem Hobby wiederum am liebsten im Stadtpark mit den lockeren „Straßenspielern“ nach.
Überehrgeizige Eltern und Trainer, die Kinder nicht einfach Kinder sein lassen können, gibt es sicher genug - und das nicht nur im Schach. Darauf aufbauend erzählt der Film eine ordentliche Geschichte, die allerdings ohne Höhepunkte bleibt und deren schlussendliche Botschaft wenig überraschend daherkommt. Zudem bleibt der späte Wandel des Trainers (gespielt von Ben Kingsley) unerklärt.
Review by Tylerj78 ★★★½

made even better because it’s based on a true story
Review by jess ★★★½

bet i could take him on
Review by Philip Wong ★★★★★

My heart swells, enjoying the ridiculous amount of nuanced storytelling encapsulated in exchanged looks and glances between the characters.
Instant recognition: the pool sequence was filmed at the Delta in Scarborough!
Anyone going crazy over The Queen’s Gambit but has not experienced this film, must watch this film.
So many wonderful bit roles from super talented actors! Austin Pendleton, Tony Shalhoub, Dan Hedaya, David Paymer, Laura Linney, William H. Macy.
If this isn’t a perfect film, I don’t know what is.

Watched the Paramount DVD.