Searching for Bobby Fischer

1993
PG
1h 49m

IMDb RATING

7.4/10

43K

YOUR RATING

Max Pomeranc in Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993)

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

Play trailer2:27

1 Video

45 Photos

Biography Drama Sport

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

Director
- Steven Zaillian
Writers
- Fred Waitzkin
- Steven Zaillian
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.4/10

43K

YOUR RATING

Director
- Steven Zaillian
Writers
- Fred Waitzkin
- Steven Zaillian
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 6 wins & 11 nominations total

Videos1

Trailer 2:27

Official Trailer

Photos45

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Max Pomeranc was chosen because he is, in real life, a chess player (or was at the time of this movie). The producers wanted someone who would be at ease and "correctly" playing chess. None of this movie's other stars played chess in the beginning, but eventually Joe Mantegna learned.

Goofs
Josh tells Vinnie he learned the "Schliemann Attack" from his teacher. Actually there's no such thing. It's the Schliemann Defense. Also, when Vinnie asks, "What's that?" referring to the "attack," Josh actually hasn't yet made the move that would prompt him to say this, he's just playing the opening move of the standard Ruy Lopez (1. ... e5), so there'd be no reason for Vinnie to say "What's that?" at that point. The move that makes it "Schliemann" (3. ...f5) hasn't yet been played.

Quotes
Josh: Maybe it's better not to be the best. Then you can lose and it's OK.

Alternate versions
The original film ends with a title card stating that Josh still plays chess along with several other activities, indicating that he has a well-rounded life. When the film was broadcast on NBC in 1996, this title card was updated: it now stated that Josh was working to become a Grandmaster, and that he now considered Jack Kerouac, not Bobby Fischer, to be his primary influence.

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Rising Sun/Tom and Jerry: The Movie/Robin Hood: Men in Tights/So I Married an Axe Murderer/Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993)

Soundtracks
Enough Is Enough
Written by Anthony Criss, Kier Gist, Vincent Brown, A. Bahr, J Ray
Performed by Rottin Razkals

User reviews134

Review

Featured review

making all the right moves

One of the best things about "Searching for Bobby Fischer" is that it brilliantly captures the essence of the book it was based on. Fred Waitzkin's book is not just about chess but focuses much on the relationship between a father and his son. The film does exactly the same and the interaction between the actors is handled skilfully by its director. This is without doubt one of the best sports movies I have seen in a while, you feel an intense level of excitement throughout the chess games and there is a great blend of poignancy, humour and serious drama also at play. Ben Kingsley is fantastic as Bruce Pandolfini and his scenes with the young Max Pomeranc are a joy to watch. Max Pomeranc who plays Josh Waitzkin is perfect in the lead role and really shows he is the heart of the movie. Adapting books to films has never been an easy task but this one is probably one of the best adaptations I have ever seen.