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Searching

Searching is a 2018 American mystery thriller film directed by Aneesh Chaganty in his feature debut.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated September 11, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Searching is a 2018 American mystery thriller film directed by Aneesh Chaganty in his feature debut. The film employs the screenlife format, telling its story almost entirely through computer and smartphone screens. It follows a father's desperate search for his missing teenage daughter and received strong critical and commercial success.

Plot

The film centres on a father’s search for his missing daughter after police efforts stall. Most of the investigation unfolds through laptops, phones, messaging apps, and online accounts.

Production

Searching was directed by Aneesh Chaganty from a screenplay he wrote with Sev Ohanian. It was produced by Timur Bekmambetov and others as a U.S.-Russia co-production.

Release and reception

The film premiered at Sundance before receiving a limited and then wide theatrical release in the United States. It was praised for its direction, performances, visual format, and suspenseful storytelling.

Screenlife format

Searching is notable for using the screenlife style, in which the narrative is presented through the interfaces of digital devices. It was among the best-known mainstream films to use this approach.

Key facts

  • Searching is a 2018 American screenlife mystery thriller film.
  • It was directed by Aneesh Chaganty, in his feature directorial debut.
  • The story follows David Kim, who looks for his missing 16-year-old daughter using digital devices and online records.
  • The film is set almost entirely on computer screens and smartphones.
  • The film was a critical and financial success.
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Canadian context

Searching was released internationally and became a widely discussed example of the screenlife thriller format, which also found an audience in Canada through mainstream theatrical and home-viewing distribution.

Frequently asked questions

What is Searching about?
It follows a father who tries to find his missing teenage daughter by investigating her digital life, including her laptop and online accounts.
Who directed Searching?
Searching was directed by Aneesh Chaganty.
Who stars in Searching?
The film stars John Cho, Debra Messing, Michelle La, and Joseph Lee.
What is the film’s visual style?
It is presented almost entirely through computer and smartphone screens, using the screenlife format.
When was Searching released?
It premiered at Sundance on January 21, 2018, and was released theatrically in the United States on August 31, 2018.
Was Searching successful?
Yes. It earned over US$75 million worldwide against a very small production budget and was widely praised by critics.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Searching_(film)
    Supports: Basic film identification, director, writers, cast, release dates, format, and box office overview.
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/searching_2018
    Supports: Synopsis, release information, runtime, genre, and critical reception summary.
  3. The Movie Database — https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/489999-searching?language=en-US
    Supports: Plot summary and worldwide revenue figure.
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7668870/
    Supports: Release date, runtime, genre, and principal cast/crew details.