Searching (2018)
Kernel Score: 85% · 4,153 ratings · Rated PG-13
Genres: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Released: 2018-08-24
Runtime: 102 minutes
Is Searching worth watching?
Must-watch. A father hunts for his missing daughter entirely through her laptop, phone and social accounts. The screen-only trick is clever, but the real hook is a well-built mystery with real heart.
Watch it if you
- like mysteries with twists you can follow
- want a thriller built around modern tech
- enjoy emotional parent stories
Skip it if you
- dislike films shown only through screens
- want a slow, atmospheric mystery
Best for: Tense night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Searching
- Free with ads: YouTube Free
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
After David Kim's 16-year-old daughter goes missing, a local investigation is opened and a detective is assigned to the case. But 37 hours later and without a single lead, David decides to search the one place no one has looked yet, where all secrets are kept today: his daughter's laptop.
Searching parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that this thriller centers on a missing teenage girl and includes tense, mature themes of danger and deception.
- Violence & scariness: Some — A missing-person investigation involves tense, suspenseful sequences but little graphic violence.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG-13 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Searching
If you liked Searching, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Missing (2023) — 83%: Companion-style tech mystery, with a daughter's mother missing
- Gone Girl (2014) — 90%: Mystery built on what others hide online and offline
- The Invisible Guest (2017) — 88%: Tight puzzle-box thriller with escalating reveals
- Rear Window (1954) — 93%: Mystery told from one viewpoint, with limited vision
- The Vanishing (1988) — 84%: Chilling search for a vanished loved one
- The Secret in Their Eyes (2009) — 88%: Long search for the truth about a crime
Director
Cast
- John Cho as David Kim
- Michelle La as Margot
- Debra Messing as Detective Vick
- Joseph Lee as Peter
- Sara Sohn as Pamela Nam Kim
- Briana McLean as Abigail
- Erica Jenkins as Hannah
- Connor McRaith as Isaac
- Dominic Hoffman as Michael Porter
- Ric Sarabia as Randy Cartoff
Searching FAQ
Is Searching worth watching?
Must-watch. A father hunts for his missing daughter entirely through her laptop, phone and social accounts. The screen-only trick is clever, but the real hook is a well-built mystery with real heart.
Where can I watch Searching?
In the US you can watch it free with ads on YouTube Free and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Searching OK for kids?
Searching is rated PG-13. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that this thriller centers on a missing teenage girl and includes tense, mature themes of danger and deception.
What movies are like Searching?
If you liked Searching, try Missing, Gone Girl, The Invisible Guest and Rear Window.