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Spotlight

Play trailer 2:31 Poster for Spotlight R 2015 2h 9m Drama Crime Action Play Trailer Watchlist
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97% Tomatometer 378 Reviews 93% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
In 2001, editor Marty Baron of The Boston Globe assigns a team of journalists to investigate allegations against John Geoghan, an unfrocked priest accused of molesting more than 80 boys. Led by editor Walter "Robby" Robinson (Michael Keaton), reporters Michael Rezendes (Mark Ruffalo), Matt Carroll and Sacha Pfeiffer interview victims and try to unseal sensitive documents. The reporters make it their mission to provide proof of a cover-up of sexual abuse within the Roman Catholic Church.
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Spotlight

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Critics Consensus

Spotlight gracefully handles the lurid details of its fact-based story while resisting the temptation to lionize its heroes, resulting in a drama that honors the audience as well as its real-life subjects.

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Critics Reviews

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Zach Schonfeld Newsweek 02/28/2018
Spotlight manages the seemingly impossible task of wooing journalists with authenticity while still elevating reporters to hero status, as they battle a formidable and corrupt institution with righteous determination. Go to Full Review Michael Phillips Chicago Tribune 02/26/2017
4/4
Ruffalo gets top billing in the movie, and he brings some wonderfully lived-in behavioral details to his performance -- the quick, terrier-like movements of the head and the bitten-off sentences. Go to Full Review Sara Michelle Fetters MovieFreak.com 08/22/2016
4/4
Spotlight giving center stage to unsung warriors for truth who understood telling the story right, without embellishment, without melodramatic editorial excess, was the greatest victory of them all. Go to Full Review Don Shanahan Every Movie Has a Lesson 07/31/2025
5/5
This ensemble is flawless at every level. Not a single performance is preening or misaligned with the central cause to respect the stern roots of the actual history. Go to Full Review Pradeep Menon Firstpost 11/01/2023
Spotlight is a must-watch for people in the media, as well as people who consume the media, because it reaffirms a belief in the ideals of journalism. Go to Full Review Mark Johnson Awards Daily 06/14/2023
It’s not just that it is a profound story, but one that is executed to perfection that draws out such emotion. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Eric G Mar 19 A snapshot in time... journalism in the dawn of the internet age... but two years before Facebook was invented, which unfortunately too many people use as a news tool. This talks about the moment that there was finally a major recognition of the longstanding abuses of the Catholic Church but on a systemic level. Many parallels can be drawn to the Epstein sexual exploitation today and the continuous cover up of its abusers by the system itself. The movie was riveting and this particular screening featured a live Q&A session with Globe Reporter Walter Robinson. It was really cool to be able to ask questions about the events depicted. See more Steven M. 11/15/2021 Well-written and acted film! Michael Keaton and Rachel McAdams, especially, live up to expectations. See more Sunil M @KaalKranti 2d A must-watch Docu-Legal Drama, True Crime, Workplace film. See more Renaldo D @RT30888824 Jul 27 An almost perfect script for this movie, and great performances. See more Jack S @thejackedmovie Jul 20 Insane to know it’s a true story. A great look into journalism and all that comes with it. The pace of it starts slow but will pick up about halfway through. Good watch. See more Juris O @Juris100 Jul 14 Not a bad movie. But you have to watch it very carefully. See more Read all reviews
Spotlight

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Cast & Crew

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Tom McCarthy

Director

Mark Ruffalo

Michael Rezendes

Michael Keaton

Walter "Robby" Robinson

Rachel McAdams

Sacha Pfeiffer

Liev Schreiber

Marty Baron

John Slattery

Ben Bradlee Jr.

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Spotlight

Spotlight: B-Roll 2 Spotlight: B-Roll 2 5:22 Spotlight: B-Roll 1 Spotlight: B-Roll 1 6:04 Spotlight: Trailer 1 Spotlight: Trailer 1 2:31 View more videos
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Spotlight

(L-R) Rachel McAdams as Sacha Pfeiffer, Mark Ruffalo as Michael Rezendes and Brian d'Arcy James as Matt Carroll in "Spotlight." (L-R) Rachel McAdams as Sacha Pfeiffer, Mark Ruffalo as Michael Rezendes, Brian d'Arcy James as Matt Carroll, Michael Keaton as Walter 'Robby' Robinson and John Slattery as Ben Bradlee Jr. in "Spotlight." (L-R) Michael Keaton as Walter 'Robby' Robinson and Mark Ruffalo as Michael Rezendes in "Spotlight." Spotlight (2015) Spotlight (2015) Spotlight (2015) Spotlight (2015) Spotlight (2015) Spotlight (2015) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In 2001, editor Marty Baron of The Boston Globe assigns a team of journalists to investigate allegations against John Geoghan, an unfrocked priest accused of molesting more than 80 boys. Led by editor Walter "Robby" Robinson (Michael Keaton), reporters Michael Rezendes (Mark Ruffalo), Matt Carroll and Sacha Pfeiffer interview victims and try to unseal sensitive documents. The reporters make it their mission to provide proof of a cover-up of sexual abuse within the Roman Catholic Church.
Director
Tom McCarthy
Producer
Michael Sugar, Steve Golin, Nicole Rocklin, Blye Pagon Faust
Screenwriter
Josh Singer, Tom McCarthy
Distributor
Open Road
Production Co
Anonymous Content, Rocklin/Faust
Rating
R (Some Language|Sexual References)
Genre
Drama, Crime, Action
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 20, 2015, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 2, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$45.0M
Runtime
2h 9m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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