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IMDbPro

Wordplay

  • 2006
  • PG
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
3.8K
YOUR RATING
Wordplay (2006)
Theatrical Trailer from IFC
Play trailer2:01
2 Videos
17 Photos
Documentary

An in-depth look at The New York Times' long-time crossword puzzle editor Will Shortz and his loyal fan base.An in-depth look at The New York Times' long-time crossword puzzle editor Will Shortz and his loyal fan base.An in-depth look at The New York Times' long-time crossword puzzle editor Will Shortz and his loyal fan base.

  • Director
    • Patrick Creadon
  • Writers
    • Patrick Creadon
    • Christine O'Malley
  • Stars
    • Will Shortz
    • Ken Burns
    • Jon Stewart
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.4/10
    3.8K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Patrick Creadon
    • Writers
      • Patrick Creadon
      • Christine O'Malley
    • Stars
      • Will Shortz
      • Ken Burns
      • Jon Stewart
    • 45User reviews
    • 38Critic reviews
    • 73Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 7 nominations

    Videos2

    Wordplay
    Trailer 2:01
    Watch Wordplay
    Wordplay
    Trailer 2:10
    Watch Wordplay

    Photos17

    Will Shortz in Wordplay (2006)
    Will Shortz in Wordplay (2006)
    Wordplay (2006)
    Wordplay (2006)
    Wordplay (2006)
    Wordplay (2006)
    Wordplay (2006)
    Will Shortz in Wordplay (2006)
    Wordplay (2006)
    Patrick Creadon in Wordplay (2006)
    Patrick Creadon in Wordplay (2006)
    Patrick Creadon in Wordplay (2006)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Will Shortz
    Will Shortz
    • Self
    Ken Burns
    Ken Burns
    • Self
    Jon Stewart
    Jon Stewart
    • Self
    Merl Reagle
    • Self
    Tyler Hinman
    • Self
    Trip Payne
    Trip Payne
    • Self
    Al Sanders
    • Self
    Ellen Ripstein
    • Self
    Jon Delfin
    • Self
    Amy Ray
    Amy Ray
    • Self
    Emily Saliers
    • Self
    Daniel Okrent
    Daniel Okrent
    • Self
    Mike Mussina
    • Self
    Bob Dole
    Bob Dole
    • Self
    Bill Clinton
    Bill Clinton
    • Self
    • (as William Jefferson Clinton)
    Miriam Raphael
    • Self
    Liane Hansen
    • Self
    Alex Ripitsky
    • Self
    • Director
      • Patrick Creadon
    • Writers
      • Patrick Creadon
      • Christine O'Malley
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Tyler Hinman would eventually work for Google for a few years.
    • Quotes

      Merl Reagle: [driving by a Dunkin' Donuts shop] Dunkin' Donuts... put the D at the end, you get Unkind Donuts... which I've had a few of, in my day.

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan/Flushed Away/Unknown/Volver/Stranger Than Fiction (2006)
    • Soundtracks
      Shadow Stabbing
      written by John McCrea and George Kane

      performed by Cake

    User reviews45

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    Every thing that makes a great movie
    This is the best movie I have seen this year. It has everything that makes a movie great, fun, memorable. It's funny, it's sad, there's angst, and tension, anticipation, there's "ohhhhhhh" and smiles, laughter and tears. It's interesting--and I learned something too (actually a lot). You'll cheer and applaud DURING the movie, you'll feel their pain and marvel at how SMART these people are.

    The editing is the tightest I can remember. The movie flows like a roller coaster: never off track, always going somewhere, the highs fall into the lows, and it rises back to an even keel. It never leaves you bored wondering okay when will this over. It leads you to the edge, pulls back, and then climaxes. Superbly done.

    Wordplay is a small independent that is more worthy of an Academy Award than many of the "big ticket" movies out there. Go see and tell your friends—you won't be disappointed, you'll leave the theater with a smile on your face.
    helpful•20
    6
    • Dan-1736
    • Jun 24, 2006

    Top picks

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    FAQ18

    • How long is Wordplay?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 21, 2006 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • PBS
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Word Play
    • Filming locations
      • Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Grinder Productions
      • O'Malley Creadon Productions
      • The Weinstein Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $3,121,270
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $32,847
      • Jun 18, 2006
    • Gross worldwide
      • $3,177,636
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 34 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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