Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysAPA Heritage MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)

Pawn Sacrifice

  • 20142014
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 55m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
45K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Tobey Maguire in Pawn Sacrifice (2014)
American chess champion Bobby Fischer prepares for a legendary match-up against Russian Boris Spassky.
Play trailer2:32
8 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Biography
  • Drama
  • History
Set during the Cold War, American chess prodigy Bobby Fischer finds himself caught between two superpowers and his own struggles as he challenges the Soviet Empire.Set during the Cold War, American chess prodigy Bobby Fischer finds himself caught between two superpowers and his own struggles as he challenges the Soviet Empire.Set during the Cold War, American chess prodigy Bobby Fischer finds himself caught between two superpowers and his own struggles as he challenges the Soviet Empire.
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
45K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Edward Zwick
  • Writers
    • Steven Knight(screenplay)
    • Stephen J. Rivele(story)
    • Christopher Wilkinson(story)
  • Stars
    • Tobey Maguire
    • Liev Schreiber
    • Peter Sarsgaard
Top credits
  • Director
    • Edward Zwick
  • Writers
    • Steven Knight(screenplay)
    • Stephen J. Rivele(story)
    • Christopher Wilkinson(story)
  • Stars
    • Tobey Maguire
    • Liev Schreiber
    • Peter Sarsgaard
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 141User reviews
    • 157Critic reviews
    • 65Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination

    Videos8

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:32
    Official Trailer
    People Get Worried
    Clip 1:11
    People Get Worried
    Bobby Has Problems
    Clip 1:13
    Bobby Has Problems
    Hopelessly Patriotic
    Clip 1:17
    Hopelessly Patriotic
    Tobey Mc Guire
    Interview 6:08
    Tobey Mc Guire
    Edward Zwick
    Interview 5:13
    Edward Zwick
    Michael Stuhlbarg
    Interview 4:06
    Michael Stuhlbarg
    Steven Knight
    Interview 3:24
    Steven Knight

    Photos101

    Bradford Young in Pawn Sacrifice (2014)
    Peter Sarsgaard, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Bradford Young in Pawn Sacrifice (2014)
    Tobey Maguire in Pawn Sacrifice (2014)
    Lily Rabe in Pawn Sacrifice (2014)
    Tobey Maguire in Pawn Sacrifice (2014)
    Tobey Maguire in Pawn Sacrifice (2014)
    Liev Schreiber in Pawn Sacrifice (2014)
    Liev Schreiber and Edward Zinoviev in Pawn Sacrifice (2014)
    Liev Schreiber and Tobey Maguire in Pawn Sacrifice (2014)
    Liev Schreiber and Tobey Maguire in Pawn Sacrifice (2014)
    Peter Sarsgaard and Michael Stuhlbarg in Pawn Sacrifice (2014)
    Tobey Maguire in Pawn Sacrifice (2014)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Tobey Maguire
    Tobey Maguire
    • Bobby Fischeras Bobby Fischer
    Liev Schreiber
    Liev Schreiber
    • Boris Spasskyas Boris Spassky
    Peter Sarsgaard
    Peter Sarsgaard
    • Father Bill Lombardyas Father Bill Lombardy
    Michael Stuhlbarg
    Michael Stuhlbarg
    • Paul Marshallas Paul Marshall
    Edward Zinoviev
    • Efim Gelleras Efim Geller
    Alexandre Gorchkov
    • Iivo Neias Iivo Nei
    Lily Rabe
    Lily Rabe
    • Joan Fischeras Joan Fischer
    Robin Weigert
    Robin Weigert
    • Regina Fischeras Regina Fischer
    Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick
    Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick
    • Teenage Bobby Fischeras Teenage Bobby Fischer
    Aiden Lovekamp
    Aiden Lovekamp
    • Young Bobby Fischeras Young Bobby Fischer
    Sophie Nélisse
    Sophie Nélisse
    • Young Joan Fischeras Young Joan Fischer
    Evelyne Brochu
    Evelyne Brochu
    • Donnaas Donna
    Conrad Pla
    Conrad Pla
    • Carmine Nigroas Carmine Nigro
    Vitali Makarov
    Vitali Makarov
    • Ivanovichas Ivanovich
    Brett Watson
    Brett Watson
    • Lothar Schmidas Lothar Schmid
    Igor Ovadis
    Igor Ovadis
    • Russian Bookstore Owneras Russian Bookstore Owner
    Bobo Vian
    • Bookstore Owner's Wifeas Bookstore Owner's Wife
    Shawn Campbell
    Shawn Campbell
    • Cyrilas Cyril
    • (as Shawn Cambell)
    • Director
      • Edward Zwick
    • Writers
      • Steven Knight(screenplay) (story)
      • Stephen J. Rivele(story)
      • Christopher Wilkinson(story)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    More like this

    Brothers
    7.1
    Brothers
    Bobby Fischer Against the World
    7.4
    Bobby Fischer Against the World
    The Details
    6.1
    The Details
    The Man Who Knew Infinity
    7.2
    The Man Who Knew Infinity
    Magnus
    7.1
    Magnus
    The Spoils of Babylon
    6.7
    The Spoils of Babylon
    Searching for Bobby Fischer
    7.4
    Searching for Bobby Fischer
    Wonder Boys
    7.2
    Wonder Boys
    Snowden
    7.3
    Snowden
    99 Homes
    7.1
    99 Homes
    Pleasantville
    7.5
    Pleasantville
    The Cider House Rules
    7.4
    The Cider House Rules

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Bobby Fischer was wanted in the United States of America for violating economic sanctions against the former Yugoslavia by playing a chess match there in 1992. He fled to Japan and was arrested in July 2004 for trying to leave Japan on a revoked U.S. passport. Thus, he was detained in Japan awaiting deportation to the USA. He renounced his U.S. citizenship and tried to become a German citizen, but was denied. Finally, in March 2005, Iceland's parliament voted to grant him Icelandic citizenship. He remained a fugitive from the USA until his death.
    • Goofs
      When Fischer first meets Boris Spassky in Santa Monica in 1966 Boris is introduced as the World Champion. Boris was not yet the World Champion. Tigran Petrosian was the World Chess Champion at that time.
    • Quotes

      Paul Marshall: I think he's afraid of what's gonna happen if he loses.

      Father Bill Lombardy: No, he's afraid of what's gonna happen if he wins.

    • Crazy credits
      In the closing credits, the name of the character Cyril (played by Shawn Campbell) is misspelled "Cryil."
    • Connections
      Featured in Bobby Fischer, the Cold War and the Match of the Century (2015)
    • Soundtracks
      Along Came Betty
      Written by Benny Golson
      Performed by Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers
      Courtesy of Concord Music Group, Inc.
      By Arrangement with Time Step Music

    User reviews141

    Review
    Top review
    Interesting movie with a solid performance from Tobey Maguire
    I think I have seen a few movies about chess and like in all movies concerning competitive sports I know that it could be very interesting and inspiring. So don't assume that this is a boring movie because of its theme.

    This is based on the real life of chess legend Bobby Fischer who after he became world champion, he lived a secluded, solitary life possibly because of a mental illness which made him paranoid.

    I am not a fan of Tobey Maguire (poor choice for Spiderman IMO) but he gives a convincing performance in this. His tantrums and his stares as he is building irrational thoughts about conspiracies and imaginable dangers are s strong plus to the film.

    The pace of the film is also good and the music by the veteran James Newton Howard follows the emotions with grace.

    Overall: Recommended
    helpful•52
    14
    • Dr_Sagan
    • Dec 16, 2015

    FAQ2

    • With the events of that tournament being as well documented as they are, why are there so many factual errors/mistakes in this film?
    • What does Boris Spassky say to Bobby Fischer during the first match and why?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 25, 2015 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official Site
    • Languages
      • English
      • Russian
    • Also known as
      • Piyodani qurbon qilib
    • Filming locations
      • Reykjavík, Iceland
    • Production companies
      • Gail Katz Productions
      • MICA Entertainment
      • Material Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $19,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $2,436,633
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $202,053
      • Sep 20, 2015
    • Gross worldwide
      • $5,578,519
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 55 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Tobey Maguire in Pawn Sacrifice (2014)
    Top Gap
    What is the Japanese language plot outline for Pawn Sacrifice (2014)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The 10 Most Anticipated Marvel and DC Movies
    See the full list
    Image caption not available
    2:14
    The Most Anticipated Movies and Shows to Watch in May
    Watch the video

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.