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Pawn Sacrifice

Pawn Sacrifice

On the board he fought the Cold War. In his mind he fought his madness.

2014115 minPG-13Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films
Director
Edward Zwick
Starring
Tobey Maguire, Peter Sarsgaard, Liev Schreiber, Michael Stuhlbarg

During the height of the Cold War, American chess prodigy Bobby Fischer finds himself caught between two superpowers when he challenges the Soviet Empire.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Pawn Sacrifice?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Pawn Sacrifice streaming on Pluto TV (free) and Tubi (free) and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

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Highlights

What stands out about Pawn Sacrifice?

Pawn Sacrifice earns 9 badges, led by Crowd Pleaser and Award Winner.

Show 1 more
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office
  • Content

Reception

Is Pawn Sacrifice worth watching?

Pawn Sacrifice's Midcredits score is the 81st percentile of all films, from 111K ratings across 6 sources. 74% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

81st percentile

Better received than 81% of films

69th percentile among Biography81st percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)75th
Approval (how many liked it)84th

69 /100

75th percentile of all films

65th percentile among Biography74th percentile among 2010s

Critics 65 · Audience 69

Critics and audiences broadly agree.

Rating distribution

A tight consensus around 7.1 — people broadly agree on this one.

74% liked it

84th percentile of all films

71st percentile among Biography84th percentile among 2010s
74% rated it 7–1026% rated it 1–6

Critics 73% · Audience 66%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of critics approved than audiences.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 1 wins / 1 noms overall

95th percentile

110K ratings across platforms

88th percentile among Biography95th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 33% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$19M
Opening weekend$202K
Domestic gross$2.4M
Worldwide gross$5.6M

Returned 0.3× its budget — 59th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A moderately effective biopic that focuses on Fischer's mental illness and Cold War tensions rather than the game of chess.

Fans praised

  • Maguire's committed performance as Fischer's paranoid genius
  • tense dramatization of chess matches as psychological warfare
  • strong supporting cast especially Schreiber and Sarsgaard

Detractors panned

  • superficial character study that avoids chess itself
  • Maguire miscast physically and vocally as the tall Brooklynite
  • historical inaccuracies and sanitized portrayal of Fischer's later life

What stands out

ActingDivisive72

Maguire divisive — lauded for intensity vs. criticized for miscasting; Schreiber and Sarsgaard praised

TensionDivisive70

chess matches and psychological games create genuine suspense

AtmosphereDivisive68

cold war paranoia and Fischer's mental spiral effectively evoked

PacingDivisive60

builds tension effectively in second half but first half feels padded

Plot and storyDivisive58

linear biopic structure with rushed childhood and abrupt ending

CharactersDivisive55

Fischer portrayed as unlikable paranoid genius; Spassky and Lombardy underdeveloped

Emotional impactDivisive55

mixed — some feel pity for Fischer, others find him unsympathetic

Originality40

familiar biopic formula with no fresh perspective on Fischer

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Men

Men scored it 14 points higher than women.

Critics vs users

Preferred by Critics

Critics scored it 11 points higher than users.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Under-30s vs over-30s 8 points apart
  • US vs non-US 9 points apart

Watch experience

What is Pawn Sacrifice like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Dark and unsettling: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you are ready for heavy feelings, and you want something dark that stays with you.

It is intense and leaves you thinking. Skip it when you want an easy night.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Room for heavy feelings.

What it feels like

Dark and unsettling.

The answer rests on this: Moods
TenseMelancholicContemplative
Heaviest: late
Register
Solemn: Grave and dignified; treats its subject with weight and respect.Brooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.
Told as
Nonlinear · 6% of films: Events shown out of chronological order.Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film treats its subject with grave seriousness, focusing on Fischer's psychological deterioration without irony.
The rideThe film sustains a tense, brooding atmosphere throughout, with the emotional weight culminating in the final match and Fischer's subsequent unraveling.
StructureThe film opens at the championship then flashes back to Fischer's childhood, building a nonlinear structure that traces his development and decline.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Thinking.

The answer rests on this: Thought-provokingUnsettling
Why it leaves you this wayThe film leaves a lingering portrait of genius undone by paranoia, prompting reflection on obsession and mental health.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Tragedy
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9% (this title): Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% (this title) · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Tragedy: A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin. · Obsession: A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).

9% of films fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeBobby Fischer's story is driven by his obsessive quest to win the world championship, which ultimately consumes his sanity—a classic tragedy of obsession.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfObsession
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22% (this title): Identity 14% (this title) · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% (this title) · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3% (this title)
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Self

Obsession · 3% of filmsIdentity · 14% of filmsAmbition · 7% of films
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Global stakes: Consequences reach the world.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe film centers on Fischer's all-consuming drive for chess mastery and how that obsession both fuels his genius and unravels his sanity.
StanceThe film questions whether Fischer's obsessive genius was a gift or a curse, presenting his madness without fully resolving it.

The world

Late 20th centuryUrbanInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral modernSupportive music · original score · James Newton Howard
SettingNew York and Reykjavík during the Cold War, in the world of competitive chess and international politics.
MusicThe score underscores the tension of the chess matches and the psychological strain, without overpowering the drama.

Content guide

Is Pawn Sacrifice okay for kids?

PG-13

Pawn Sacrifice is rated PG-13: “Rated PG-13 for brief strong language, some sexual content and historical smoking” (MPAA). As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at minimal (2/100), sexual content at mild (30/100), language at moderate (36/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (30/100) and frightening material at minimal (12/100). Overall it is heavier than 6% of PG-13-rated films.

Ratings in 14 other countries
  • UK12
  • Canada14A
  • Germany6
  • FranceTP
  • JapanPG12
  • South Korea12
  • Brazil12
  • Denmark15
  • GreeceK12
  • Netherlands14
  • Norway12
  • Spain7
  • Sweden15
  • Switzerland12
Overall
Mild · all five categories
Heavier than 8% of all filmsHeavier than 6% of PG-13-rated films
Violence & Gore
None / Minimal
light for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 2%
Sex & Nudity
Mild · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 52%
Profanity
Moderate
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 33%
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 43%
Frightening / Intense
None / Minimal
light for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 13%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Nothing here is extreme. The strongest element is language, heavier than 33% of PG-13-rated films.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Pawn Sacrifice have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Pawn Sacrifice?

Cast

3 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Tobey Maguire
as Bobby Fischer
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Peter Sarsgaard
as Father Bill Lombardy
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Liev Schreiber
as Boris Spassky
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Michael Stuhlbarg
as Paul Marshall
Lily Rabe
as Joan Fischer
Sophie Nélisse
as Young Joan Fischer
Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick
as Teenage Bobby Fischer
Conrad Pla
as Carmine Nigro
Aiden Lovekamp
as Young Bobby Fischer
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Evelyne Brochu
as Donna
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.

Crew

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Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

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