Pawn Sacrifice

2014
12A
1h 55m

IMDb RATING

7.0/10

51K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

Play trailer2:32

Biography Drama History Sport Thriller

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.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.0/10

51K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

1,155

4,144

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win & 1 nomination

Videos13

Pawn Sacrifice: I Have Him

Clip 1:10

Pawn Sacrifice: People Get Worried

Photos100

+ 94

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Storyline

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Did you know

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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 reviews148

Review

Featured 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