Overview
A gripping tale of a father's desperate search for his son amidst political turmoil.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- tense
- somber
- paranoid
- serious film night
- political history viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a gripping and politically forceful thriller elevated by Jack Lemmon and Sissy Spacek's performances, despite some stylistic unevenness.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Ed and Beth repeatedly encounter consular assurances, delays, and evasions while searching for Charles.
Ed begins as a confident conservative businessman and gradually confronts evidence implicating his own government.
Charles's disappearance unfolds amid the Chilean coup, military rule, and repression of civilians.
Searches through consular offices, military-controlled spaces, and bureaucratic encounters turn routine environments into sources of dread.
Films like Missing, and why
The Parallax View
shared political thriller framework, state corruption, investigative urgency, and morally unsettling realism
All the President's Men
shared conspiracy thriller atmosphere, institutional secrecy, and distrust of government power
The Year of Living Dangerously
shared historical political drama, disappearance, and ordinary people confronting authoritarian violence
Z
shared investigative drama, grief, and confrontation with concealed state crimes
Movie Details
- Director
- Costa-Gavras
- Release Date
- 1982-02-12
- Runtime
- 123 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (445)
Cast
- Jack Lemmon
- Sissy Spacek
- Melanie Mayron
- John Shea
- Charles Cioffi
- David Clennon
- Richard Venture
- Jerry Hardin
- Richard Bradford
- Joe Regalbuto
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Missing about?
- A grieving father and his son's wife confront a maze of official evasions while searching for the truth behind a disappearance during Chile's military coup.
- What is Missing like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Missing as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Missing violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Missing as moderate.
- What did critics think of Missing?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a gripping and politically forceful thriller elevated by Jack Lemmon and Sissy Spacek's performances, despite some stylistic unevenness.
- Which films are like Missing?
- Films with a similar feel include The Parallax View, All the President's Men, The Year of Living Dangerously, and Z.
- How long is Missing?
- Missing runs 123 minutes.
- Where can I watch Missing?
- In United States, Missing is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube.
