TheReviewMonk is back — critic reviews for Indian cinema, aggregated. Read our story →

TheReviewMonk
Spotlight backdrop

Spotlight

19 February 2016English2h 7m
7.7
from 8 scored reviews · 7 not rated

Weighted from an 8.3 average · Why?

What critics are saying

Critical reception for Spotlight is strongly positive, with reviewers broadly recommending the film.

Read all 15 reviews →
Tom McCarthy DirectorTom McCarthy WriterJosh Singer WriterHoward Shore MusicMasanobu Takayanagi Cinematography

Not streaming in India

The true story of how The Boston Globe uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese, shaking the entire Catholic Church to its core.

Critic Consensus

Critical reception for Spotlight is strongly positive, with reviewers broadly recommending the film. Critics most consistently praised the ensemble cast performances and the film's restrained, authentic approach to depicting investigative journalism — several noted its lack of sensationalism or artificial drama as a particular strength. The most common criticism, raised by a handful of reviewers, is that the film's low-key, procedural style can veer toward the slow or television-movie-like, making it unsuitable for casual viewing.

8 rated reviews · 8 positive

Praised: restrained ensemble cast performancesCriticised: slow pacing, TV-movie feel

AI-generated summary of 15 critic reviews · may contain errors

Report inaccuracy

Critic Reviews (15)

Updated
Raja SenTop Critic· Rediff
9.0
Spotlight is a powerful film, with a terrific ensemble cast...
Read full review ↗
Shalini LangerTop Critic· Indian Express
9.0
Mark Ruffalo's film is a gripping portrait of what happens when institutions decide they are bigger than the people who make them.
Read full review ↗
Mihir FadnavisTop Critic· Firstpost
Not rated
This is not the kind of movie you should take your date to for fun, but it's one that makes you question your faith in your religious institution and the morality of those attached to it. It's heavy stuff for sure, but stuff that must definitely be seen and discussed.
Read full review ↗
Bryan Durham· DNA India
8.0
Forget the flaws. This film deserves to be watched solely for the performances by the ensemble cast and for daring to telling a tale of courage and the pursuit of truth, no matter what the consequences.
Read full review ↗
Reagan Gavin Rasquinha· Times Of India
8.0
The real life investigation conducted by the team of Spotlight journalists won them a Pulitzer Prize. In case you do watch this movie - and it is highly recommended that you do - it'll be easy to see why they won that honour. Bold, audacious and shocking, a consummate piece of work.
Read full review ↗
Rohini Nair· Deccan Chronicle
8.0
In a world full of glittering rhinestones, Spotlight is like a quietly shining gem.
Read full review ↗
Jyoti Sharma Bawa· Hindustan Times
8.0
Inarguably one of the finest films on investigative journalism, Spotlight is an excellent critique of what blind deference to authority or faith can do to you. The problem affects India and America equally.
Read full review ↗
Johnson Thomas· Mid-Day
8.0
The film may tend to the boring at times but if you are someone who pays close attention to the nuances then you are sure to be both gratified and fulfilled. This film in fact highlights how even within the humdrum existence of routine we can achieve so very much.
Read full review ↗
Aleesha Matharu· CatchNews
8.0
Spotlight isn't a big, flashy movie, but it's a beautifully told story that says something important about our world. It is a movie I think everyone should see.
Read full review ↗
Subhash K Jha· SKJBollywoodNews
Not rated
Spotlight puts the spotlight on the trauma without  creating hype or drama. It's an achievement that doesn't call for a standing ovation. It gets it without trying.
Read full review ↗
Sankhayan Ghosh· The Hindu
Not rated
Spotlight is an important film, especially at times of cynicism around the profession of journalism. It is a non-showy paean to print reportage as much as it is a deeply affecting human drama.
Read full review ↗
Uday Bhatia· LiveMint
Not rated
Tom McCarthy's Spotlight is that rare film that is first and foremost about journalism.
Read full review ↗
Rachit Gupta· Filmfare
Not rated
End of the day, this film's real victory lies in the fact that it chronicles a pertinent part of modern history and it does so with the right amount of authenticity and deftness. There's no jingoism or sense of sensation. It takes real human emotions and crafts them into the journalism profession. The quality of cinema is beyond measure. This is a must watch.
Read full review ↗
Nandini Ramnath· Scroll.in
Not rated
Spotlight doesn't set up false binaries between print and new media, nor does it treat its reporters as superheroes with notebooks. McCarthy's no-frills approach and classic shot and reverse-shot storytelling often nudges Spotlight into the television movie zone, but there is no mistaking what is at work here: the good fight to tell a story the way it needs to be told.
Read full review ↗
Criselle Lobo· BookMyShow
Not rated
Spotlight is not for everyone. It's a serious film that deals with a serious issue, and it does justice to it. For the performances alone, the movie is worth a watch.
Read full review ↗

Cast & Crew

Cast

Details

Release Date
19 February 2016
Runtime
2h 7m
Language
English

User Ratings & Reviews

Users7.816 ratings

16 ratings · 2 with a written review

Community Reviews (2)

RA
Feb 2016

Best film of the year 2015.

AR
Dec 2016

I really don't count this as a movie. As an atheist i knew this kind of things happening with Christians and more bad things in other religions. But yea i know many never even imagined this. So to aware people about this dark side, hats off to the director for his courage.

TMDB

This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.