Spotlight
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.
Directed by Tom McCarthy · Biography · Crime · Drama · 129 min · 2015
Trailer
Director
Tom McCarthy
Writer
Josh Singer, Tom McCarthy
Studio
N/A
Release
20 Nov 2015
Runtime
129 min
Genres
Biography, Crime, Drama
Full Plot
When the Boston Globe's tenacious "Spotlight" team of reporters delves into allegations of abuse in the Catholic Church, their year-long investigation uncovers a decades-long cover-up at the highest levels of Boston's religious, legal, and government establishment, touching off a wave of revelations around the world.
Cast & Characters
Walter "Robby" Robinson
Michael Keaton
Sacha Pfeiffer
Rachel McAdams
Matt Carroll
Brian d'Arcy James
Marty Baron
Liev Schreiber
Ben Bradlee Jr.
John Slattery
Mitchell Garabedian, an attorney representing victims of sexual abuse
Stanley Tucci
Stephen Kurkjian, Boston Globe general investigative reporter
Gene Amoroso
Jim Sullivan, an attorney representing the Church
Jamey Sheridan
Eric MacLeish, an attorney representing victims of sexual abuse
Billy Crudup
Eileen McNamara, Boston Globe columnist
Maureen Keill
Did You Know?
Made on an estimated budget of $20.0M, Spotlight has grossed $98.7M worldwide — about 4.9x its budget.
Source: TMDb API · verified 2026-08-02
Mark Ruffalo appears in 4 films in our catalog, including Shutter Island, Avengers: Endgame.
Source: theIReview.com catalog · verified 2026-08-02
1 million in the United States and Canada and $53.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-03
Critical Assessment
Spotlight holds 8.1/10 on IMDb (529,406 votes), 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, 93/100 on Metacritic.
Not enough independent critic/audience score breakdown available.
Ratings as of July 30, 2026
Where to Watch
United States
United Kingdom
India
Streaming data from JustWatch via TMDb. Availability changes often — confirm on the provider before watching.
AI Verdict
AI-generatedBased on aggregated scores (8.1/10 on IMDb (529,406 votes), 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, 93/100 on Metacritic), this is a data-driven snapshot rather than an editorial take.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Spotlight's Rotten Tomatoes score?+
Spotlight holds a 97% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes.
What is Spotlight's IMDb rating?+
Spotlight has a 8.1/10 rating on IMDb from 529,406 votes.
What is Spotlight's Metacritic score?+
Spotlight has a Metascore of 93/100 on Metacritic.
Is Spotlight good? What are critics saying?+
Spotlight holds 8.1/10 on IMDb (529,406 votes), 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, 93/100 on Metacritic.
How long is Spotlight?+
Spotlight has a runtime of 129 min.
Who directed Spotlight?+
Spotlight was directed by Tom McCarthy.
Where can I watch Spotlight?+
Spotlight is available to stream, rent, or buy on fuboTV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channels, Rakuten TV, Sky Store, BFI Player.
Fan & Critic Buzz
The public reaction to "Spotlight" is divided, with some praising its accurate portrayal of the scandal and performances, while others are ambivalent or even critical, citing a perceived lack of nuance in the story's delivery and tone. Some reviewers appreciate the film's attention to detail and the courage shown by those who investigated the case, including the Boston Globe. The reaction is also influenced by the controversy surrounding Michael Keaton's casting, with some praising his performance while others criticize it as insensitive or cliché.
Viewer Reviews (TMDb)
> Uncovering the sins committed by whom the millions of people believe in. A documentary film would show the real faces of those offenders to shame them. That's the reason I desperately wanted it to be a documentary, then I would have definitely given a maximum mark. There's no c…
Reno · 8/10Spotlight story is interesting and has a good cast which performs very well, but the feeling of the story is flat. First, they are talking about abuses to children but you feel almost the whole time that they are following the lead of any other story almost as bureaucrats. There…
Andres Gomez · 7/10This was a very shocking and well made film. It is about the scandal involving a cover-up of Catholic priests molesting children in the Boston area. I was surprised with the delicate nature of the film's script and how well it was handled. It had a very solid ensemble cast which…
mattwilde123 · 8/10A true account of the Boston Globe's investigative reporting on the vatican's approval of sexual predator priests over many decades. Disturbing to say the least. Excellent performances from Mark Ruffalo and Michael Keaton. It's easy for movies like this to get bogged down in the…
Nutshell · 8/10A friend recommended this film to me. I was reluctant because I am no big fan of Micheal Keaton. But I watched it anyway purely because of the disturbing subject matter. Clearly this cover-up resonates throughout the US a great deal, but living in England for most of my life I do…
tmdb40011370 · 9/10
From the trailer's comments
Best line of the movie: "If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a village to abuse one"
@josiahcaterino4788 · 1303 likes"It could've been you, it could've been me it could've been any of us". The horrible true...
@MrLMxD · 1563 likesI admire that the newspaper had the courage to stand up to the awesome might of the Catholic Church, and admire the courage of the people who made this movie.
@steve41557 · 3427 likesMark Ruffalo deserved that Oscar just for having that hair cut for 6 months
@miliejones3900 · 1414 likesI loved this movie. brought me to tears. This is the type of journalism I really admire.
@Lyriicistique · 2631 likesForget oscars and awards. This STORY, simply by itself, is a breakthrough investigation story. It shocked the world. That's more than a single gold statue could ever do. Forget the superheroes, these journalists have the makings of true heroes.
@katehu7194 · 900 likesFBI, CIA, Homeland, NSA, Secret Service: we know how to keep secrets from the public The Catholic Church: that's cute
@magnusbane5437 · 383 likesThat's one hell of a cast.
@Jiovi92 · 2061 likes
