Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Aneesh Chaganty said he and his team did not expect Searching to change their prospects so quickly: after its Sundance screening, Sony bought the film within 12 hours, according to his 2018 account. The feature debut’s success opened a new opportunity, but Chaganty also made clear that he did not want to keep making films built around screens.
How did Searching become a Sundance success?
In Udita Jhunjhunwala’s August 29, 2018 interview for Scroll.in, Chaganty recalled that the team applied to Sundance and was accepted. Sony acquired the film within 12 hours of its screening, he said: “Within 12 hours, my life changed. It was unreal.” He described the outcome as unexpected, not as a result they had planned for. That timeline is Chaganty’s account in the interview.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Searching - Blu-ray + Digital | $11.58 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
![Searching [Blu-ray] [2018] [Region A & B]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/514oflstBaL._SL160_.jpg)
|
Searching [Blu-ray] [2018] [Region A & B] | $20.65 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![Search Party [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61LnjbyKUhL._SL160_.jpg)
|
Search Party [Blu-ray] | $22.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
![The Search [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41ShwCeZPxS._SL160_.jpg)
|
The Search [Blu-ray] | $55.78 | Buy on Amazon |
Searching was Chaganty’s feature debut. Sony’s 2018 press release traces his path from the short Seeds, made with Google Glass, to two years writing and directing commercials at Google Creative Lab. Sony said Seeds received more than one million YouTube views in 24 hours; that figure is Sony’s reported milestone, not an independently audited count. Sony’s August 20, 2018 release also identifies Searching as his feature debut.
A separate 2018 interview introduction from Asian CineVision reported that Sony acquired the film for $5 million. Scroll.in’s account and Sony’s official materials cited here do not confirm that amount, so it should be treated as a reported figure rather than an established sale price. Asian CineVision also identifies Searching as the winner of the Sundance NEXT Audience Award—not the festival’s overall audience award. Asian CineVision’s July 19, 2018 interview gives that account.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →#1 Best Overall
- 37 hours after David Kim's (John Cho) 16-year-old daughter goes missing without a single lead, David decides to search the one place no one has looked yet, where all secrets are kept today: his daughter?s laptop.�
What made the screen-based format work?
Searching follows David Kim, played by John Cho, as he tries to find his missing daughter through her laptop and digital traces after the investigation stalls. Sony describes the 2018 film as a drama/suspense title and credits Chaganty and Sev Ohanian with the screenplay.
The device of telling a story through screens initially gave the filmmakers pause. In an interview with TechCrunch, Chaganty and Ohanian said they worried a feature-length version could feel like a 90-minute gimmick. They found a way into the story through its opening sequence: desktop footage establishes the Kim family’s history, giving the screen format an emotional role rather than making it a visual trick. Chaganty described the goal as showing technology accurately and honestly while still using traditional cinematic language. TechCrunch’s August 25, 2018 interview explores that decision.
What were Chaganty’s plans after Searching?
In the August 2018 Scroll.in interview, Chaganty said he was preparing his next film, Run, and expected shooting to begin in October. He said it would not be technology-driven and, when asked about returning to screen-based storytelling, answered: “Never again.” In context, he meant he did not want that format to define all his future films—not that he intended to stop making movies. Those were his plans at the time; the sources cited here do not establish the project’s current status.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where can you watch or revisit Searching?
Sony’s official film page confirms that Searching is available on Blu-ray and DVD and lists Amazon as a purchase destination. It does not establish current price or stock. Sony Pictures Canada also lists the film’s physical formats on its official page.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
Rank #3
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
