

The Searchers
He had to find her... he had to find her...
As a Civil War veteran spends years searching for a young niece captured by Indians, his motivation becomes increasingly questionable.
TMDB
7.7/10
1,644 votes
IMDb
Not rated yet
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- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $3.8M
- Box office
- —
- Language
- Spanish
- brother
- new mexico
- texas
- native american
- uncle
- racist
- prejudice
- racism
- massacre
- desert
- cavalry
- reverend
Top billed cast

















Behind the camera
Where to watch
All optionsAvailability for India. Provided by JustWatch through the TMDB API.
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Release dates
United StatesUS
- PremiereNRChicago, Illinois16 May 1956
- TheatricalNR26 May 1956
United KingdomGB
- TheatricalU23 Sept 1956
ArgentinaAR
- Theatrical19 Jul 1956
AustriaAT
- Theatrical1225 Jan 1957
BelgiumBE
- TheatricalAL16 May 1956
BrazilBR
- Theatrical1216 May 1956
DenmarkDK
- Theatrical1523 Jul 1957
FranceFR
- TheatricalTP8 Aug 1956
- TVTPCiné+ Classic13 Oct 2026
GermanyDE
- Theatrical124 Oct 1956
Hong KongHK
- Theatrical14 Feb 1957
IrelandIE
- TheatricalPG18 Jan 1957
ItalyIT
- TheatricalT14 Sept 1956
Frequently asked questions
The Searchers was released on 16 May 1956.
Audience reviews
5- J10/10
John Chard
6/4/2014
What makes a man to wander? Upon returning from a trip out to find cattle thieves, Ethan Edwards finds his brother and sister-in-law murdered by Comanches and their two daughters missing. Driven by a hatred of Indians, and a motive of some determination, Edwards and his part Indian companion set off to find the missing girls - it's a perilous journey that will span many years. The Searchers is one of the greate…
- W4/10
Wuchak
4/13/2021
_**Overrated Wayne Western with a young Jeffrey Hunter**_ Released in 1956 and directed by John Ford, "The Searchers" chronicles the story of Ethan Edwards (John Wayne) who returns from the Civil War to his brother's ranch in the Southwest; and to his brother's wife, whom he secretly loves. After the ranch is raided by Comanches, Ethan and his 1/8 Indian nephew (Jeffrey Hunter) search for the band of Indians to ge…
- F6/10
Filipe Manuel Neto
8/12/2023
**An interesting film, very well made, but with a weak script.** This is one of those old Western movies where the cowboy figure is glorified as the epitome of the common American hero, the women are helpless youths waiting for a gunslinger to keep them safe, the West is a lawless land where everyone does their own thing. whatever and the natives – in this case, the Comanche – are true terrorists, whom it is lawfu…
- C8/10
CinemaSerf
6/9/2024
Fabulously framed against a backdrop of Monument Valley; this is a most cinematic experience. John Wayne leads in this classic story of a man whose family are murdered/kidnapped by Comanches and of his subsequent search for his family and for vengeance. Jeffery Hunter plays his nephew "Martin" with considerable skill and emotion and Ward Bond is another who knows how to get the best from Frank Nugent's screenplay. Th…
- G4/10
griggs79
11/15/2024
As I delve into the AFI 100 films, _The Searchers_ emerges as the first that I've truly struggled to embrace. Despite its acclaim in film history, several elements made it a disturbing viewing experience. First and foremost, it's crucial to delve into the film's historical context. Like many movies of its time, _The Searchers_ mirrors the prevailing attitudes towards Native Americans. While some may argue it's a '…
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