Wordplay

Wordplay (2005)

  • 95% of critics liked it
    (121 reviews)

  • 57% of users liked it
    (21,267 ratings)

Cinematographer-turned-documentary filmmaker Patrick Creadon takes a compelling look at the brainy world of crossword puzzles, the masterminds that conceive them, and the folks who struggle to solve them in a film that offers a close look at one of America's most popular pastimes. For 12 years,… More

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In Theaters
Jun 16, 2006 Limited
IFC Films

Critic Reviews

  • Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

    Boy, was I wrong. There's more palm-sweating suspense in one minute of this baby than in all of The Omen.

  • Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

    Even though these puzzles are mapped out with utmost precision -- and even though logic is an extremely useful tool for solving them -- they're still, somehow, objects of intrigue and mystery.

  • Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

    A playful, informative and very sweet documentary about the world of words 'across' or 'down.'

  • Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald

    It manages to turn an internal, solitary activity into fodder for an engaging, even exciting movie.

  • Tom Long, Detroit News

    There's a surface satisfaction to Wordplay that's absolutely undeniable. But there are also just enough smarts here to make you wish for something more.

Read all 19 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Luke B


    Recently I've watched films about those obsessed with Scrabble, Chess, and Cinema. This was probably my favorite. First of all, all the people featured in this documentary seem to be able to function. They make friends, relationships, study, have jobs, etc. This makes them easier… More

  • Alice S


    Oh freakin' man! Such thrilling and fantastic geekery! Special features are totally money. Maybe if <i>Helvetica</i> had solicited the yesman pandering of some late night news comedian or some MVP baseball player or oh, you know, a president or two, it would have… More

  • Jay H


    A fabulous documentary.

  • Dean L


    Documentaries can take on various forms: There are those that are about a topic of interest so you watch. There are those that are hyped so you watch. Then there are those that take on a subject that seems dry and you pause, "Am I really going to be interested in this subject… More

  • Steve B


    Amazing how suspenseful a crossword puzzle tournament can be, but that's not the best part of this doco. What had me was the sheer genius of the people who create them. Fascinating.

Read all 11 featured audience ratings

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