How to watch
Searching Movie Watch Order in the correct order
How to watch the Searching movies in order
Last updated: November 12 2026
Written by: ChronoBob
Searching and its standalone sequel Missing tell gripping mystery stories entirely through computer and phone screens. Here's how to watch them in order.
In Searching, John Cho plays David Kim, a father who scours his teenage daughter's laptop and social media accounts after she vanishes. The entire film unfolds on screens, a format often called screenlife, and it earned rave reviews for its clever twists and emotional punch. In 2023, Missing followed with an all-new story: Storm Reid plays June, a teenager who uses every digital tool she can find to track down her mother after she disappears on a trip to Colombia.
π Release Order
Release order is the easiest path, and it shows how the screenlife format grew more ambitious with each film.
- Searching (2018)
- Missing (2023)
The two movies share a world and a style rather than a cast. Missing is a standalone sequel, with only small nods to the events of the original.
π Story Chronology
Because Missing takes place after Searching and contains a few winks to the first film, the chronological order is the same as the release order.
- Searching (2018)
- Missing (2023)
Which Order Should You Choose?
Start with Searching, then watch Missing. You can absolutely enjoy either movie on its own, but seeing the original first lets you catch the playful references hidden in the sequel and appreciate how the filmmakers raised the stakes. Both are tightly plotted mysteries full of red herrings, making them ideal picks for fans of twisty thrillers and modern detective stories.
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