The film is a remake of the 2009 Argentine film of the same name, both based on the novel La pregunta de sus ojos by Eduardo Sacheri.

It was an international co-production between the United States, the United Kingdom, South Korea, and Spain.

STX Entertainment acquired the US rights to the film on January 20, 2015, and also produced it.

Principal photography began on January 26, 2015, in Los Angeles, with filming taking place at Santa Anita Park the following day.

The film's release was pushed back from its initially scheduled date of October 23, 2015, to November 20, 2015.

Critics praised the performances of the cast but compared the film unfavorably to the original, with Rotten Tomatoes' consensus stating it 'wastes its incredible cast' without making a compelling case for its existence.

Writer Manuel Betancour of Remezcla noted the film exemplifies what often gets lost in translation when foreign films are remade for American audiences.

The film grossed $32.2 million worldwide against a $19.5 million budget, opening in fifth place at the box office against The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 and The Night Before.