The Whale (2022)
I need to know that I have done one thing right with my life.
A reclusive English teacher suffering from severe obesity attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter for one last chance at redemption.
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| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 9 December 2022 |
| Genre | Drama |
| Director | Darren Aronofsky |
| Starring | Brendan Fraser, Sadie Sink and Ty Simpkins |
| Runtime | 117 min |
| Rated | R |
| Scores | Rotten Tomatoes 64% · Metacritic 60/100 · IMDb 7.6/10 · TMDB users 7.8/10 |
| Budget | $3 million |
Where to watch The Whale
We could not find The Whale on any of the subscription services we track in the US right now. That changes often; open it in Binge Boss and we will show you where it lands.
Rent or buy
You can rent The Whale on Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home and Spectrum On Demand. It is also for sale on Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube and Fandango at Home.
Where to watch The Whale in 40 other countries
| Country | Streaming on (price a month) |
|---|---|
| Antigua & Barbuda | Netflix about |
| Argentina | Netflix $8999 ARS |
| Austria | Max €11.99 |
| Bahamas | Netflix about |
| Barbados | Netflix about |
| Belize | Netflix about |
| Bermuda | Netflix about |
| Bolivia | Netflix about |
| Brazil | Netflix R$51.90 |
| Chile | Netflix $7190 CLP |
| Colombia | Netflix $18900 COP |
| Costa Rica | Netflix about |
| Cuba | Netflix about |
| Dominican Republic | Netflix about |
| Ecuador | Netflix $5.99 |
| El Salvador | Netflix |
| France | Prime Video €6.99, Paramount+ |
| French Guiana | Netflix , Prime Video |
| French Polynesia | Prime Video |
| Germany | Max €11.99 |
| Guatemala | Netflix about |
| Honduras | Netflix about |
| India | SonyLIV ₹299 |
| Jamaica | Netflix about |
| Japan | U-NEXT ¥2189 JPY |
| Mexico | Netflix $269 MXN |
| Netherlands | Max €11.99 |
| Nicaragua | Netflix about |
| Panama | Netflix $5.99 |
| Paraguay | Netflix about |
| Peru | Netflix S/28.90 |
| South Korea | Netflix ₩13500, Watcha |
| Spain | Prime Video €4.99 |
| St. Lucia | Netflix about |
| Thailand | Netflix ฿169 |
| Trinidad & Tobago | Netflix about |
| Turks & Caicos Islands | Netflix |
| Türkiye | Prime Video ₺39.90 |
| Uruguay | Netflix about $U481 |
| Venezuela | Netflix about |
Subscription, free and ad-supported services we track; prices where Binge Boss has a price list for the country. "About" marks a price the service bills in another currency, converted at the day's rate. All countries as data.
What kind of watch this is
Aronofsky directs this 117-minute drama. Fraser inhabits Charlie, a man whose physical presence fills the frame while his emotional weight crushes it. The film does not shy away from the discomfort of watching a body that occupies so much space, yet it refuses to use that spectacle for easy pity. Instead, it finds a quiet, aching dignity in the effort to be seen. It is a slow burn that asks you to sit with the pain of a life lived in excess, both literal and metaphorical. The ending lands with the force of a long-held breath finally released.
What the critics said
Rotten Tomatoes sits at 64% as of September 2023. Metacritic, calculating a weighted average, lands on 60 out of 100 as of October 2025, labeling the reception mixed. The consensus leans heavily on Brendan Fraser, whose performance anchors the empathy. Glenn Kenny of RogerEbert.com noted the story explores different levels of heartbreak. Robbie Collin of The Telegraph saw Fraser sealing his comeback in a sensational film. Not everyone bought the compassion. Mark Hanson of Slant Magazine argued the camera leers at the protagonist as an unsightly object of pity. That is a heavy charge for a film trying to be kind.
How it did with audiences
The budget was $3 million. The film took in $17 million in the United States. That is a ratio that makes accountants smile and producers breathe. On TMDB, users rate it 7.8 out of 10. IMDb gives it 7.6/10 as of April 2026. Audiences flocked back to theaters for a one-man show, proving that prestige cinema still pulls weight when the acting is undeniable. The math worked out.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched The Whale.
Sources
- The Whale on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q105883400 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “The Whale (2022 film)” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
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