Whalefall (2026)
Hold your breath.
Following the death of his father, Jay Gardiner goes diving off the central Coast of California in search of his remains, but is swallowed by a massive sperm whale. While trapped inside its belly with only one hour of oxygen left, Jay comes to realize that the hard-earned lessons his father imparted may be the key to his escape.
| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 14 October 2026 |
| Genre | Thriller |
| Director | Brian Duffield |
| Starring | Austin Abrams, Josh Brolin and Elisabeth Shue |
| Runtime | 106 min |
| Rated | PG-13 |
| Scores | TMDB users 7.6/10 |
| Budget | $49 million |
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What kind of watch this is
Whalefall is a 2026 thriller. Jay Gardiner dives off the central Coast of California to find his late father’s remains, only to be swallowed by a massive sperm whale. He has one hour of oxygen. The movie is 106 minutes long, which is a tight fit for a story about running out of time. Brian Duffield directs, with Josh Brolin and Elisabeth Shue in the cast. It is a claustrophobic premise that relies on the ticking clock of a single breath.
What the critics said
Rotten Tomatoes shows 70% positive reviews from 102 critics, averaging 6.5 out of 10. Metacritic lands on 57 out of 100, a score that suggests mixed or average reception. Zachary Lee of RogerEbert.com called it a "mind-bending joyride," while Phil de Semlyen of Time Out rated it 4 out of 5 stars for its effective pacing. The Financial Times praised the visuals but found the emotional storyline overly sentimental. It is a film that works hard to justify its premise, which is a tall order for anything set inside a whale.
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TMDB's recommendations for people who watched Whalefall.
Sources
- Whalefall on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q134876629 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “Whalefall (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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