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The Squid and the Whale

2005·Movie
1h 21min·R
80
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.3Metacritic827.7Rotten Tomatoes91%81%
IMDb7.3Metacritic827.7Rotten Tomatoes91%81%

Watch

NetflixSony Pictures Core

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The Squid and the Whale fingerprint

Big heart, strong craft, low-key.

Energy

Calm and low-key

  • Tension5
  • Fast Pace4
  • Adrenaline3

Heart

Melancholic and nostalgic

Much of it is about family and growing up.

  • Family Dynamics9
  • Melancholy8
  • Nostalgia8

Humor

Some sharp wit

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay6
  • Cringe Humor4
  • Satire & Parody4

World

Family, history, and the mind

  • Dialogue Centrality8
  • World Immersion7
  • Rewatchability7

Craft

Standout characters, direction, and performances

  • Character Depth9
  • Direction8
  • Acting8

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Editing7
  • Music Composition7

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFriends NightPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensComfort WatchThought-Provoking

Find more like it

Psychological moviesNostalgic moviesMelancholic moviesBittersweet movies

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

Joint custody blows.

Based on the true childhood experiences of Noah Baumbach and his brother, The Squid and the Whale tells the touching story of two young boys dealing with their parents' divorce in Brooklyn in the 1980s.
Indie DramaDivorceFamily Dynamics1980s BrooklynComing-of-AgeMelancholyIntellectualCharacter-Driven

Crew

Directed by:
Noah Baumbach, David 'Wex' Wechsler, Eric Yellin
Written by:
Noah Baumbach
Produced by:
Wes Anderson, Douglas Aibel, Miranda Bailey
Composed by:
Randall Poster, Britta Phillips, Lewis Goldstein

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about The Squid and the Whale

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Squid and the Whale legally?

NetflixSony Pictures Core

The Squid and the Whale is included with a subscription to Netflix in the United States. You can also rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is The Squid and the Whale worth watching?

80
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 81/100 (IMDb 7.3, Rotten Tomatoes 91%, and Metacritic 82). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is The Squid and the Whale rated?

RStrong language

It's rated R in the United States. Content advisories: strong language.

How long is The Squid and the Whale?

1 h 21 min

The Squid and the Whale runs 1 h 21 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on The Squid and the Whale?

Critics87
Audiences77

Not quite. Critics rate The Squid and the Whale higher (87) than audiences (77). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

Was The Squid and the Whale a box office hit?

Budget$2 million
Box office$11 million

Yes, a big one. It cost about $2 million to make and earned $11 million worldwide, 7.4 times its budget.

What language is The Squid and the Whale in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch The Squid and the Whale?

133ADAEAGALAOARATAUAZBABBBEBGBH+119

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for The Squid and the Whale in 133 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does The Squid and the Whale use?

Sir Swears-a-LotBroken PedestalParents as PeopleSpeed SexAffectionate NicknameTroubling Unchildlike BehaviorWriters Are WritersCentral ThemeGood Adultery, Bad AdulteryMale GazeNever Trust a TitlePlagiarism in Fictionand 18 more

TV Tropes lists 30 storytelling tropes for The Squid and the Whale, including Sir Swears-a-Lot, Broken Pedestal, Parents as People.