The Whales of August fingerprintBig heart, strong craft, low-key.
Calm and low-key
Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.
Deeply moving and profoundly sad
Much of it is about family.
Some sharp wit
Not a comedy at heart.
Everyday modern life and family
Standout performances, characters, and direction
Functional look and sound
Calm and low-key
Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.
The Whales of August is calm and low-intensity. The story builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.
Deeply moving and profoundly sad
Much of it is about family.
Emotionally, it's deeply moving, profoundly sad, and nostalgic. Much of it is about family.
Everyday modern life and family
Its world is built around everyday modern life and family.
Standout performances, characters, and direction
The performances, characters, and direction stand out.
Functional look and sound
The look and sound stay functional.
Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.
The Screen's Immortals... A movie you'll never forget.
You are here: The Whales of AugustTap a poster to move
You are herePreview
vscompared with The Whales of August
The Whales of August1987
Point at a poster to compare itHold a poster to compare it
A chip fills to its level. Tap a full one for titles without that trait, a low one for titles with it.
Open a page:How to Make an American Quilt (1995)Away from Her (2007)Supernova (2020)Still Walking (2008)The Noel Diary (2022)On Golden Pond (1981)Main Vaapas Aaunga (2026)The Farewell (2019)Kodachrome (2017)Blue Jay (2016)Our Friend (2019)Marvin's Room (1996)Snow Cake (2006)Marty (1955)One Week (2008)One True Thing (1998)An Autumn Afternoon (1962)The Music Never Stopped (2011)Sweet Bean (2015)Flavors of Youth (2018)Tully (2018)Beginners (2011)Last Chance Harvey (2008)Meiyazhagan (2024)I'll See You in My Dreams (2015)Terms of Endearment (1983)The Accidental Tourist (1988)Our Souls at Night (2017)You Can Count on Me (2000)Anand (1971)White Nights (1957)Paterson (2016)Griffin & Phoenix (2006)An Unfinished Life (2005)Puzzle (2018)Another Self (2022)Central Station (1998)My Favourite Cake (2024)Son of the Bride (2001)Yi Yi (2000)Baghban (2003)Matthias & Maxime (2019)Smoke (1995)The First Day of the Rest of Your Life (2008)Chalte Chalte (2003)Love Likes Coincidences (2011)The Postman (1994)Broken But Beautiful (2018)Dear Frankie (2004)Toscana (2022)Rental Family (2025)Eat Drink Man Woman (1994)The Life Ahead (2020)Summer Hours (2008)Make Way for Tomorrow (1937)The Horse Whisperer (1998)Father Mother Sister Brother (2025)A Good Person (2023)The Way (2010)The Classic (2003)Past Lives (2023)A Late Quartet (2012)Raajakumara (2017)Steel Magnolias (1989)
Quick answers from GoodWatch data.
The Whales of August is included with a subscription to Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Philo, and MGM+ in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on YouTube Free and Tubi TV. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, and Apple TV Store. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.
Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 67/100 (IMDb 7.1 and Rotten Tomatoes 64%). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.
It's rated NR in the United States.
1 h 30 min
The Whales of August runs 1 h 30 min.
Yes. Critics average 64 and audiences 69 out of 100, so both groups see The Whales of August much the same way.
It was made in English. Produced in United States.
GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for The Whales of August in 12 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.
TV Tropes lists 13 storytelling tropes for The Whales of August, including Blade-of-Grass Cut, The Caretaker, Diagonal Billing.
7.1
