Josh Brolin has a knack for landing in impossible situations on screen—decapitated in Avengers: Endgame, nearly frozen in Everest, and scorched on Arrakis in the Dune films. His latest role might top them all: a ghostly father whose son ends up trapped inside a sperm whale. But despite that wild premise, audiences aren't exactly flocking to see it.
Whalefall opened to roughly $8 million at the domestic box office this weekend, a disappointing debut for the survival thriller starring Austin Abrams and Brolin. Directed by Brian Duffield, the film hit theaters on October 16 and faced stiff competition from several major releases, including Street Fighter and the surprisingly popular documentary You Can See Everything. Against its reported $60 million production budget, that opening is a tough pill to swallow.
The story follows Jay Gardiner (Abrams), who, after the death of his father (Brolin), goes diving off the central California coast to find his remains. But things take a terrifying turn when he's swallowed whole by a massive sperm whale. With only an hour of oxygen left, Jay must use the lessons his father taught him—hard-earned and often painful—to find a way out. It's a premise that sounds tailor-made for thrill-seekers, yet the box office numbers suggest otherwise.
Critics, however, are singing a different tune. Collider's Charlie Ridgely gave the film a glowing 9/10 review, praising the father-son dynamic, Abrams' lead performance, and the film's ability to tell a simple, powerful story in such an unusual setting. Ridgely noted that Kraus' novel is scientifically accurate about whale biology, but more importantly, Whalefall is a story about grief and the weight of parental expectations. "The story of Jay's journey inside the whale is exhilarating, but it's his journey with grief and the memory of his father that ultimately feels the most engaging," he wrote.
The film's slow start is reminiscent of other recent theatrical struggles, like Practical Magic 2 vanishing from theaters after a weak run, or DreamWorks' Forgotten Island losing screens. Even Zach Cregger's Resident Evil has seen momentum slow. It's a tough climate for original thrillers, especially when competing against established franchises and event films.
Still, Whalefall has the kind of high-concept hook that could find a second life on streaming. If you're looking for a similar adrenaline rush, check out our list of near-perfect thriller series on Netflix for your next binge weekend. Or, if you're in the mood for more book-to-screen adaptations, we've ranked the most beloved book-based thrillers.
For now, Whalefall is still playing in theaters, and while its opening weekend numbers are rough, strong word-of-mouth and critical praise could give it legs. But with a budget that high, it'll need a miracle—or a whale of a second weekend—to turn things around.
