6 Best Whales and Whaling Movies

By Vlad Zakh · June 3, 2026

Whales and humanity have a fraught relationship, and these films bring it to life. In the Heart of the Sea has a whaling crew fighting for survival after a vengeful whale destroys their ship, Moby Dick has an obsessive captain hunting the white whale, and Free Willy has a boy helping a captive orca escape. Big Miracle, Down to the Sea in Ships and the 1930 Moby Dick round out the six.

In the Heart of the Sea (2015)

TMDB ★ 6.5

A whaling ship's crew fights for survival after their vessel is destroyed by an enormous whale.

Directed by Ron Howard · 2h 02m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Big Miracle (2012)

TMDB ★ 6.6

A news reporter and an environmentalist rally a small Alaskan town to rescue trapped grey whales.

Directed by Ken Kwapis · 1h 47m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: Wonder Project Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Free Willy (1993)

IMDb ★ 6.1 RT 71% Metacritic 79

A troubled boy bonds with a captive orca and helps engineer its return to the sea.

Directed by Simon Wincer · 1h 52m · Rated PG

7 wins & 2 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Moby Dick (1956)

TMDB ★ 7.1

A vengeful sea captain leads his crew on an obsessive hunt for the great white whale that maimed him.

Directed by John Huston · 1h 55m

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Down to the Sea in Ships (1949)

TMDB ★ 6.5

A young orphan raised aboard a whaling ship dreams of commanding his own vessel.

Directed by Henry Hathaway · 2h 00m · Rated NR

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Moby Dick (1930)

TMDB ★ 6.1

A vengeful sea captain leads his crew on an obsessive hunt for the great white whale that maimed him.

Directed by Lloyd Bacon · 1h 20m

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

6 Best Whales and Whaling Movies

In the Heart of the Sea (2015)

Big Miracle (2012)

Free Willy (1993)

Moby Dick (1956)

Down to the Sea in Ships (1949)

Moby Dick (1930)

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