When the Whales Came (1989): cast, story & where to watch
1989 · Film · ★ 6.5
Released in 1989, When the Whales Came is a drama film directed by Clive Rees, running about 100 minutes. “A story so enchanting you'll wish it were real.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. A pair of children befriend an eccentric old man, who lives isolated on the far shore of their island home. But it turns out that the old man knows a terrible secret about the island and the whales who sometimes come. Meanwhile WWI is making life hard in the village.
Who’s in it. When the Whales Came stars Paul Scofield as The Birdman, David Threlfall as Jack Jenkins, Helen Mirren as Clemmie Jenkins and Helen Pearce as Gracie Jenkins, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.5/10, When the Whales Came has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In GB you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch When the Whales Came page.
If you liked it. Fans of When the Whales Came tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch When the Whales Came (1989)?
- In GB, When the Whales Came is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is When the Whales Came worth watching?
- When the Whales Came holds an audience score of 6.5 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in When the Whales Came?
- When the Whales Came stars Paul Scofield, David Threlfall, Helen Mirren, Helen Pearce and Max Rennie.
- When was When the Whales Came released?
- When the Whales Came was released in 1989, with a runtime of about 100 minutes.