The Squid and the Whale (2005): cast, story & where to watch
2005 · Film · ★ 7
Released in 2005, The Squid and the Whale is a comedy and drama film directed by Noah Baumbach, running about 81 minutes. “Joint custody blows.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. 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.
Who’s in it. The Squid and the Whale stars Jeff Daniels as Bernard Berkman, Laura Linney as Joan Berkman, Jesse Eisenberg as Walt Berkman and Owen Kline as Frank Berkman, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.0/10, The Squid and the Whale has been warmly received by audiences. It went on to earn $11.1M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Netflix and Netflix Standard with Ads and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Squid and the Whale page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Squid and the Whale tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Squid and the Whale (2005)?
- In US, The Squid and the Whale is available to stream on Netflix and Netflix Standard with Ads, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Squid and the Whale worth watching?
- The Squid and the Whale holds an audience score of 7.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy and drama. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in The Squid and the Whale?
- The Squid and the Whale stars Jeff Daniels, Laura Linney, Jesse Eisenberg, Owen Kline and William Baldwin.
- When was The Squid and the Whale released?
- The Squid and the Whale was released in 2005, with a runtime of about 81 minutes.