The A24 drama The Whale is currently playing in theaters, where it has now surpassed $10 million at the box office. While obviously not Avatar: The Way of Water numbers, the total is remarkable, given that The Whale is a low-budget indie film released in the pandemic era. Arthouse films have significantly struggled in recent years due to the pandemic, even if franchise tentpoles are doing a better job. Certainly, with the film pulling in all profit at this point in addition to garnering award recognition, The Whale can be seen as a big success for A24.

Directed by Darren Aronofksy, The Whale is based on an original stage play by Samuel D. Hunter, who also penned the screenplay for the feature film adaptation. Speaking with Variety, Hunter commented on the continued box office success of the film. He’s thrilled to see the movie doing so well, though he also says he was feeling pretty good about The Whale’s chances of reaching these kinds of accolades, feeling that it had a story that would resonate with people. Throw in Brendan Fraser as the lead right at the peak of the Brenaissance, and you have a recipe for success.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

“I’m really happy about it. I had a feeling. I’ve seen this play in a lot of different theaters all across the country, and I just had a feeling that this is a story that is not going to only play in New York and L.A. People are going to be really interested in this guy, they’re going to be really interested in seeing Brendan come back in this beautiful role. So, I was hopeful and optimistic, and I’m just really glad that people are coming out to see it.”

The Whale Has Also Been an Awards Darling

     A24

The Whale has also been garnering a lot of attention with awards. Just days ago, Fraser was nominated for Best Actor in a Drama Movie at the Golden Globes, though he didn’t attend the ceremony. There has also been a lot of speculation that Fraser will be nominated for an Academy Award for his role in the film, and that’s something many people are hoping to see happen.

In The Whale, Fraser plays Charlie, a 600-pound recluse who lives alone after abandoning his family for a now-deceased gay lover years prior. With his health in rapid decline, Charlie hopes to reconnect with his teenage daughter (Sadie Sink, Stranger Things) before it’s too late.

The Whale is screening in movie theaters. You can view a trailer below.