Whale watching

Eight more massive movie whales...

Free Willy (1993)

Inspired titters (Willy!) then tears (Willy!) as Jason James Ritcher’s teen tearaway helps free a captive killer whale (played by the seven-ton Keiko) with a little help from Michael Madsen.

Pinocchio (1940)

It’s watery nightmares ahoy in Disney’s eerie fairytale as the little wooden fella discovers his father’s been gobbled up by Monstro, a giant sperm whale. His plan? Get Monstro to sneeze...

Rust And Bone (2012)

Marine park trainer Stéphanie (Marion Cotillard) suffers life-changing injuries when a killer whale show goes wrong. Hunky bouncer Alain (Matthias Schoenaerts) helps her pick up the pieces.

Orca (1977)

Cult horror classic. Richard Harris kills a baby orca and is hunted by its vengeful daddy. Think an eco-friendly Jaws only not quite as good, though it does also have Charlotte Rampling.

Blackfish (2013)

Compelling doc from director Gabriela Cowperthwaite, whose exploration of SeaWorld’s alleged mistreatment of its animals caused a public backlash against the marine park.

Whale Rider (2002)

Thirteen-year-old Keisha Castle-Hughes memorably used a whale as a surf board in this atmospheric New Zealand coming-of-ager, and earned an Oscar nod for her efforts.

Moby Dick (1956)

Based on Herman Melville’s 1851 novel – itself partly inspired by events depicted in Ron Howard’s In The Heart

Of The Sea – in which Gregory Peck goes up against the titular great white whale.

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)

An alien spaceship threatens to destroy Earth unless it can chat with, uh, humpback whales in the ‘peace and love’ fourth Trek. Only snag? They’re now extinct. D’oh!