RANDOM MOVIE
Join our free weekly SaltyPopcorn newsletter.
Salty Popcorn > 1989 > DramaMovie | > When the Whales Came
Search Page
1989 | DIRECTED BY CLIVE REES

When the Whales Came

No rating yet! Leave your score below.
No cover art for When the Whales Came
Join to follow this movie
Movie Stats
Year
1989
Runtime
 100 minutes (1 hr 40 mins)
Certificates

U

PG

6

L

PG
Select Cast
Helen Mirren
Paul Scofield
David Threlfall
Helen Pearce
Max Rennie
Jeremy Kemp
Full cast and crew
Salty Popcorn Stats
First viewed:
16th May 2023
Last viewed:
12th Jun 2026
Total views:
80
Release Dates
US release date
 US release
20th October 1989
36 years 9 months 23 days ago
Denmark release date
 Denmark
2nd March 1990
36 years 5 months 10 days ago
Total Grosses
United Kingdom Flag
UK total gross
  £23.2 Thousand
Cinema Tickets Sold
United Kingdom Flag
UK tickets sold
9,964 aprox.
Box Office Breakdown
UK Box Office
  • Released: 25th Aug '89
  • Debut position: 13
  • Highest position: 13
  • Debut gross: £9.7 Thousand
  • Total chart weeks: 4
US Release
Global Box Office
  • No global cinema data.
ADVERTISMENT
Directed by
clive rees Clive Rees
Starring
Paul ScofieldThe Birdman
David ThrelfallJack Jenkins
clive reesHelen MirrenClemmie Jenkins
Helen PearceGracie Jenkins
Max RennieDaniel Pender
Jeremy KempMr. Wellbeloved
John HallamTreve Pender
Barbara EwingMary Pender
Dexter FletcherBig Tim
Nicholas JonesVicar
Joanna BartholemewMiss Tregarthen
Barbara JeffordAuntie Mildred
Irene WilsonMolly Woodcock
Fergus ReesThe Birdman
Kerra SpowartMargaret Pender
Keith Low2nd Fisherman
Blue PhilpottAlbert Pender
Penny RogersMaisie
Frederick Warder1st Fisherman
Derek PearceFiddle Player
Susan Curnow1st Fisherwoman
James StedefordBig Tim's Gang member
Paul ThomasBig Tim's Gang member
David SherrisBig Tim's Gang member
Steven DanWatchboy
David QuilterMr. Bullhead
David SuchetWill
ADVERTISMENT
Movie Ratings

What is your rating?

This movie has no rating yet!
Hover stars to score

When the Whales Came has 0 rating

Here are the 6 most recent

Totals for each star

 
 
 
 
 
Movie Reviews

How about leaving a review or comment for 'When the Whales Came'?

Your Display Name:

Email address

Your 140 character review:

 Characters Left

My rating

By clicking Submit you agree to our terms and conditions and privacy policy.

Popularity over the last 10 days
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
12th Aug 2026
11th Aug 2026
10th Aug 2026
9th Aug 2026
8th Aug 2026
7th Aug 2026
6th Aug 2026
5th Aug 2026
4th Aug 2026
3rd Aug 2026
UK Box Office Info
Highest Place
13
Weeks top 15
2
Total weeks
4
Total UK Gross:
£23,216
UK Box Office Chart History
Date
Place
Week
Total
When the Whales Came
25 Aug 1989
13N
£9,745
£9,745
1 Sep 1989
15▼
£4,873
£16,080
8 Sep 1989
17▼
£3,481
£20,953
15 Sep 1989
19▼
£1,741
£23,216

* Box office information before 1997 is continually being researched by our team and can be innacurate.

North American Box Office Chart History
We have no info on the North American box office for this movie.

* Box office information before 1997 is continually being researched by our team and can be innacurate.

Global Box Office Chart History
We have no info on the global box office for this movie

* Box office information befroe 2018 for global figures is continually being researched and hence is not complete and can be innacurate.

Global Box Office Release Breakdown
Box Office Standings: All-Time Top-Grossing Rankings
UK total gross: £23,216
9957
Gandhi 3
9958
When the Whales Came
9959
The Son of Bigfoot

Genres
Drama
Drama
Popular in these countries
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom
  • Vietnam Vietnam
  • India India
  • Bangladesh Bangladesh
  • Argentina Argentina
  • Chile Chile
  • Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan
  • Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia
  • Iraq Iraq
  • Honduras Honduras
  • Canada Canada
  • United States United States
  • Kenya Kenya
  • Hong Kong Hong Kong
  • Dominican Republic Dominican Republic
News from around the web
‘Lucy Lost’ Review: A Winsome Family Animation With Welcome Narrative Complexity  Yahoo Wed, 1st July 2026

British Council banks on screen presence, plans more film fests  economictimes.com Tue, 28th July 2026

When the Whales Came (1989)  IMDb Sun, 31st August 2025

Theatre review: Why the Whales Came / Richmond, London  The Guardian Tue, 24th February 2009

"Why The Whales Came" at the Comedy Theatre from 10 Dec 03  London Theatre Wed, 8th June 2016

When the Whales Came  Johns Hopkins University Wed, 24th January 2018

24th April 2026
This weeks UK new movie preview 24th April 2026 - Michael, The Exit 8, Mother Mary and ONE OK ROCK Detox Japan Tour 2025 At Nissan Stadium In Cinemas
16th April 2026
New poster has been released for Focker-In-Law which stars Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller - movie UK release date 25th November 2026
19th March 2026
This weeks UK new movie preview 20th March 2026 - Project Hail Mary, Dhurandhar 2, Arco, Couture, Midwinter Break, Dead Man's Wire and Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man
12th March 2026
This weeks Global new movie preview 13th March 2026 - Reminders of Him, The Testament of Ann Lee, Shelter, How to Make a Killing, Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die, Arco, Scarlet, Cold Storage, Hoppers, Fukushima
12th November 2025
Check out the new trailer and poster for upcoming movie The Devil Wears Prada 2 which stars Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep - movie UK release date 1st May 2026
30th May 2025
This weeks Global new movie preview 30th May 2025 - Karate Kid: Legends, The Phoenician Scheme, Bring Her Back, Doctor Who: Wish World & The Reality War - The Two Episode Finale, Peppa Meets the Baby Cinema Experience, Hurry Up Tomorrow, The Ugly Stepsister, The Ritual and Clown In a Cornfield
ADVERTISMENT