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1989 | DIRECTED BY CLIVE REES

When the Whales Came

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Movie Stats
Year
1989
Runtime
 100 minutes (1 hr 40 mins)
Certificates

U

PG

L

5

6
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:
87
Release Dates
US release date
 US release
20th October 1989
36 years 10 months 12 days ago
Denmark release date
 Denmark
2nd March 1990
36 years 5 months 30 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.
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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
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Popularity over the last 10 days
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1st Sep 2026
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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
9995
Gandhi 3
9996
When the Whales Came
9997
The Son of Bigfoot

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

Theatre review: Why the Whales Came / Richmond, London  theguardian.com Tue, 24th February 2009

When the Whales Came (1989)  IMDb Mon, 10th January 2022

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

Review/Film; Wisdom and Innocence on the Eve of War (Published 1989)  The New York Times Fri, 20th October 1989

Portrait of the artist: Michael Morpurgo, author  theguardian.com Mon, 10th October 2011

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