When the Whales Came
1989, English. Directed by Clive Rees.
A story so enchanting you'll wish it were real.
A pair of children befriend an eccentric old man, who lives isolated on the far shore of their island home. But it turns out that the old man knows a terrible secret about the island and the whales who sometimes come. Meanwhile WWI is making life hard in the village.
- Runtime
- 1h 40m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- English
- Rated
- Check local
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Where to watch When the Whales Came
When the Whales Came isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 28 March 1989.
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Cast & crew
- Clive ReesDirector
- Paul ScofieldThe Birdman
- David ThrelfallJack Jenkins
- Helen MirrenClemmie Jenkins
- Helen PearceGracie Jenkins
- Max RennieDaniel Pender
- David SuchetWill
- Jeremy KempMr. Wellbeloved
- John HallamTreve Pender
- Barbara EwingMary Pender
- Dexter FletcherBig Tim
- Nicholas JonesVicar
- Joanna BartholemewMiss Tregarthen
Details
- Released
- 28 March 1989
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Written by
- Michael Morpurgo
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News & fan talk
What When the Whales Came is based on
When the Whales Came is adapted from a children's book.
Source details from Wikidata and TMDB.
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When the Whales Came: quick answers
Is When the Whales Came worth watching?
When the Whales Came doesn’t have enough ratings for a verdict yet.
How long is When the Whales Came?
When the Whales Came runs 100 minutes (1h 40m).
Does When the Whales Came have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for When the Whales Came. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
When the Whales Came parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
No age rating is listed for When the Whales Came yet.
Which OTT platform is When the Whales Came on?
When the Whales Came isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 28 March 1989. (Checked 11 November 2026.)
What movies are like When the Whales Came?
If you liked When the Whales Came, try Where the Wild Things Are, Age of Consent, Beasts of the Southern Wild.
Who directed When the Whales Came?
When the Whales Came (1989) was directed by Clive Rees and stars Paul Scofield, David Threlfall, Helen Mirren.
What is When the Whales Came based on?
When the Whales Came is adapted from a children's book.