Skip to content More like this
Movies like The Whale (2022) Finished The Whale and want that feeling again? These are ranked by what it is actually about — its themes, its pacing, the kind of person at the centre of it — rather than the genre it was filed under. Every match says what it shares with The Whale, and what it does not.
What did you love about The Whale? Pick up to 3, and the matches below will be ranked around them. Optional — leave it blank for the closest overall.
Body positivity Parental redemption Psychological drama Character study Mental health Human connection Single protagonist Rebel Your best matches Ranked against what The Whale is actually about, not its genre labels.
72% Reverina match Top pick 2026 · Film · Drama · Mystery
Good match
Why it matches Watched for the same thing: emotional character study Also character study at heart More matches Each with the traits it shares with your pick.
Algorithm anchor-3 · considered 139 candidates
Built around the same human connection and redemption
Centres on the same outsider figure What's different Not really psychological drama Not about mental health or body positivity Easier to follow Darkness Fairly light
Light Dark
Commitment 1h 54m
Short Long
Where it streams Netflix Netflix Standard with Ads Why this ranked above the others
The best-reviewed of the set when ranked against The Whale.
Add to watchlist Not for me
1997 · Film · Drama
Good match
Why it matches Also psychological drama at heart Watched for the same thing: emotional character study Also about mental health Built around the same redemption and self-discovery What's different Not really character study Not built around human connection Why this ranked above the others
The best-reviewed of the set when ranked against The Whale.
Add to watchlist Not for me
2019 · Film · Drama
Good match
Why it matches Watched for the same thing: emotional character study Built around the same human connection and redemption Shares its melancholic and hopeful register Builds as slowly What's different Not built around self-discovery Not really psychological drama or character study More violent Why this ranked above the others
The least obvious pick of the set when ranked against The Whale.
Add to watchlist Not for me
Watched for the same thing: emotional character study Built around the same human connection and redemption I Swear 2025 · 2h 1m
Also about mental health Built around the same human connection and self-discovery Cast Away 2000 · 2h 23m
Told the same way, single protagonist Built around the same redemption and self-discovery Persona 1966 · 1h 25m
Also psychological drama and character study at heart Also about mental health Passengers 2016 · 1h 56m
Built around the same human connection and redemption Told the same way, single protagonist Big Fish 2003
Built around the same self-discovery Shares its melancholic and hopeful register The Pianist 2002
Centres on the same outsider figure Shares its melancholic and hopeful register
Long
Long
Netflix
Netflix Standard with Ads
