The underwater thriller Whalefall, with Josh Brolin and Austin Abrams, fell short of expectations on its October 16 opening weekend. It made about $8 million in the US and about $17.5 million worldwide. Even so, the film drew a much kinder reaction from critics and audiences than its box-office result suggests.
The numbers
The US opening was about $8 million, which placed the film fourth for the weekend. Earlier in the week it had been tracking at $10 to $12 million. Sunday’s first estimates were lower still, at $7.3 million domestically and $17 million worldwide. The film’s reported production budget is $60 million, a figure the studio has not confirmed.
Critics and audiences
The film holds 71 percent positive on the critics aggregator and 81 percent among audiences, with an opening-day CinemaScore of B. Some critics rated it very highly, but the overall picture does not match its box-office performance.
Why it did not land
Commentators point to several things: an opening in the second half of autumn, competition that weekend from Street Fighter and You Can See Everything, and a marketing campaign that some write-ups called generic and lackluster. After this start, the film’s time in theatres depends on word of mouth.
Frequently asked questions
How much did Whalefall open to? About $8 million in the US.
What is its budget? A reported $60 million.
What is the critics score? About 71 percent.
When did it open? October 16, 2026.
Note: figures are estimates and may change.
