Netflix’s quarterly improvement in its performance proves the streamer is doing something right, the others are not. And with the distance the streaming giant now maintains from its rivals in the rat race of who did it better, Netflix’s upper hand speaks for its popularity. Although the streaming mogul’s transitioning catalog makes certain visual experiences short-lived, its recent tap to welcome an Oscar winner to its shelves has prompted fans to soak the blockbuster while they can.

With winters ringing every corridor and quilts making an exit from the dusty closets, Netflix just added the perfect movie to kick-start the holiday binge.

With less than two months left in the 2024 barrel to embark on a fresh beginning, besides dusting the party poppers and festive gear, Netflix is expanding its reach on Academy exclusives. On the very first day of November, Netflix rolled out the welcome mat for the Oscar-winning tear-jerking American psychological drama, The Whale, by Darren Aronofsky. Samuel D. Hunter adapted the 2022 film, based on his 2012 play of the same name. 

The thriller stars Brendan Fraser, Sadie Sink, Hong Chau, Ty Simpkins, and Samantha Morton. Although the film was a darling of the critics and an Academy favorite, The Whale had a limited release in the US before a wider release that year by A24. The Whale reportedly grossed $57.6 million against a pale budget of $3 million, prompting critical acclaim worldwide. And now, with its arrival on Netflix, fans better keep the tissue boxes ready at their disposal because this binge is quite an emotional rollercoaster.

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As for the plot, here is a lowdown on The Whale starring Fraser and Sink.

The Whale’s story takes fans back in time in 2005 to a small apartment in Idaho and follows Charlie, portrayed by Brendan Fraser, who is an obese English teacher struggling with health issues. However, as Charlie tries to reconnect with his estranged daughter (Sadie Sink), his health deteriorates with the manifestation of his emotional pain until he faces his own mortality. 

The Whale weaves a complex tapestry of emotions, where themes of redemption, forgiveness, mortality, and self-acceptance create a limbo filled with both relief and turmoil. The film garnered multiple Academy nominations, with Brendan Fraser winning Best Actor and The Whale taking home Best Makeup and Hairstyling. Fraser and Sink have previously tugged at fans' heartstrings, and with Netflix releasing it just in time for the holiday season, it is the ideal way to stir up those feelings.

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What do you think of The Whale's addition on Netflix this November? Let us know in the comments below!