The Squid and the Whale poster

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Streaming data from JustWatch

The Squid and the Whale

2005 · Movie · 81 min
B

MEANRANK

73/100

Averaged across 11 ratings · 311.6K votes

Every rating

Platform pages last read 29 September 2026. IMDb’s figure comes from IMDb’s own data file, which we re-read about once a month.

Google: Google retired the star ratings it used to show in search results, so this one no longer updates. More on where the numbers come from →

58–91 out of 100

Split

Lowest is AlloCiné on 58, highest is Rotten Tomatoes critics on 91. Critics average 86, everyone else 70.

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Compare Trailer

In 1980s Brooklyn, two young brothers navigate the escalating divorce of their intellectual parents. The split is acrimonious, and the boys are pulled into their loyalties, often siding with one parent against the other. The older son begins to emulate his father's arrogant and cynical worldview, while the younger one acts out, as the family's artistic pretensions fracture under the weight of their dysfunction.

Details

Director
Noah Baumbach
Released
5 October 2005
Country
United States
Language
English
Runtime
81 min
Rated
R
Budget
$1.5M
Box office
$11.1M
Awards
8 wins, 16 nominations

This title elsewhere

Jeff Daniels

Jeff Daniels

Bernard Berkman

Laura Linney

Laura Linney

Joan Berkman

Jesse Eisenberg

Jesse Eisenberg

Walt Berkman

Owen Kline

Owen Kline

Frank Berkman

Halley Feiffer

Halley Feiffer

Sophie Greenberg

Awards & nominations

See all 24 →

2 major awards won · 8 wins from 24 nominations across 12 ceremonies

Sundance Film Festival 2005 Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award Noah Baumbach Winner
Sundance Film Festival 2005 Best Director Noah Baumbach Winner
Academy Awards 2006 Best Original Screenplay Noah Baumbach Nominee
Critics Choice Movie Awards 2006 Best Screenplay Noah Baumbach Nominee
Critics Choice Movie Awards 2006 Best Young Actor Jesse Eisenberg Nominee
Critics Choice Movie Awards 2006 Best Young Actor Owen Kline Nominee
Golden Globe Awards 2006 Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy The Squid and the Whale Nominee
Golden Globe Awards 2006 Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Jeff Daniels Nominee
Show all 24 awards across 12 ceremonies

Awards from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA.