Entertainment
Say Goodbye to Chris Hemsworth and Cillian Murphy’s Period Drama Box Office Bomb
There are movies that leave waves — and then there are movies that struggle to stay afloat despite a massive production, big stars, and a legendary true story at their core. Somewhere in between those waves sits In the Heart of the Sea, a high-budget sea adventure that aimed for epic but never quite found the current, and if you’ve been meaning to give it another watch, your time is running out.
In the Heart of the Sea, starring Chris Hemsworth and Cillian Murphy, is set to leave Prime Video at the end of February — meaning there’s just a short window left to stream this ambitious seafaring drama before it disappears from the platform. Directed by Ron Howard and based on the true story that inspired Moby-Dick, the film charts the harrowing ordeal of the whaling ship Essex after it’s sunk by a massive sperm whale.
Hemsworth plays Owen Chase, the first mate whose leadership and resilience are tested as the crew fights for survival against the unforgiving ocean. Despite a reported production budget north of $100 million, the movie underperformed at the box office and didn’t capture the cultural momentum its marketing suggested it would.
Is ‘In The Heart of The Sea’ Worth Watching?
Collider’s review stated that In the Heart of the Sea squanders the rich dramatic depth of Nathaniel Philbrick’s book in favor of a glossy, surface-level retelling that never quite finds its emotional anchor. The review noted that while the film doesn’t fail outright, it rarely rises above competence, which is about as damning with faint praise as one could muster. Ultimately, the review concluded that In the Heart of the Sea is visually impressive but dramatically adrift.
“The film doesn’t need to be a history lesson, but there are times when it goes out of its way to avoid rich dramatic material presented in Philbrick’s book. Like his characters after their boat is smashed, Howard doesn’t seem to have much idea of where to go. He just wants to make sure he makes a comment about energy dependence (something dropped in so clumsily you can almost hear him talking about it at the press junket) and then sets the audience on its way. In the Heart of the Sea may not be completely heartless, but Howard should have been able to bring more verve and energy to this tale.”
In The Heart of The Sea leaves Prime Video at the end of the month.
- Release Date
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December 3, 2015
- Runtime
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122 minutes