The Squid and the Whale

The Squid and the Whale

Joint custody blows.

Directed by Noah Baumbach

Produced by Original Media, American Empirical Pictures

200581 min7.0 / 10

A semi-autobiographical, darkly comic coming-of-age story about two brothers navigating their parents' divorce in 1980s Brooklyn, balancing humor with genuine emotional pain.

Based on the true childhood experiences of Noah Baumbach and his brother, The Squid and the Whale tells the touching story of two young boys dealing with their parents' divorce in Brooklyn in the 1980s.

Where to watch

Questions people ask

  • Is The Squid and the Whale sad? Yes. More sad than 88% of films.

  • Is The Squid and the Whale violent? Not especially. Less violent than 64% of films.

  • Is The Squid and the Whale scary? Not especially. Less frightening than 58% of films.

  • Is The Squid and the Whale easy watching? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.

  • Does The Squid and the Whale end with hope? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.

These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.

Written about

57/ 100

Cinnamon Score

How much this film gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.

Familiar shape, done well.

Rarity51

How unlike any other film this one feels

Surprise51

How much more it delivers than it promises

Love70

How much audiences actually like it

The highest scores in the catalogue →

Ensemble

Everything like The Squid and the Whale, and what each one shares →

Like The Squid and the Whale

Nearest across the full emotional profile.

Same Mood as The Squid and the Whale

Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.

Like The Squid and the Whale, But Darker

Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.

Like The Squid and the Whale, But Lighter

Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.

Like The Squid and the Whale, But Less Popular

Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.

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