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Braking for Whales
Braking for Whales
from Wikipedia

Braking for Whales
Film poster
Directed bySean McEwen
Written bySean McEwen
Tammin Sursok
Produced bySean McEwen
Tammin Sursok
Cassidy Lunnen
StarringTammin Sursok
Tom Felton
CinematographyJustin Henning
Edited byAndrew S. Eisen
Music byJason Soudah
Production
companies
Narrator Entertainment
Charlie Baby Productions
Distributed byGravitas Ventures
Release dates
  • September 20, 2019 (2019-09-20) (Boston Film Festival})
  • April 24, 2020 (2020-04-24) (Digital Release)
Running time
103 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Braking for Whales is a 2019 American comedy drama film directed by Sean McEwen and starring Tammin Sursok and Tom Felton.[1] Sursok co-wrote the screenplay with McEwen.[2]

Cast

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Release

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The film's initial release was September 20, 2019 at the Boston Film Festival. Then it was released on VOD and digital platforms on April 24, 2020.[3]

Reception

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Tara McNamara of Common Sense Media awarded the film three stars out of five.[4] Peter Sobczynski of RogerEbert.com gave the film one star.[5]

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Braking for Whales is a 2019 American comedy-drama film directed by Sean McEwen in his feature directorial debut, co-written by McEwen and lead actress , and starring Sursok and as estranged siblings Star and Brandon Walker who embark on a 48-hour in a Winnebago to fulfill their deceased mother's eccentric final request of disposing her ashes in a whale's belly in order to claim their inheritance. The film explores themes of family dysfunction, reconciliation, and personal growth through the siblings' tumultuous journey to a aquarium, marked by humorous mishaps, emotional confrontations, and encounters with quirky relatives including Aunt Jackie () and Uncle Randal (). With a runtime of 103 minutes, it blends comedy with dramatic elements, drawing comparisons to films like in its portrayal of sibling dynamics and absurd family quests. Upon its streaming release on April 24, 2020, via platforms like , Braking for Whales received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the performances of Sursok and Felton for their chemistry and emotional depth but criticized the script for uneven pacing and contrived plot devices. It holds an audience score of 55% on based on fewer than 50 ratings and a 5.0/10 average on from 607 user reviews as of November 2025, reflecting its niche appeal as an indie dramedy focused on including sexuality and .

Cast

Release

Braking for Whales was produced by Charlie Baby Productions and Narrator Entertainment, and distributed by . It had a and streaming release on April 24, 2020, available on platforms including , , and Vudu. The film did not receive a theatrical .

Reception

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has limited critic reviews, with a consensus describing it as a "dysfunctional family dramedy" that "aims for heartfelt but often lands on contrived." Peter Sobczynski of gave it 1/4 stars, criticizing the "clichéd characters and predictable plot" while noting some charm in the leads' performances. The Hollywood Reporter's review called it "earnest but uneven," praising the chemistry but faulting the "forced whimsy."

Audience response

Audience reception has been mixed, with viewers appreciating the emotional depth and humor in family reconciliation themes, though some found the dialogue awkward. As of November 2025, it maintains a 55% audience score on from fewer than 50 ratings and 5.0/10 on from 607 reviews.
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