Overview
A relentless captain's obsession with a legendary whale leads to a perilous journey on the high seas.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- foreboding
- mythic
- adventurous
- classic cinema evening
- literary adaptation marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as an impressive, visually distinctive literary adventure with thrilling production values and philosophical resonance, though some find the chase repetitive and Gregory Peck miscast as Ahab.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Captain Ahab subordinates his crew, ship, and own survival to pursuing Moby Dick.
The whaling ship Pequod traverses the open sea in pursuit of an almost legendary whale.
Ahab’s attempt to destroy Moby Dick becomes a confrontation with the power and unpredictability of the natural world.
Critics specifically praised the film’s strange, subdued color scheme alongside its detailed depiction of whaling.
Films like Moby Dick, and why
The Sea Wolf
shared 19th-century maritime adventure, obsessive pursuit, and philosophical drama
The Old Man and the Sea
shared classic literary adaptation, oceanic peril, and survival-focused adventure
King Kong
shared monster pursuit, widescreen spectacle, and conflict between human ambition and nature
The Odyssey
shared mythic adventure, revenge-driven protagonist, and large-scale sea voyage
Movie Details
- Director
- John Huston
- Release Date
- 1956-06-27
- Runtime
- 115 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (489)
Cast
- Gregory Peck
- Richard Basehart
- Leo Genn
- James Robertson Justice
- Harry Andrews
- Bernard Miles
- Noel Purcell
- Edric Connor
- Mervyn Johns
- Joseph Tomelty
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Moby Dick about?
- A haunted whaling captain turns a dangerous ocean voyage into a ruinous crusade against the colossal whale that maimed him.
- What is Moby Dick like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Moby Dick as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Moby Dick violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Moby Dick as moderate.
- What did critics think of Moby Dick?
- Critics broadly regard the film as an impressive, visually distinctive literary adventure with thrilling production values and philosophical resonance, though some find the chase repetitive and Gregory Peck miscast as Ahab.
- Which films are like Moby Dick?
- Films with a similar feel include The Sea Wolf, The Old Man and the Sea, King Kong, and The Odyssey.
- How long is Moby Dick?
- Moby Dick runs 115 minutes.
- Where can I watch Moby Dick?
- In United States, Moby Dick streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
