The Squid and the Whale
“Joint custody blows.”
Synopsis
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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
From the Archives: Noah Baumbach on The Squid and the Whale | NYFF43Official
Type: Featurette • Published 2022-08-22
Top Cast
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Jeff Daniels
Bernard Berkman
Laura Linney
Joan Berkman
Jesse Eisenberg
Walt Berkman
Owen Kline
Frank Berkman
William Baldwin
Ivan
Halley Feiffer
Sophie Greenberg
Anna Paquin
Lili
David Benger
Carl
Molly Barton
Graduate Student
Bo Berkman
Graduate Student
Matthew Kaplan
Graduate Student
Simon Kaplan
Graduate Student
Matthew Kirsch
Graduate Student
Daniella Markowicz
Graduate Student
Elizabeth Meriwether
Graduate Student
Ben Schrank
Graduate Student
Amy Srebnick
Graduate Student
Josh Srebnick
Graduate Student
Release History & Theatrical Window
Sundance Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
October 5, 2005
Wide Cinema Exhibition
October 5, 2005
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$1.5M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$11.1M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
7.4x
+$9.6M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Noah Baumbach
- Screenplay & Story
- Noah Baumbach
- Original Score
- Dean Wareham, Britta Phillips
- Original Title
- The Squid and the Whale
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 21m
- Production Budget
- $1.5M
- Worldwide Gross
- $11.1M
- Production Studios
- Original Media, American Empirical Pictures, Peter Newman/Interal, Ambush Entertainment, Taurus Film, Andrew Lauren Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Noah Baumbach
Noah Baumbach
Dean Wareham, Britta Phillips
Robert D. Yeoman
Tim Streeto
Reverge Anselmo, Clara Markowicz, Miranda Bailey, Andrew Lauren, Peter Newman
Department Leadership Roster
Robert D. Yeoman
Director of Photography
Tim Streeto
Editor
Dean Wareham
Original Music Composer
Clara Markowicz
Producer
Peter Newman
Producer
Britta Phillips
Original Music Composer
Charlie Corwin
Producer
Noah Baumbach
Director
Anne Ross
Production Design
Amy Westcott
Costume Design
Wes Anderson
Producer
Noah Baumbach
Writer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Suitable only for 15 years and over.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Squid and the Whale.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Squid and the Whale.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Squid and the Whale
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Squid and the Whale about?
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.
Who directed The Squid and the Whale?
The Squid and the Whale was directed by Noah Baumbach.
Who stars in The Squid and the Whale?
The principal cast of The Squid and the Whale includes Jeff Daniels, Laura Linney, Jesse Eisenberg, Owen Kline, William Baldwin.
When was The Squid and the Whale released and how long is it?
The Squid and the Whale was released in 2005 with a total runtime of 1h 21m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Squid and the Whale?
The Squid and the Whale had a reported production budget of $1.5M and grossed $11.1M at the worldwide box office (7.4 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for The Squid and the Whale?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Squid and the Whale was composed by Dean Wareham, Britta Phillips.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Squid and the Whale?
The Squid and the Whale holds official age classifications: DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).