Ron Howard directs this action adventure based on a true story which is recounted in Nathaniel Philbrick's book and was the inspiration for Herman Melville's 'Moby Dick'. In 1820 Captain George Pollard, Jr. (Benjamin Walker) leads a crew, including First Mate Owen Chase (Chris Hemsworth), Second Mate Matthew Joy (Cillian Murphy) and cabin boy Thomas Nickerson (Tom Holland), on a whaling voyage aboard the Essex. While hunting the men are attacked by a huge male sperm whale and find themselves shipwrecked and stranded at sea. They attempt to make it to dry land but will any of them survive? The film also stars Brendan Gleeson, Michelle Fairley, Charlotte Riley and Ben Whishaw as Herman Melville.