Pelted with rotten tomatoes, but unfairly so — In the Heart of the Sea, the 2015 maritime epic starring Chris Hemsworth and Tom Holland, has defied the odds. A decade after its lukewarm reception, the film has climbed to the number one spot on Netflix’s charts, proving that sometimes a second look can change everything.
Directed by Ron Howard, the film tells the harrowing true story of the whaling ship Essex, whose tragic voyage in 1820 inspired Herman Melville’s literary masterpiece Moby-Dick. With a star-studded cast, including Hemsworth as First Mate Owen Chase and Holland as young sailor Thomas Nickerson, the movie seemed destined for greatness. The ensemble also featured Cillian Murphy as Matthew Joy and Ben Whishaw as Herman Melville himself.
Yet, upon release, it struggled at the box office, grossing only $93 million against a $100 million budget, and received a modest 42% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics at the time pointed to the slow pacing and overly ambitious storytelling, but audiences on Netflix now seem to have found a new appreciation for the film.
The performances, particularly Hemsworth’s, are also getting a renewed spotlight. The actor underwent a grueling transformation for the role, losing nearly 33 pounds in just four weeks on a restrictive 500-calorie-per-day diet. Speaking on Good Morning America, Hemsworth revealed that losing weight was far more challenging than gaining it for his role as Thor. "The gaining is fine, you just eat a lot and you lift weights," he explained. "But that [weight loss] was underfed, which led to a pretty moody existence and inconsistent emotions."
The Netflix resurgence of In the Heart of the Sea highlights how streaming platforms can breathe new life into overlooked films. Whether you’re a fan of epic survival stories or simply curious about its newfound popularity, In the Heart of the Sea is worth a watch.
Sometimes, all a film needs to shine is time.
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