Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale starring Brendan Fraser set a record-breaking box-office result for the best-limited opening this year. The movie premiered in New York and Los Angeles this weekend, and it sold out tickets in all six theaters.
The Whale grossed an estimated $360,000 for a per-screen average of $60,000, which marks the director’s best opening since Black Swan in 2010. The movie is also hailed as Brendan Fraser’s renaissance as the actor makes a spotlight comeback after a long hiatus.
Brendan Fraser Plays A 600-Pound Man In The Whale
Since the movie’s world premiere at the 79th Venice International Film Festival last September, The Whale heralded Fraser’s return to the industry. He plays a 600-pound man, which was neatly done using prosthetics.
Charlie, an obese English teacher, deals with the disorder while trying to reconnect with his estranged daughter. A nurse also looks after him after the signs of his declining health.
How Fraser’s Role In The Movie Changed His Perspective
Brendan Fraser, known for his roles in The Mummy franchise, shared that he worked with the Obesity Action Coalition to gain more insights about the character he is portraying. In his interview with EW, Fraser said:
“It takes an incredibly strong-willed and physically strong person to live inside a body that is, in Charlie’s case, hundreds and hundreds of pounds. It’s important to have respect for those who do have that corporal being. I learned almost in a way, poetically, that you need to have incredibly strong will of spirit and body to inhabit a body the size of Charlie’s, and that’s an appreciation that I grew to respect more and more each day.”
The actor admitted it made him appreciate the courage that obese people have to possess in their everyday lives to deal with the struggles that come with the disorder.
The Whale is currently playing in select theaters.
Source: EW
