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White Squall

  • 1996
  • PG-13
  • 2h 9m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
27K
YOUR RATING
White Squall (1996)
Theatrical Trailer from Hollywood Pictures
Play trailer2:34
1 Video
73 Photos
Coming-of-AgeSea AdventureAdventureDrama

Teenage boys discover discipline and camaraderie on an ill-fated sailing voyage.Teenage boys discover discipline and camaraderie on an ill-fated sailing voyage.Teenage boys discover discipline and camaraderie on an ill-fated sailing voyage.

  • Director
    • Ridley Scott
  • Writers
    • Charles Gieg Jr.
    • Felix Sutton
    • Todd Robinson
  • Stars
    • Jeff Bridges
    • Caroline Goodall
    • John Savage
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.6/10
    27K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Ridley Scott
    • Writers
      • Charles Gieg Jr.
      • Felix Sutton
      • Todd Robinson
    • Stars
      • Jeff Bridges
      • Caroline Goodall
      • John Savage
    • 109User reviews
    • 27Critic reviews
    • 53Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations total

    Videos1

    White Squall
    Trailer 2:34
    White Squall

    Photos73

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    Top cast36

    Edit
    Jeff Bridges
    Jeff Bridges
    • Sheldon 'Skipper'
    Caroline Goodall
    Caroline Goodall
    • Dr. Alice Sheldon
    John Savage
    John Savage
    • McCrea
    Scott Wolf
    Scott Wolf
    • Chuck Gieg
    Jeremy Sisto
    Jeremy Sisto
    • Frank Beaumont
    Ryan Phillippe
    Ryan Phillippe
    • Gil Martin
    David Lascher
    David Lascher
    • Robert March
    Eric Michael Cole
    Eric Michael Cole
    • Dean Preston
    Jason Marsden
    Jason Marsden
    • Shay Jennings
    David Selby
    David Selby
    • Francis Beaumont
    Julio Oscar Mechoso
    Julio Oscar Mechoso
    • Girard Pascal
    • (as Julio Mechoso)
    Zeljko Ivanek
    Zeljko Ivanek
    • Sanders
    Balthazar Getty
    Balthazar Getty
    • Tod Johnstone
    Ethan Embry
    Ethan Embry
    • Tracy Lapchick
    Jordan Clarke
    Jordan Clarke
    • Charles Gieg
    Lizbeth Mackay
    Lizbeth Mackay
    • Middy Gieg
    Jill Larson
    Jill Larson
    • Peggy Beaumont
    James Medina
    • Cuban Commander
    • Director
      • Ridley Scott
    • Writers
      • Charles Gieg Jr.
      • Felix Sutton
      • Todd Robinson
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews109

    6.626.6K
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    Featured reviews

    10myworld918

    Excellent movie

    I am sure many people who rated this poorly would rate "Bad Boys" a phenomenal work of art. This movie, if watched with more than just an eye for special effects, tells the story of people finding themselves and becoming a family of sorts. The world in which we live has far too little depth of character. Yes the movie was condensed in a few parts but unless you intended it to be a 3 month long movie some parts had to "wind up on the cutting floor" as one poor soul commented. People just watch movies nowadays rather than "live" them, understand them, try to find out what the message was. This movie showed soul, it moves me every time I watch it.
    jayson-4

    A few good perfectly stormy A&F models

    Well, maybe it isn't that bad. Some moments are touching, others genuinely harrowing. And Jeff Bridges always comes up with something surprising. But, "true story" though it may be, "White Squall" is overwhelmed by its obvious schematic and Ridley Scott's signature gloss. Each young crewmember has a stamped-on singular defect, Scott Wolf's tomcruisy precociousness is particularly grating, and for all the magnificent ocean scenery and blather about boys being forged into men, we're shown precious little of the day-to-day grunt/teamwork that's at the core of the whole business. Add to this the greatest assemblage of immaculate white t-shirts and bronzed, hairless torsos since Abercrombie met Fitch, and a potentially gritty, moving story lies trapped in amber.
    7nz man

    Good! Embrace the style and enjoy this gem of a 'sleeper'!

    For at least 3 years I picked up this film at our local video store - and passed it up, groaning to myself that I was not interested in seeing a family style flick about a group of adolescents. Getting desperate to find a video one evening, I decided to take a chance. My wife and I really did enjoy this movie! Good solid acting, acceptable script, and an interesting story that happens to be true. If you are so addicted to the usual action or sex film, then maybe you will not like this film. But if you can appreciate good wholesome qualities, then this flick should be tried. The suspense is quite good - better than I expected, and the special effects are excellent.
    7jeroenberndsen1

    Dramatic come of age story by Ridley Scott

    White Squall

    A group of boys joins a sailing vessel to finish their last year of High school on board of the Albatross. They have to learn to work together and act as a team, which at first, is not as easy as it may seem. As time goes by they really become one group and get very close.

    This plot may not be to original, and could be stereotyped as cliche. However, as the story unfolds, it still stays fun too watch and jeff bridges as the bold sailor, hard but fair, trying to make men out of different kind of boys, each one coping with his own problems, keeps you interested.

    Though (for some people too) dramatic, me and my girlfriend really enjoyed this movie. I can imagine some people having difficulties with the dosis of emotion in this pic. It didn't bother me, i like it when it's well proportioned and not too cliche, except for maybe the final scene, in my eyes White Squall lives up to this.

    I think this is an enjoyable movie, when you're just lying back on the couch relaxing and let it flow over you. No difficult story, but it has great shots and pretty good acting and most of the characters are reasonably developed.

    7,5 (for making us cry)
    vad-2

    A well-produced and directed film of a true story

    I saw this film on TV for the first time last week. Although the story line was a little weak, the film sequences at sea were excellent, particularly the final storm (white squall) in which the boy actors portrayed the reality of the tragedy.

    Jeff Bridges gave a good performance as the captain whose task was to instil discipline and develop the characters of the boys in his charge. However, some members of the crew were miscast.

    I highly recommend this film.

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    Related interests

    Elsie Fisher in Eighth Grade (2018)
    Coming-of-Age
    Suraj Sharma in Life of Pi (2012)
    Sea Adventure
    Still frame
    Adventure
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Jeff Bridges was in real-life a veteran of the United States Coast Guard.
    • Goofs
      According to the timelines shown on screen, the story starts in 1960 and ends in 1961. However, in one of the scenes on the ship, in the background you can hear JFK's speech about the Cuban Missile Crisis from October 1962.
    • Quotes

      Captain Christopher "Skipper" Sheldon: You can't run from the wind. You trim your sails, face the music, and keep going.

    • Connections
      Edited into Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
    • Soundtracks
      Valpariso
      Written and Performed by Sting

      Courtesy of A&M Records, Inc.

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    FAQ19

    • How long is White Squall?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 2, 1996 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • United Kingdom
    • Languages
      • English
      • Danish
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Tormenta blanca
    • Filming locations
      • Malta
    • Production companies
      • Hollywood Pictures
      • Largo Entertainment
      • Scott Free Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $38,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $10,292,300
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $3,908,514
      • Feb 4, 1996
    • Gross worldwide
      • $10,292,300
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h 9m(129 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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