You remember that six-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival? Brendan Fraser was sobbing. The internet was sobbing. It was the "Brenaissance" in full swing, and everyone knew The Whale was going to be a heavy hitter. But when the dust settled on the 2023 awards circuit, did the movie actually take home the hardware, or was it just a lot of noise for one man’s comeback?
Honestly, the answer is a bit of both. While the film itself wasn't exactly a "Best Picture" darling, it absolutely dominated the categories where it was strongest. If you're asking if did The Whale win any awards, the answer is a resounding yes—but mostly for two very specific things: Brendan Fraser’s face and the makeup that covered it.
The Big One: Brendan Fraser’s Oscar Win
Let’s be real. Most people asking about awards for this movie are really asking about Brendan Fraser. He was the heart of the whole project. After years of being out of the spotlight—dealing with health issues, personal losses, and a traumatic incident in the industry—his role as Charlie was basically his "I'm back" card.
At the 95th Academy Awards, the climax of the season, Brendan Fraser won the Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role.
It wasn't a guaranteed win, either. He was up against Austin Butler, who had basically transformed into Elvis for a year, and Colin Farrell, who was incredible in The Banshees of Inisherin. But Fraser’s performance as the reclusive, 600-pound English teacher was just too raw for the Academy to ignore. His speech was one of the most emotional moments of the night. He looked genuinely shocked, talking about how he "started in this business 30 years ago" and how things didn't come easy until they stopped altogether.
But the Oscars weren't his only stop. Before he even got to the Dolby Theatre, he’d already cleared off some shelf space.
- Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards: He took home Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role. This is usually the biggest "tell" for who is going to win the Oscar, as it’s voted on by fellow actors.
- Critics' Choice Movie Awards: He won Best Actor here, too. His speech at this one was arguably even more moving than his Oscar speech.
- Satellite Awards: Another win for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama.
He didn't win everything, though. He was nominated for a Golden Globe and a BAFTA, but he lost those to Austin Butler. Still, the Oscar is the one that cements the legacy, and he got it.
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The Magic Behind the Transformation
If you saw the movie, you know it wasn't just acting. It was a massive physical feat. That brings us to the second major win at the Oscars: Best Makeup and Hairstyling.
Adrien Morot, Judy Chin, and Annemarie Bradley were the wizards behind the curtain. They had to create a "fat suit" that didn't look like a joke or a costume. It was a 300-pound prosthetic masterpiece that took about four hours to apply every single day.
They didn't just win the Oscar for it. They also picked up:
- A win at the Hollywood Critics Association Creative Arts Awards.
- A nomination at the BAFTAs for Best Make Up & Hair.
- A nomination at the Critics' Choice Awards for Best Hair and Makeup.
The makeup win was actually kind of controversial online. Some people felt like giving an award for "making a skinny guy look fat" was in poor taste, but the technical skill involved was undeniable. It wasn't just a suit; it was a digital and physical hybrid that moved like real skin.
What About the Rest of the Cast?
Brendan Fraser wasn't the only one doing heavy lifting. Hong Chau, who played Liz (Charlie’s nurse and only friend), was the secret weapon of the movie. She was the one who grounded the story and kept it from feeling too much like a stage play.
Hong Chau received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at:
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- The Academy Awards
- The SAG Awards
- The BAFTA Awards
- The Gotham Independent Film Awards
She didn't end up winning the big ones—Jamie Lee Curtis took the Oscar that year—but the nominations alone were a huge nod to how essential she was to the film’s success. Sadie Sink (of Stranger Things fame) also got some love, winning Best Young Actor/Actress at the Critics' Choice Awards and picking up several other nominations for her role as Charlie’s estranged daughter, Ellie.
Did the Movie Itself Win Best Picture?
This is where things get a little tricky. The Whale was a polarizing movie. Critics were split right down the middle. Some thought it was a masterpiece of empathy; others thought it was "trauma porn" and cruel to people with obesity.
Because of that divide, did The Whale win any awards for Best Picture? Not really. It wasn't even nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars.
Director Darren Aronofsky is known for being "a lot." He likes to make people uncomfortable. The Whale definitely did that. While it was nominated for the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival (which is a huge deal), it didn't win. It also got a nomination for Best Film at the Producers Guild Awards (PGA), which is usually a badge of honor for the producers, but it didn't take home the trophy.
Samuel D. Hunter, who wrote the original play and the screenplay, got some nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay at the BAFTAs and Critics' Choice, but he didn't win those either.
A Quick Snapshot of the Trophy Case
If you just want the highlights, here is the basic breakdown of what The Whale actually won:
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- Academy Awards (Oscars): Won Best Actor (Brendan Fraser) and Best Makeup and Hairstyling.
- SAG Awards: Won Best Actor (Brendan Fraser).
- Critics' Choice Awards: Won Best Actor (Brendan Fraser).
- Satellite Awards: Won Best Actor (Brendan Fraser).
- AARP Movies for Grownups Awards: Won Best Actor (Brendan Fraser).
- Las Vegas Film Critics Society: Won Best Actor (Brendan Fraser).
It’s clear where the strength of the film lived. It wasn't necessarily in the "cinematography" or the "direction" (though those were solid), but in the raw, visceral human experience portrayed by the lead actor and the makeup team.
Why the Award Wins Mattered
For Brendan Fraser, these awards weren't just plastic and gold. They were a career resurrection. He had been "blacklisted" or at least ignored by major studios for a long time. Seeing him win the Oscar was a signal to the industry that he was still a powerhouse.
The awards also helped the movie at the box office. For a small, claustrophobic drama set entirely in one apartment, $57 million worldwide is a massive win. That kind of money doesn't happen for indie dramas unless there is serious "awards buzz" pushing people into the theaters.
Actionable Insights for Movie Buffs
If you’re looking to catch up on the awards season or want to understand why The Whale holds the place it does in film history, here’s how to approach it:
- Watch for the Performance, Not the Plot: Don't go in expecting a fast-paced story. The awards were won because of the acting. Watch Brendan Fraser's eyes; that's where the Oscar was won.
- Check Out the Makeup Details: If you can, watch the behind-the-scenes clips of the prosthetic application. It makes the "Best Makeup" win make a lot more sense when you see the engineering involved.
- Compare the Play: If you're a theater nerd, the play by Samuel D. Hunter actually won several awards (like an Obie) years before the movie existed. Seeing how it translated from stage to screen explains why the movie feels so small and intimate.
- Contextualize the Comeback: To really appreciate the wins, watch a 90s Fraser movie like The Mummy or School Ties first. The contrast makes his performance in The Whale feel even more transformative.
The legacy of The Whale isn't going to be about being the "best movie of 2022." It's going to be the movie that reminded everyone why we loved Brendan Fraser in the first place. Those two Oscars are just the physical proof of a comeback story that Hollywood rarely gets right.