<Tr> <Th> Budget </Th> <Td> $100 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Box office </Th> <Td> $93.9 million </Td> </Tr> <P> In the Heart of the Sea is a 2015 adventure - drama film directed and produced by Ron Howard and written by Charles Leavitt . It is based on Nathaniel Philbrick's non-fiction book of the same name, about the sinking of the American whaling ship Essex in 1820, an event that inspired the novel Moby - Dick . An international co-production between the United States and Spain, the film stars Chris Hemsworth, Benjamin Walker, Cillian Murphy, Tom Holland, Ben Whishaw, and Brendan Gleeson . </P> <P> The film premiered in New York City on December 7, 2015 and was released in cinemas in the United States on December 11, 2015 by Warner Bros. Pictures . In the Heart of the Sea received mixed reviews from critics, and grossed $93 million against a $100 million budget . </P>

Who directed in the heart of the sea