Brendan Fraser Is an Oscar Winner: How to Watch ‘The Whale,’ 'Encino Man,' ‘The Mummy’ and More

We thought Brendan Fraser had his heyday back in the late '90s and early 2000s when he starred in hit films like Encino Man, George of the Jungle, Blast from the Past, and most notably his continued role in The Mummy franchise. But now with an Oscar for Best Actor under his belt for his performance in The Whale, Fraser is enjoying a renaissance of sorts and we're completely here for it.
Recently finishing up his fourth and final season on HBO Max's Doom Patrol, based on the DC comics, Fraser soared in his role as Cliff Steele where he starred alongside Matt Bomer and Alan Tudyk. But people really began noticing when Fraser went on to star in The Whale this past year. Fraser's award-winning performance as a reclusive, overweight teacher struggling with his mental health and relationships tested his acting chops like never before. In fact, his performance in The Whale was so poignant that it secured Fraser his first Oscar nomination, which he went on to win, for Best Performance for an Actor in a Leading Role.
The psychological drama directed by Darren Aronofsky and written by Samuel D. Hunter stars Brendan Fraser, Sadie Sink, Hong Chau, Ty Simpkins, and Samantha Morton. In the film, a reclusive English teacher with morbid obesity tries to restore his relationship with his teenage daughter.
And Fraser wasn't the only Oscar winner of the night who thought the highlight of his career ended in the '90s. Ke Huy Quan, previously best known for his roles as a young star in Indiana Jones and The Goonies secured a Best Supporting Actor Oscar win for his portrayal of Waymond Wang in Everything, Everywhere All at Once. And as Jimmy Kimmel pointed out, these two long-time actors once starred in a 1992 film together, Encino Man, which is currently available to watch via streaming.
We could go on and on about the accomplishments of the talented Brendan Fraser and we are loving this much-awaited comeback. Whether you're the biggest fan of the Oscar winner, or just want to watch a good film or show, we've got you covered. Below, we've rounded up the best films and TV shows of Fraser's career and where you can currently watch them.
A father (Christopher Walken) traps his family in an underground bunker in the '50s only for their son (Brendan Fraser) to emerge in the '90s without any idea about what has happened in the past 35 years. He meets a girl (Alicia Silverstone) who helps him navigate this new world.
A star quarterback (Fraser) from a working-class family gets the opportunity to go to a prestigious academy in New England. He soon realizes, however, that he must hide his Jewish faith from his new classmates. This 1950s period piece also stars Matt Damon, Chris O'Donnell and Ben Affleck.
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