In the Heart of the Sea 3D 2015. In 1820, the New England whaling ship Essex is destroyed by a massive sperm whale, leaving the crew stranded at sea . Based on the true story that inspired Herman Melville's Moby-Dick, the film follows first mate Owen Chase and Captain George Pollard as they lead the survivors on a desperate 90-day journey for survival . Battling starvation, dehydration, and despair, the men are pushed to their limits and forced to make unimaginable choices . The 3D presentation enhances the immersive spectacle of the open ocean and the immense whale .