When You Finish Saving the World

Play trailer

2:24

When You Finish Saving the World

R

2023

1h 28m

Comedy

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

62%

Tomatometer

155 Reviews

73%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Verified Ratings

Evelyn (Julianne Moore) has devoted herself to helping people in hard times, but she struggles to connect with her son Ziggy (Finn Wolfhard), an aspiring internet star oblivious to the problems of the world. As Evelyn attempts to become a parent figure to an unassuming teenager she meets at her shelter, and Ziggy fumbles through his pursuit of a brilliant and politically conscious young woman at his high school, this emotional comedy reveals a funny and sharply perceptive portrait of a mother and son who may seem at odds but who are more alike than either would care to admit.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Its characters may be hard to take, but When You Finish Saving the World makes some cogent sociopolitical points.

Read Critics Reviews

Rebecca Tucker

Globe and Mail

01/27/2023

Does so much telling, and so little showing, that it’s hard not to walk away from the film feeling, frankly, talked down to.

Go to Full Review

Sheila O'Malley

RogerEbert.com

01/25/2023

2/4

The characters are broadly drawn and mostly broadly played, so much so that the film plays like a skit about clueless do-gooder liberals.

Go to Full Review

Stephanie Zacharek

TIME Magazine

01/20/2023

Gentle, interwoven tensions... hold When You Finish Saving the World together, albeit just barely.

Go to Full Review

Maxance Vincent

Film Speak

07/13/2025

C+

Jesse Eisenberg’s feature directorial debut is muddled.

Go to Full Review

Calum Baker

Radio Times

01/30/2025

3/5

There is a sense of foregone conclusion to the story, but the central relationship is so confidently drawn that this rather familiar indie works naturally and honestly on its own terms.

Go to Full Review

Hayley Croke

Loud and Clear Reviews

10/02/2024

Evelyn and Ziggy may come across as unlikeable, it’s clear Eisenberg has just written them as morally complex.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Daniella

01/24/2023

SUCH A GOOD MOVIE BRO

See more

CG

01/23/2023

This is a very offbeat, yet funny and touching movie of both mother and son, who may or may not. realize that both are just the same chip of the old block. See it you will be pleasantly surprised.

See more

K M

01/22/2023

Good movie about family dynamics.

See more

Helen

01/21/2023

Good acting but very dry

See more

Lilymay T

@RT52117650 Jul 22

It’s very deep. I enjoyed it. I think there was a lot to the characters that wasn’t recognized but it was a beautiful film and the ending was precious

See more

river T

@bigjerome Feb 2

This movie SUCKED, I wasted my four dollars, why is that mom obsessed with Kyle and why did she harass him; and why is Ziggy so obsessed with being political. This movie is so boring it's so stupid why is it so stupid and why are you so stupid? This is probably the worst movie I've ever seen, and their arguments are so stupid, there was no plot, no feeling, it was so weird. Why was Ziggy so obsessed with this girl, I'm glad they didn't end up dating. They need to take this movie down. THERE WAS NO PROBLEM OR SOLUTION. The only thing that made this movie SLIGHTLY enjoyable was the acting and Finn Wolfhard. And Ziggy's music sucks. 0 stars, don't listen to the half I rated it.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Jesse Eisenberg

Director

Julianne Moore

Evelyn

Finn Wolfhard

Ziggy

Billy Bryk

Kyle

Alisha Boe

Actor

Jay O. Sanders

Actor

Small Engine Repair

78%

85%

Small Engine Repair

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Small Engine Repair

The Adults

72%

49%

The Adults

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Adults

Good Luck to You, Leo Grande

93%

84%

Good Luck to You, Leo Grande

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Good Luck to You, Leo Grande

Goodrich

82%

85%

Goodrich

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Goodrich

Boundaries

49%

70%

Boundaries

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Boundaries

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

When You Finish Saving the World: Trailer 1

2:24

Now Playing

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Evelyn (Julianne Moore) has devoted herself to helping people in hard times, but she struggles to connect with her son Ziggy (Finn Wolfhard), an aspiring internet star oblivious to the problems of the world. As Evelyn attempts to become a parent figure to an unassuming teenager she meets at her shelter, and Ziggy fumbles through his pursuit of a brilliant and politically conscious young woman at his high school, this emotional comedy reveals a funny and sharply perceptive portrait of a mother and son who may seem at odds but who are more alike than either would care to admit.

Director: Jesse Eisenberg
Producer: Ali Herting, Dave McCary, Emma Stone
Screenwriter: Jesse Eisenberg
Distributor: A24
Production Co: CAA Media Finance, Universal Films, Fruit Tree Media
Rating: R (Language)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 20, 2023, Wide
Runtime: 1h 28m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings