When You Finish Saving the World

R

Released Jan 20, 2023

1 hr. 28 min.

Comedy

Drama

TRAILER

for When You Finish Saving the World: Trailer 1

List

62%

153 Reviews

Tomatometer

73%

Fewer than 50 Verified Ratings

Audience Score

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.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Premiered May 14

Buy Now

Fandango at Home

Netflix

Prime Video

Apple TV

Watch When You Finish Saving the World with a subscription on Netflix, rent on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

Critics Consensus

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

Read Critics Reviews

Daniella

SUCH A GOOD MOVIE BRO

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

CG

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.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

Full Review

K M

Good movie about family dynamics.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

Helen

Good acting but very dry

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

William

It was a good movie. I liked the acting, plot, and music. It has a great message and is a movie i would recommend.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/16/24

Full Review

Sonic L

I love this movie it's so good to watch when you have similar family situations. The actors did really good however, the girl ziggy liked made me want to turn off the tv every single time she came on the screen. Having to sit through any of her and her friends scenes like the poem was horrible…. Other than her the movie is great

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/01/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Jesse Eisenberg

Director

Julianne Moore

Evelyn

Finn Wolfhard

Ziggy

Billy Bryk

Kyle

Alisha Boe

Actor

Jay O. Sanders

Actor

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

79%

85%

Small Engine Repair

TRAILER

for Small Engine Repair

72%

45%

The Adults

TRAILER

for The Adults

93%

84%

Good Luck to You, Leo Grande

TRAILER

for Good Luck to You, Leo Grande

49%

56%

Boundaries

TRAILER

for Boundaries

91%

77%

Together Together

TRAILER

for Together Together

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

The 7 Best Films We Saw at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival

When You Finish Saving the World: Trailer 1

2:24

View more videos

View more photos

Rebecca Tucker

Globe and Mail

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

Jan 27, 2023

Full Review

Sheila O'Malley

RogerEbert.com

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

Rated: 2/4

Jan 25, 2023

Full Review

Stephanie Zacharek

TIME Magazine

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

Jan 20, 2023

Full Review

Alan French

Sunshine State Cineplex

While Eisenberg’s debut is imperfect, When You Finish Saving the World shows promise. Eisenberg exceeds the expectations for the kinds of stories he wants to tell in this feature. Yet, he will find more success by trusting his audiences.

Rated: 7/10

Apr 2, 2024

Full Review

John Serba

Decider

It plays like a vignette or short story that would work better as a novel, and its characters lack the depth and sharply drawn wit to render them wholly believable.

Apr 1, 2024

Full Review

Zach Pope

Zach Pope Reviews

A solid first outing from Jesse Eisenberg that captures the awkward divide between a Mother & her Son! Moore & Wolfhard are GREAT & Emilie Misseri’s score is easily the best thing of the entire film. It’s exactly what I expected from Jesse.

Jul 25, 2023

Full Review

Read all reviews

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
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
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

Most Popular at Home Now