When You Finish Saving the World

Released Jan 20, 2023

1h 28m

Comedy

Drama

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When You Finish Saving the World: Trailer 1

2:24

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62%

Tomatometer

153 Reviews

73%

Audience Score

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.

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Critics Consensus

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

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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

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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

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Daniella

SUCH A GOOD MOVIE BRO

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

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

Audience Member

off the bat, this movie was okay, but comparing these movies to other movies finn has been in are a lot better than this one, I feel like the plot isn’t a very entertaining one, it’s just kind of a semi normal teenage life, I guess. I do understand finn is a sort of new director, but I’m hoping his films and short stories can get better here on out.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

07/12/24

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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

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Jesse Eisenberg

Director

Julianne Moore

Evelyn

Finn Wolfhard

Ziggy

Billy Bryk

Kyle

Alisha Boe

Actor

Jay O. Sanders

Actor

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When You Finish Saving the World: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

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)

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When You Finish Saving the World

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