Comedy

When You Finish Saving the World

ComedyDrama

Evelyn and her oblivious son Ziggy seek out replacements for each other as Evelyn desperately tries to parent an unassuming teenager at her shelter, while Ziggy fumbles through his pursuit of a brilliant young woman at school.

Year

2023

Duration

1h 28m

IMDb

5.6

Trailer

Cast

Jesse Eisenberg

Director

Julianne Moore

Evelyn

Finn Wolfhard

Ziggy

Billy Bryk

Kyle

Alisha Boe

Lila

Jack Justice

Jackie

Jay O. Sanders

Roger

Eleonore Hendricks

Angie

Catherine Haun

Cath

Annacheska Brown

Cyril

Sara Anne

Becky

Marika Rose Sayers

Politician

Felipe Jeantete

Corporate America

Calhoun Koenig

Emcee

Colin Miller

Singer

Adrian Mackenzie

Bandana Guy

Laura-Love Tode

Barb

Mimi Fletcher

Leslie

Jordyn Aurora Aquino

Marci

Jesse Eisenberg

Writer

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Comments

10 comments

علي جاسمMar 22, 2026

boxer143Jun 14, 2025

Like mother, like son, and son and mother don't like each other. Why does it seem that the newfound subgenre "cringeworthy" seems to be relegated to comedy? This one may have broken the mold. When You Finish Saving The World is most certainly a drama, and one that made me want to crawl out of my skin. As two generations of misguided self-do-gooding profiteers of ego poke at each other's motives while simultaneously pretending the other does not exist, the damage they do to themselves and their own self image is a big pill to swallow. This is a well acted, no budget watchable train wreck to which you just might relate. Check it out. It's pretty funny.

user4304645171849May 29, 2023

source: When You Finish Saving the World

serenaaa_lalicorneMay 29, 2023

source: When You Finish Saving the World

VPMay 29, 2023

user8062051401883May 29, 2023

source: When You Finish Saving the World

Kiki❦May 20, 2023

Maybe it's because I see a lot of similarities in this movie and the squid and the whale that I "get it". Yeah, it's kind of day in the life and yeah, the main characters aren't very likable but that's kinda the point. Personally I didn't like a single person in this movie. The question is, were you supposed to like them? I don't necessarily think so. I think the mom was overbearing. She reminds me of my mother. She works at a school with autistic / deaf kids. She gets too involved and often gets put in her place by those above her and then gets depressed saying if they'd just let her do her thing the kid would be much better off. Not her place to do it. As for the kid... kids are going to be kids. He's an idiot because he lacks life experience and that's ok. He has worked hard toward his own goals and when others around him aren't terribly impressed by his accomplishments he's sort of floundering and looking for ways to cross over. He realizes a love interest is political so, naturally, now he is going to be. This is being a kid and it's ok. To summarize this movie had two lessons; one person cannot save the world and to know your place in it. The other is a bit more complicated, maybe something like be yourself or realize not being yourself can be very easily spotted and embarrassing. Props to Jesse for this. It wasn't mind blowing but it was quite good.

leong_munyeeMay 12, 2023

In low-key, low-budget, character-study drama "When You Finish Saving The World" uptight Julianne Moore (excellent) runs an Indiana shelter for domestic abuse victims who she seems to care more about (especially teen Billy Bryk) than her own wallflower hubbie Jay O Sanders & teen son Finn Wolfhard. The latter's a wannabe online musician struggling with issues of maturity (and a crush on Alisha Boe). Focussing (indirectly and at a distance) on the mother / son relationship this is absolutely not one for adrenaline junkies, but as Jesse Eisenberg's debut as writer / director it's a terrifically performed, quirky, interesting and certainly passable first offering.

حسن المسلاتيMay 12, 2023

There's more here to like than people are saying. It's intentionally aggravating and cringeworthy. It's sad but funny, maddening but hopeful. It has plenty of depth and meaning and it's not so buried that you feel perplexed. Were watching two parallel narcissists trying to find happiness in the only ways they know how and it's hard to watch. When they eventually fail hard enough, they come to their senses and find that they can't be happy without seeing something other than themselves as important. They end up finding each other as well. I would only recommend this movie to indie movie lovers. Subtext, intentionally uncomfortable moments, unlikeable characters, and introspective plot don't go over well with the average movie-goer, but I liked it.

Cynthia Marie JoëlleMay 12, 2023

I love this movie. It reminds me of my mother and me. A lot of scenes made me cry because I can totally understand the feelings of the protagonist Ziggy. I also think it's great that political things like climate change and racism were brought in, because unfortunately these things aren't even mentioned in most films. The film also seemed very authentic, which impressed me. Because the school and also residential area were like in real life. Overall I would recommend the film to everyone, especially to people who have problems with their mother (and love music). Ziggy's music was really great! Thanks.