White Noise
Performance & Direction: White Noise Review
Last updated: February 17, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is White Noise (2022) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE with a verified audience rating of 5.6/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Comedy.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Comedy is often anchored by its ensemble, and White Noise features a noteworthy lineup led by Adam Driver . Supported by the likes of Greta Gerwig and Don Cheadle , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
Story & Plot Summary: White Noise
Quick Plot Summary: Released in 2022, White Noise is a Comedy, Drama film directed by Noah Baumbach. The narrative brings laughter through sharp writing and comedic timing, providing amusement while touching on deeper societal themes. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict involving Adam Driver.
Story Breakdown
The comedic structure relies on both situational humor and character-based comedy. Jack Gladney, professor of Hitler studies at The-College-on-the-Hill, husband to Babette, and father to four children/stepchildren, is torn asunder by a chemical spill from a rail car that releases an "Airborne Toxic Event" forcing Jack to confront his biggest fear - his own mortality. The production finds humor in relatable situations while maintaining narrative momentum. The jokes serve the story, with callbacks that reward attentive viewers.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: The opening establishes the comedic tone and introduces the central conflict through humor and character quirks.
- Character Arc: Character development is present but somewhat formulaic, following familiar patterns without adding fresh perspectives to the genre.
- Climax & Resolution: The comedic climax ties together recurring jokes and character arcs, delivering both laughs and emotional satisfaction.
Ending Explained: White Noise
Ending Breakdown: Directed by Noah Baumbach, White Noise attempts to tie together its various plot elements. The finale presents its approach to comedy resolution.
The emotional climax centers on character transformation involving Adam Driver, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the comedy themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of White Noise reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch White Noise?
Consider Watching If:
- You're a completist for Comedy films
- You're curious despite mixed reviews
- You have low expectations and want casual entertainment
Box Office Collection: White Noise
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $100.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $71.5K |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
White Noise Budget
The estimated production budget for White Noise is $100.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: White Noise
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Where to Watch White Noise Online?
Streaming Hub📺 Stream on
NetflixWhite Noise Parents Guide & Age Rating
2022 AdvisoryWondering about White Noise age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of White Noise is 136 minutes (2h 16m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 5.6/10, and global performance metrics, White Noise is classified as a ABOVE AVERAGE. It remains an essential part of the 2022 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is White Noise worth watching?
White Noise is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Comedy movies. It has a verified rating of 5.6/10 and stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE in our box office analysis.
Where can I find White Noise parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for White Noise identifies it as R. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of White Noise?
The total duration of White Noise is 136 minutes, which is approximately 2h 16m long.
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Critic Reviews for White Noise
"Jack" (Adam Driver) is a college lecturer married to "Babbette" (Greta Gerwig). It's fourth time round for both of them so their family consists a mix of siblings, half-siblings and pets that could easily give the Tower of Babel a run for it's money. Add to that mix that he teaches about Adolf Hitler (but cannot speak German) and she has developed a secret dependency on a mysterious drug ("Dylar") and the scene is set for a dysfunctional family drama that I'm afraid to say left me yawning. The structure of the drama is pretty episodic in nature and the escapades themselves frequently border on the nonsensical (and implausible) as they have to comprehend and flee from the effects of an "airborne toxic event". Some of that is funny, some of that is not - and I'm not sure the entire concept can really sustain the 2¼ hours Noah Baumbach provides for us here. At times it comes across as ridiculously contrived, the humour and scenarios straining at the bit to be imaginative or inventive, but ending up, intellectually, face down in a ditch. Too many directors nowadays appear to me to challenge the audience to comprehend an increasing degree of nonsense or surreality almost daring us to ask "What's this all about?". Revealing ourselves idiots when we haven't really any clue? There are certainly constituent elements of this that raise a smile, and Driver continues to grow in confidence with each of the quirkier roles (remember "Annette" from 2021) he undertakes, but this is just a rambling mess of a story that offers us a surfeit of irritating dialogue underpinned by a story that plays to paranoia and stereotype in equal measure without really offering us much of a stab at redemption or comprehension. It may improve with a second viewing, but oddly enough I found it entirely well titled.
White Noise was not what I expected going into it. It had great performances and interesting premise but slowly went off the rails for me. I was enjoying the first half the film; the unique dialogue structure was fresh and the suspense of the chemical event was intriguing. It had great social commentary and was funny to watch post pandemic. But after the second act the story spirals absurdity and it really hurts my overall enjoyment of the film. I have a lot more I have to say, but spoilers would be required. There was definitely something here, but unfortunately it never quite reaches the mark. Score: 62% Verdict: Decent
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This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
