White Noise (2022)
Film · Comedy, Drama
Stream it, ifif you enjoy dense, intellectual satire that prioritises hyper-articulate dialogue over traditional narrative momentum.
A stylized and wordy adaptation that leans into absurdist satire and existential dread. It’s a dry, intellectual exercise that prioritizes sharp dialogue and thematic density over a standard plot, making it a better fit for fans of Noah Baumbach’s specific brand of neurosis than those seeking a typical disaster flick.
What it is about
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.
Trailer
What White Noise is like, and who it is for
What it is like to watch
Watching this film is a frenetic and highly stylised experience, characterised by overlapping dialogue and a self-aware, theatrical tone. It captures a specific 1980s aesthetic while maintaining a sense of heightened unreality. The pace shifts from a domestic comedy of errors to a sprawling, surrealist disaster scenario, all while retaining a clinical, observational distance. It feels less like a movie and more like a carefully choreographed stage play about the end of the world.
Who it is for, and who should skip it
This is a treat for those who appreciate the neurotic, verbose style of Noah Baumbach or fans of Don DeLillo’s brand of postmodernism. If you are looking for a straightforward disaster thriller or a typical family comedy, the constant philosophical musing and absurdist detours will likely feel frustrating and indulgent. One honest caveat: the third act takes a sharp, dissonant turn into a different genre that may alienate those who were enjoying the earlier chaos.
The right evening for it
It suits an evening when you feel like a demanding, wordy watch that requires your full attention. Best enjoyed with a drink in hand while you are in the mood to ponder the absurdity of modern consumerism and mortality.
Written by our AI from the facts on this page. It has opinions; it has not watched it.
Teaser
Teaser · Official Teaser
How White Noise leaves you
One line on the mood it ends on, with no plot. Some people count that as a spoiler, so it stays hidden until you ask.
It leaves you feeling slightly buzzed and intellectually overstimulated, carrying a lingering sense of the ridiculousness of human fears and the clutter of contemporary life.
How White Noise ends
Spoilers. The whole ending, in a few lines. Nothing shows until you ask and then confirm.
Jack tracks down Mr. Gray at a motel, discovering he is the man from his hallucinations. After Jack shoots him to stage a suicide, Babette unexpectedly appears and Mr. Gray manages to shoot both of them. However, they convince the confused man that he is responsible for all the injuries. They take him to a hospital run by German atheist nuns, where the couple finally reconcile. The film ends with the Gladney family visiting their local supermarket the next day, joining the other patrons and employees in a dance as the credits roll.
The conclusion settles the immediate conflict surrounding Babette’s secret drug use and Jack’s violent quest for Dylar. While their shared fear of death remains central, the final scene suggests a return to normality. It leaves open how the family will truly cope with their death anxiety or the fact that Jack's exposure to the toxic cloud may shorten his life.
Summarised by our AI from the plot section of the Wikipedia article, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. This summary is shared under the same licence.
Stills
Images from TMDB.
If you like this, try
Dr. Strangelove (1964)
the same sense of bureaucratic absurdity in the face of total catastrophe
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)
a shared penchant for highly stylised characters and symmetrical, deadpan visuals
A Serious Man (2009)
an academic protagonist navigating existential dread through a series of surreal incidents
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More clips
Clip · Official Clip
Featurette · Noah Baumbach & Cast on the Making of White Noise | NYFF60
Featurette · White Noise star Greta Gerwig and director Noah Baumbach at the BFI London Film Festival 2022
White Noise soundtrack
Music by Danny Elfman
- 1Waves and Radiation
- 2Me First
- 3Duel Lecture
- 4Airborne Toxic Event
- 5Toxic Chemicals
- 6Chew Gum or Smoke
- 7We're Late
- 8Highway Disaster
- 9Up There
- 10Teddy Bear
Album and songs from Apple Music.
Awards
White Noise was nominated for Best Actor (Motion Picture Musical or Comedy) at the Golden Globes.
Golden Globes
- Nominated: Best Actor (Motion Picture Musical or Comedy) · Adam Driver · 2023
From Wikidata, which can miss some.
Questions people ask
- Is White Noise a funny film?
- Yes. On Watchlist Boosted it is tagged Funny, with an authentic streak. A stylized and wordy adaptation that leans into absurdist satire and existential dread. It’s a dry, intellectual exercise that prioritizes sharp dialogue and thematic density over a standard plot, making it a better fit for fans of Noah Baumbach’s specific brand of neurosis than those seeking a typical disaster flick.
- How long is White Noise?
- White Noise runs 136 min and was released in 2022.
- Where can I watch White Noise in Australia?
- In Australia, White Noise is included with Netflix (all plans).
- Where can I watch White Noise in the UK?
- In the UK, White Noise is included with Netflix (all plans).
- Was White Noise nominated for any awards?
- White Noise was nominated for Best Actor (Motion Picture Musical or Comedy) at the Golden Globes.
- Who composed the music for White Noise?
- The music for White Noise is by Danny Elfman. The soundtrack album, White Noise (Soundtrack from the Netflix Film), has 21 tracks.
- What songs are on the White Noise soundtrack?
- White Noise (Soundtrack from the Netflix Film) has 21 tracks, including “Waves and Radiation”, “Me First”, “Duel Lecture”, “Airborne Toxic Event” and “Toxic Chemicals”, and more. It is on Apple Music.
- Is White Noise worth watching?
- It depends: if you enjoy dense, intellectual satire that prioritises hyper-articulate dialogue over traditional narrative momentum. IMDb users rate it 5.7 out of 10 from 47,234 votes, Rotten Tomatoes gives it 64%, Metacritic 66 and TMDB users 5.6.
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