Every Noah Baumbach Movie, Ranked

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This story first appeared in 2019. Noah Baumbach‘s newest film, Jay Kelly, is currently available on Netflix.

Noah Baumbach almost didn’t have a career after a rocky start. His first two films, Kicking and Screaming and Mr. Jealousy, didn’t initially impress critics or audiences—though they’ve since gained recognition. He even released a small, low-key comedy called Highball under a different name. This led to eight years of creative struggle before he came back with The Squid and the Whale in 2005. While his early work showed promise and a love for classic comedies, it was The Squid and the Whale that truly defined his style. He began using personal, often difficult, experiences to create comedies that are both sharp and surprisingly tender.

Noah Baumbach, a New York filmmaker known for portraying troubled, thoughtful characters, is often compared to early Woody Allen. However, Baumbach has a unique style marked by honest self-reflection and sharp wit. While his earlier films like Margot at the Wedding and Greenberg were particularly harsh, his work has become slightly more optimistic, especially since he began collaborating with actress and writer Greta Gerwig. Though Gerwig wasn’t involved in all his projects, such as The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) and Marriage Story, she appeared in White Noise, his adaptation of Don DeLillo’s novel, which, like much of his work, focuses on complex families. She also stars in his newest film, Jay Kelly.

I’ve been a fan of Noah Baumbach for a while now, and honestly, I don’t think he’s ever made a truly bad film – not even the one he later said he didn’t fully stand behind. What I really appreciate is how he’s always growing and changing as an artist; you can see that evolution in his work.

14.
Highball (1997)

Watching all of Noah Baumbach’s films without knowing their production dates, you’d be surprised to learn that Highball was actually his third movie. It was made quickly – filmed in one location over just six days using leftover funds from his previous film, Mr. Jealousy. The film feels like an early, rough version of the more polished work he’d become known for, and it features a group of actors he often collaborated with. Despite Baumbach distancing himself from the project – it was credited to a different director and writing team – Highball now stands out as a surprisingly good example of the low-budget indie comedy about people socializing in a Brooklyn apartment. The film takes place across three parties and reuses much of the cast from Mr. Jealousy. It’s filled with clever humor, including cameos from celebrities like Ally Sheedy and Rae Dawn Chong playing themselves, and Peter Bogdanovich doing impressions of Alfred Hitchcock and W.C. Fields.

13.
While We’re Young (2014)

In films like Greenberg, While We’re Young, and especially The Meyerowitz Stories, director Noah Baumbach explored his worries about getting older through the character of Ben Stiller, who never quite adapts well to these changes. While We’re Young is the most lighthearted and least complex of these movies, focusing on an older couple (Stiller and Naomi Watts) who try to feel young again by befriending a younger couple (Adam Driver and Amanda Seyfried). The dynamic between Stiller and Driver – one a filmmaker stuck on a long-term project, the other an ambitious and energetic person – creates some good comedic moments. However, the film gets bogged down in questions about the ethics of documentary filmmaking and loses sight of its initial focus.

12.
De Palma (2015)

Essentially, De Palma feels like an extended DVD bonus feature. Directors Baumbach and Paltrow walk through Brian De Palma’s career, film by film, letting the director of classics like Blow Out and Mission: Impossible share behind-the-scenes stories and reflect on his 50 years navigating Hollywood. It’s surprisingly engaging to watch the often-grumpy De Palma passionately defend his signature style, playfully criticize other filmmakers, and frankly discuss the challenges of being an artist in a sometimes-unsupportive industry. It’s quite a ride!

11.
Jay Kelly (2025)

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=I8GbcVkqZwQ

Noah Baumbach’s latest feels like a thoughtful nod to Bergman’s Wild Strawberries. It follows a movie star, Jay Kelly (George Clooney), traveling through Europe, and it really uses that journey to look back at the moments in his life where his career always came first, often at the expense of his relationships. Now, the earlier Baumbach – the one who made Greenberg or Margot at the Wedding – would have destroyed a character like Jay for being so self-absorbed. But here, he shows a surprising amount of empathy as Jay faces the consequences of those choices, which softens the usual sharp humor we expect. It’s almost like a movie about Clooney’s own career, and at times, it gets surprisingly emotional – there’s a montage in Tuscany that genuinely reminded me of Cinema Paradiso. Where the film really shines, though, is in the complex relationship between Jay and his manager, Ron (Adam Sandler, who is fantastic). Their years together are complicated by the 15% Ron takes from every deal, which casts a shadow over how genuine their friendship really is. It’s a smart observation: in Hollywood, even loyalty has a price.

10.
Mistress America (2015)

Greta Gerwig’s appearances in Noah Baumbach’s films—starting with a small role in Greenberg and then as the lead in Frances Ha and Mistress America—significantly changed the style of his work. Baumbach (and Gerwig, who helped write the latter two) often cast her as charming but slightly lost characters, people whose charisma often hid their insecurities. In Mistress America, they explore this dynamic through the eyes of a college freshman, played by Lola Kirke, who looks up to Gerwig’s character and begins to write a story about her. The resulting chaos leads to a fast-paced comedy reminiscent of Baumbach’s earlier film, Mr. Jealousy, but the movie is most compelling as a commentary on the potential for exploitation when creating art based on real people.

9.
White Noise (2022)

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=nJblPY5hVHI

While Noah Baumbach previously adapted Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr. Fox with Wes Anderson, his new film, White Noise, is a remarkably true-to-the-source adaptation of Don DeLillo’s 1985 novel. It’s an interesting, though uneven, attempt to blend DeLillo’s unique style with Baumbach’s own. The story centers on an intellectual family—a professor specializing in Hitler studies (Adam Driver), his wife (Greta Gerwig), and their children—who are thrown into crisis when a train accident releases a toxic cloud. The book provides a strong foundation for memorable scenes, like a conversation between Driver and another professor (Don Cheadle) comparing the histories of Hitler and Elvis, and Baumbach effectively uses a sizable budget to recreate the consumer culture of the 1980s. However, it’s telling that the most captivating part of the movie might be the closing credits—a musical number set in a supermarket.

8.
Margot at the Wedding (2007)

Noah Baumbach’s perspective on marriage and divorce has evolved between films like The Squid and the Whale and Marriage Story, which explore conflict through the eyes of a child and an adult. However, Margot at the Wedding reflects a more cynical outlook, and it wasn’t as well-received by critics. Despite this, the film is a strikingly honest and often painful look at how a lifelong sibling rivalry can damage everyone involved. Nicole Kidman delivers a fantastic performance as a self-absorbed author who’s brutally honest, while Jennifer Jason Leigh plays her sister, who seems vulnerable as she prepares to marry a seemingly undeserving man (Jack Black). Kidman’s casual cruelty—like her critical assessment of her son’s posture—is sometimes shocking. Yet, Baumbach manages to reveal the more compassionate sides of all his characters, even if he does so subtly.

7.
Greenberg (2010)

The movie presents a stark contrast: Ben Stiller plays a self-absorbed and unpleasant character – reminiscent of his role in Greenberg – who house-sits for his brother in the Hollywood Hills. Greta Gerwig plays a kind and patient dog-walker who unexpectedly becomes involved in his life. A particularly low point for Stiller’s character comes during a disastrous birthday surprise orchestrated by Gerwig and Rhys Ifans, a former bandmate whose career was derailed by Stiller’s character, culminating in a shocking outburst. Despite this, Stiller and Gerwig share a compelling chemistry, allowing the audience to gradually understand and even sympathize with this flawed man who is struggling with past failures and genuinely wants to change. Gerwig isn’t just a force for change in his life; she’s a well-developed character herself, learning to prioritize her own needs.

6.
Mr. Jealousy (1997)

Released alongside Kevin Smith’s Chasing Amy, Noah Baumbach’s second film, Mr. Jealousy, didn’t receive the same attention, despite being a much sharper and funnier look at male jealousy and the damaging behavior it causes. Baumbach directs the film like a classic screwball comedy, with Eric Stoltz portraying a man who becomes consumed by his partner’s (Annabella Sciorra) past. He goes to extreme lengths, even attending group therapy with her ex-boyfriend (Chris Eigeman). Things get even more complicated when Stoltz’s friend (Carlos Jacott) joins the therapy sessions with his own issues, and unexpectedly develops a British accent. The film’s witty narration adds to the charm (“Lester gritted his teeth. Ramona had a life before him.”), but at its core, Mr. Jealousy offers a perceptive look at a man whose insecurities are so profound that he ultimately becomes jealous of himself.

5.
Frances Ha (2012)

Noah Baumbach is known for deeply personal films, but Frances Ha feels different. It’s so focused on its co-writer and star, Greta Gerwig, that it almost stands apart from his other work. It’s best seen as a tribute to Gerwig – an 86-minute comedy that evokes the style of French New Wave cinema, but is driven by her incredible energy and the unpredictable life of a young woman navigating her twenties in New York City. Even as Gerwig’s character bounces between apartments, loses a relationship, a job, and a close friendship, the film celebrates her willingness to embrace uncertainty and follow her instincts. The famous scene of her running down the street to David Bowie’s “Modern Love” – a nod to the film Mauvais Sang and its New Wave influences – captures a sense of freedom rarely seen in Baumbach’s characters.

4.
The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) (2017)

Noah Baumbach’s films have always explored messy family relationships, starting with The Squid and the Whale, and The Meyerowitz Stories feels like a continuation of that theme. It portrays the children of divorce now facing their own life challenges, with old hurts and sibling rivalry still lingering into adulthood. The film has a deliberately unconventional style, with editing choices that feel slightly off-kilter. It centers on Dustin Hoffman’s portrayal of a mediocre artist whose art show reunites his three adult children – played by Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, and Elizabeth Marvel – who have a history of conflict. While their interactions are filled with tension and dark humor, the film ultimately offers a hopeful message about the enduring strength of family and the chance for forgiveness.

3.
Kicking and Screaming (1995)

One of the most memorable moments in Noah Baumbach’s career comes from his first film, Kicking and Screaming. Instead of cleaning up broken glass, a character simply puts up a sign that says “BROKEN GLASS.” While the film is full of witty lines, it’s these kinds of insightful observations that make it special. It perfectly captures the feeling of being lost after college, where graduates hang around town instead of facing the challenges of the real world. (And mentioning things like Prague, Friday the 13th, monkey movies, or bowhunting is a guaranteed way to connect with a fan of the movie!) It’s difficult to make a film about characters who lack drive – especially one centered around a bartender (Eric Stoltz) who’s been endlessly taking college classes for a decade. But Baumbach has created a funny and relatable film that speaks to those who are intelligent but directionless.

2.
The Squid and the Whale (2005)

After the unsuccessful releases of Highball and Mr. Jealousy, it took director Noah Baumbach almost ten years to regain momentum with The Squid and the Whale. This film marked a turning point for him, as he began to draw heavily from his own childhood experiences, creating a painfully funny and honest story about a family falling apart. The movie is told largely through the eyes of a 16-year-old boy, played by Jesse Eisenberg, and focuses on the difficulties of shared custody and the challenges kids face when caught between their parents. Eisenberg’s character’s relationship with his arrogant and unsuccessful novelist father (Jeff Daniels) leads to him adopting harmful views towards women, which negatively impacts his mother (Laura Linney), his girlfriend (Halley Feiffer), and ultimately, himself. While it’s difficult to directly compare the film to Baumbach’s personal life, his understanding of the lasting emotional damage of divorce and the mistakes young people make feels incredibly real and authentic.

1.
Marriage Story (2019)

Noah Baumbach’s film Marriage Story, about a divorce, reveals how thoughtfully he approaches failed relationships – a recurring theme in his work since The Squid and the Whale. Drawing on his own experiences with divorce, Baumbach tells the story of a New York stage director and actress (played by Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson) whose separation becomes increasingly hostile, especially when it comes to their son. He portrays divorce as a ridiculous process that often brings out the worst in people, creating intensely emotional scenes. However, Marriage Story also suggests that people can emerge from divorce with renewed strength. While his films often feature characters hurting each other – as seen in Margot at the Wedding and Greenberg – this film feels more compassionate and hopeful, representing a significant step forward in Baumbach’s career.

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2025-12-06 00:57