2015 marked the year that Adam Driver fully transformed from Girls favorite into intergalactic superstar by playing Kylo Ren in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. However, right before he’d venture to a galaxy far, far away and become the leader of the First Order, he’d join one of his regular collaborators, Noah Baumbach, in a little indie comedy-drama called While We’re Young. Hailing from A24, which had just begun its rise to prominence following films like Spring Breakers and The Witch, the much smaller feature made on a $10 million budget would pair Driver with one of the biggest comedy names at the time, Ben Stiller, in a story of two differently-aged couples who develop a surprising friendship. It’s since been somewhat forgotten among the indie giant’s now massive backlog of hit films, but now, HBO Max has added it to its catalog for viewers to rediscover in 2026.
Written and directed by Baumbach in his second of many team-ups with Driver to come, While We’re Young centers on middle-aged married couple Josh (Stiller) and Cornelia Srebnicks (Naomi Watts), a pair of filmmakers who have hit a rut in their relationship. That all changes, however, when they meet free-spirited millennial husband and wife, Jamie (Driver) and Darby (Amanda Seyfried). Their chance encounter sparks an unlikely bond between the four that leaves Josh and Cornelia feeling like they’re young again. As the Srebnicks start ditching old friends to hang out with the cool, younger crowd, however, questions emerge about whether their newfound companionship is built to last.
Although it would quickly be overshadowed by Driver’s Star Wars debut that year, While We’re Young was still a favorite among critics with a Certified Fresh 84% score on Rotten Tomatoes. It also marked a box office breakthrough for Baumbach, earning more than any of his previous works in the U.S. at the time with $18.1 million. The cast especially earned plenty of praise for elevating the comedy and the poignant message of friendship and accepting oneself for who they are. Just two years later, Baumbach would again tap the duo of Driver and Stiller to join another famed funnyman, Adam Sandler, for The Meyerowitz Stories in 2017, though Sandler, Stiller, and Dustin Hoffman would get most of the spotlight. It wouldn’t be until 2019 that the director gave Driver his biggest chance to shine in the devastating Marriage Story, which earned the actor his first Oscar nomination for a lead acting role.
Baumbach Is Back in the Oscar Race in 2026
There’s no better time than now to check out While We’re Young, considering Baumbach just released his latest film, Jay Kelly. Breaking his streak of Driver collaborations after 2022’s White Noise, the director’s latest stars George Clooney as the titular movie star and Sandler as his ever-loyal manager as they journey through Europe and reckon with their choices and the legacy Kelly has made for himself. The film has been an awards favorite, earning multiple Critics’ Choice and Golden Globe nominations, all but ensuring it’ll be featured heavily at the Oscars. Driver, meanwhile, was busy this year with Jim Jarmusch’s latest, Father Mother Sister Brother, another acclaimed hit that won the coveted Golden Lion at the Venice International Film Festival.
While We’re Young is now streaming on HBO Max. Stay tuned here at Collider for more on the biggest films coming to and leaving streaming to kick off the new year.
Release Date
April 3, 2015
Runtime
97 minutes
Director
Noah Baumbach