A poignant and uplifting romantic adventure set at the end of the world.
Starring Andrew Ortenberg (The Re-Education of Molly Singer), June Schreiner (Chicago Med), Lauren Cohan (The Walking Dead: Dead City), and Dermot Mulroney (Chicago Fire), WHEN I’M READY invites audiences on a heartfelt road trip through love, loss, and the beauty of letting go.
Set in a near-future America on the brink of annihilation, the story follows Rose (Schreiner) and Michael (Ortenberg), two strangers brought together by a shared desire to find meaning in their final days. With a catastrophic asteroid hurtling toward Earth, the pair embarks on a spontaneous cross-country journey, meeting a collection of unforgettable characters along the way—from shotgun-wielding hermits to reckless partygoers, a lonely philosopher, and, ultimately, Rose’s grandmother.
The film’s 2025 U.S. theatrical release drew praise for its emotional honesty and fresh approach to apocalyptic storytelling, resonating deeply with early audiences and critics alike. MSN.com praised it as “poignant,” noting that “Ortenberg and particularly Schreiner are delightful.” Film Obsessive called it “a lovely odyssey of warmth fighting back bleakness,” while Gazettely highlighted its “vivid cinematography and heartfelt performances.”
Writer (and leading man) Andrew Ortenberg, brings emotional depth to this stirring journey of self-discovery and human connection in the face of inevitable loss, capturing the spirit of young adulthood colliding with the fragility of time—reminding us that even when everything is ending, we can still choose how to live.
With shades of Seeking a Friend for the End of the World and echoes of classic road trip romances, WHEN I’M READY is great entertainment for the YA audience and anyone who has ever wondered what they’d do if they had one last chance to love, laugh, and truly live.
What would you do if the world was ending?
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