If You Love ‘The White Lotus,’ Watch These Brilliant Mike White Projects Next

The White Lotus creator, Mike White, has been crafting uncomfortably hilarious and deeply human stories for decades.

His unique talent for blending cringe comedy with genuine pathos didn’t appear out of nowhere – it’s been honed through a diverse catalog of films and TV shows that deserve your attention. From teen angst to existential crises, here’s a tour through Mike White’s brilliant career that showcases why he’s one of entertainment’s most distinctive voices.

Freaks and Geeks (1999)

Back when nobody knew their names, White wrote some key episodes of this beloved teen show. Set in a Michigan high school during 1980, the series follows Lindsay Weir ditching her math club for the burnout crowd while her younger brother Sam struggles through freshman year with his dorky friends. Though White wasn’t the creator (Paul Feig gets that credit), his writing helped nail the show’s honest take on teenage awkwardness. One season was all we got, but it launched stars like Seth Rogen, Linda Cardellini, Busy Philipps, James Franco, and Jason Segel while showing off White’s talent for finding humor in painful social situations.

Pasadena (2001)

This forgotten Fox drama hints at White’s darker side. Picture Succession meets Twin Peaks in sunny California. The plot centers on a rich newspaper family hiding terrible secrets, with teenager Lily McAllister learning her perfect life might rest on lies, murder, and corruption. Dana Delany starred alongside early performances from Natasha Lyonne and Alison Lohman. Critics dug its sharp take on wealth and privilege, but Fox pulled the plug after just four episodes aired. Watching it now feels like finding an early sketch of ideas that White would perfect years later in The White Lotus.

Cracking Up (2004)

Another casualty of network impatience, this Fox comedy starred Jason Schwartzman as Ben, a psychology grad student who moves in with a supposedly perfect Beverly Hills family to help their troubled son. Surprise! The whole clan needs way more therapy than anyone bargained for. The show dug into the mess behind polished facades – something White would nail years later. Even with comedy pros like Molly Shannon and a pre-Office Leslie David Baker on board, the show lasted just six episodes before getting axed.

Enlightened (2011-2013)

Maybe White’s most personal project before The White Lotus, this HBO series stars Laura Dern as Amy Jellicoe, a corporate exec who has a total meltdown, hits rehab, then returns to work with newfound spiritual awareness nobody wants to hear about. White co-created and appeared in the show, which perfectly captures the gap between Amy’s spiritual goals and her messy reality. Her crusade against corporate corruption while battling her own flaws creates TV that makes you cringe, cry, and cheer all at once. Two seasons was all we got, but critics adored it, and you can spot the DNA that would later make The White Lotus so special.

Chuck & Buck (2000)

White didn’t just write this unsettling indie hit – he starred in it. The story follows Buck (White), a childish 27-year-old who tracks down his childhood buddy Chuck after Buck’s mom dies. When Buck learns Chuck has grown into a successful music exec with a fiancée, he becomes fixated on reliving their childhood bond through increasingly creepy methods. The film dives into stunted development, sexuality, and messy human connections with zero fear. Roger Ebert called it “a disturbing comedy of errors” that sticks with you long after watching.

The Good Girl (2002)

Before Jennifer Aniston fully broke free from her Friends image, White wrote this indie drama, giving her room to shine. Aniston plays Justine, a depressed retail worker in small-town Texas who starts sleeping with a younger coworker (Jake Gyllenhaal) who calls himself “Holden” after that character from Catcher in the Rye. The story shows Justine’s desperate need to escape her boring life with her stoner husband (John C. Reilly) without judging her choices. The film treats small-town boredom and moral gray areas with real heart, proving White could find humanity in deeply flawed people.

School of Rock (2003)

White’s biggest commercial hit matches perfectly with Jack Black’s wild energy. The plot follows failed rocker Dewey Finn faking his identity to snag a teaching job at a fancy private school, then turning his uptight students into a kick-butt rock band. Beyond the crowd-pleasing stuff lies White’s signature interest in outsiders finding connection. The movie balances its crazy premise with genuine warmth and respect for its young characters, hitting that sweet spot where both kids and adults can laugh without anyone feeling talked down to.

Nacho Libre (2006)

After the success of School of Rock, White teamed with director Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite) for this weird comedy starring Jack Black as a monastery cook who secretly becomes a masked wrestler to raise money for orphans. Loosely based on the true story of Fray Tormenta, a Mexican priest who wrestled to support his orphanage, the movie embraces a straight-faced goofiness while keeping a surprising warmth toward its odd characters. Not everyone loved it like “School of Rock,” but it shows White’s ability to find laughs in strange places while rooting for underdogs chasing their dreams.

Year of the Dog (2007)

White’s first time directing stars Molly Shannon as Peggy, a secretary whose life falls apart after her beloved dog suddenly dies. What starts as a story about grief turns into something unpredictable about animal activism, obsession, and finding purpose. The movie refuses to follow normal story patterns or give its main character an easy redemption arc – pure White territory. With supporting turns from Laura Dern, Regina King, and John C. Reilly, the film walks a tightrope between uncomfortable laughs and genuine sympathy for its troubled main character.

Magic Magic (2013)

This psychological thriller shows White’s darkest writing. The story tracks an American tourist (Juno Temple) having a mental breakdown while vacationing in Chile with her cousin and friends, including an ultra-creepy Michael Cera. As her grip on reality slips, the people around her prove totally unhelpful. The film builds dread and isolation so effectively that viewers start questioning what’s real themselves. Though less obviously connected to White’s usual stuff, the movie’s focus on power dynamics between people and the horror of feeling lost in strange surroundings hints at themes that would pop up later in The White Lotus.

The Emoji Movie (2017)

Even talented creators sometimes take head-scratching jobs. White cowrote this animated movie about emojis living inside a smartphone. The plot follows Gene, a “meh” emoji who can make multiple expressions, trying to become “normal” like other emojis. Despite its commercial concept, White’s involvement suggests the original idea might have contained more bite about conformity than made it to theaters. Critics hated it, but it stands as a curious footnote in White’s career and shows his willingness to try vastly different styles and audiences.