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If you've spent the last couple of months glued to your screen watching The White Lotus, then you're already familiar with the genius of Mike White. The insanely popular HBO show just aired its divisive season 3 finale, and plenty of viewers are upset about parting ways with the series for now.
However,The White Lotus is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Mike White's filmography. He's had a hand in plenty of hidden gems and fan favorites, from the hit movie School of Rock to the rom-com The Good Girl and the teen drama Dawson's Creek.
So, as we eagerly await Season 4 of The White Lotus, you can still get your Mike White fix. Here are 10 TV shows and movies that he's worked on.
Scroll to see all the Mike White movies & TV shows you should watch while you wait for the next season of The White Lotus.
Black & White Productions
1. Year of the Dog
In Year of the Dog, Mike White delivers a powerful story about grief and transformation. It stars Molly Shannon as Peggy, a kindhearted woman whose life starts to unravel following the sudden death of her dog, Pencil.
But then, this story of loss turns into a journey of self-discovery as Peggy becomes an animal activist. Year of the Dog was both written and directed by Mike White.
Amazon Prime Studios
2. Brad's Status
This movie stars Ben Stiller as Brad, a guy who starts to question his achievements when comparing himself to his more "successful" college friends during a trip with his son.
The comedy-drama tackles themes of envy, regret, and insecurities, but still has Mike White's signature stamp of subtle humor. Other cast members in Brad's Status include Austin Abrams, Luke Wilson, and Michael Sheen.
Paramount
3. School of Rock
School of Rock is one of Mike White's most successful projects. While the 2003 film was actually directed by Richard Linklater, it was Mike who penned the script and let Jack Black shine as Dewey Finn, who fakes his way into a substitute teaching job.
To this day, School of Rock remains a cult classic that's high energy and takes viewers on a feel-good journey.
Editor's Note: Haley Sprankle wants the world to know this is her favorite movie of all time. In her opinion, it's truly a perfect film and should be a required viewing for everyone. Let's rock today!
HBO
4. Enlightened
Before The White Lotus, there was Enlightened, an HBO series that showcased Mike White's talent for creating complex and flawed characters.
Laura Dern stars as Amy Jellicoe, a corporate executive whose public meltdown leads her down a path of spiritual awakening and reinvention. It's a quiet but powerful precursor to Mike's storytelling style, which he perfected in The White Lotus.
Odeon Films
5. Chuck & Buck
Chuck & Buck is an uncomfortable yet oddly touching indie film that showcases Mike White's talent for balancing cringey humor with emotional depth.
He actually stars as Buck, a socially awkward man who's still clinging to a childhood friendship with Chuck, played by Chris Weitz. This early screenplay, which came out in 2000, laid the groundwork for his distinctive tone.
Fox Searchlight Pictures
6. The Good Girl
Jennifer Aniston stars as Justine, a bored and unhappily married retail worker in The Good Girl. Then, she has an affair with her younger coworker named Holden, played by Jake Gyllenhaal.
This lesser-known rom-com came out in 2002, and Mike White's writing style helps bring out the complexity of seemingly mundane lives. Other cast members in The Good Girl include John C. Reilly, Deborah Rush, Tim Blake Nelson, and Zooey Deschanel.
Paramount Pictures
7. Orange County
Again, Mike's unique perspective brought a clever twist to the teen comedy genre in Orange County. Colin Hanks stars as Shaun, a high school student who's desperate to get into Stanford, but because of an application mix-up, his dreams are derailed.
With the help of his brother Lance, portrayed by Jack Black, he tries to make things right and ultimately realizes he can achieve his dreams closer to home.
Paramount
8. Nacho Libre
You may not have known that Mike White co-wrote Nacho Libre, the strangely sweet 2006 comedy starring Jack Black. In the film, Jack plays Nacho, a monastery cook who secretly moonlights as a masked wrestler to help support the orphans he cares for.
Even in 2025, Nacho Libre remains a cult classic (and continues to inspire plenty of Halloween costumes every year).
Universal
9. Despicable Me 4
The heartwarming and family-friendly Despicable Me 4 is a far cry from The White Lotus, but believe it or not, Mike White had a hand in writing this massively successful animated film, too.
While it's definitely different than most of his filmography, viewers can still feel Mike's style in the movie's mix of bizarre humor and unexpected emotional beats. This iteration of the franchise follows Gru as he balances fatherhood while facing yet another villainous threat.
The WB
10. Dawson's Creek
Lastly, Mike White also flexed his writing muscles on the teen drama hit Dawson's Creek, which ran from 1998 to 2003. The show followed a group of close-knit friends as they navigated the messiness of young adulthood and love in a small town.
Dawson's Creek featured stars like James Van Der Beek, Joshua Jackson, Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams, and Chad Michael Murray.
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