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Entertainment • Film

Waiting...

Waiting...

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Waiting... is a 2005 American comedy film directed by Rob McKittrick in his feature directorial debut. It stars Ryan Reynolds, Anna Faris, and Justin Long as staff members at the fictional restaurant Shenaniganz. The screenplay was written by McKittrick while he was working as a waiter.

Plot

The film follows restaurant employees during a shift as they pass time with pranks, rivalries, and workplace antics. The story centres on staff members dealing with boredom, personal ambitions, and the pressure of service work.

Production

Rob McKittrick wrote and directed the film, drawing on his own experience in restaurant work. It was produced in the United States and released by Lionsgate Films.

Release

Waiting... opened theatrically in the United States on 7 October 2005. It later became available through home media and streaming releases.

Reception

The film received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics, with commentary often focusing on its crude humour and workplace-comedy setup. It also earned a measurable box office gross in the United States.

Key facts

  • Waiting... is a 2005 American comedy film set largely inside the fictional restaurant Shenaniganz.
  • Rob McKittrick wrote the screenplay based on his experience as a waiter and made his directorial debut with the film.
  • The film stars Ryan Reynolds, Anna Faris, and Justin Long.
  • It was released in the United States on 7 October 2005 with an R rating for crude and sexual humour, strong language, and some drug use.
  • The film received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics.
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Canadian context

The film was released in Canada on 7 October 2005, the same day as its United States release.

Frequently asked questions

What is Waiting...?
Waiting... is a 2005 American comedy film about restaurant staff at the fictional Shenaniganz.
Who directed Waiting...?
The film was directed by Rob McKittrick.
Who stars in Waiting...?
The cast includes Ryan Reynolds, Anna Faris, and Justin Long.
What is Waiting...? based on?
The screenplay was written by Rob McKittrick while he was working as a waiter.
When was Waiting... released?
It was released in the United States on 7 October 2005.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waiting..._(film)
    Supports: Basic identification, release year, director, cast, and premise.
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/waiting
    Supports: Genre, rating, release date, distributor, runtime, and synopsis.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0348333/
    Supports: Director, writer, cast, runtime, country of origin, and release date.
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0348333/releaseinfo/
    Supports: Canada release date.