Don't Look Up
Two astronomers race against a comet and an attention economy that turns extinction into political entertainment.
Overview
A darkly comedic take on humanity's indifference to existential threats, blending humor with a sobering message.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- sardonic
- frantic
- bleak
- political movie night
- dark comedy night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the starry ensemble and sharp frustration with media and political denial, while finding the satire excessively loud and uneven.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Kate and Randall repeatedly present scientific evidence of the comet threat while political leaders, broadcasters, and audiences evade its implications.
The six-month extinction countdown is paired with frantic jokes, celebrity spectacle, political opportunism, and escalating public indifference.
The protagonists' scientific warning is repeatedly reshaped by presidential messaging, morning television, social media, and celebrity-driven news cycles.
News broadcasts, online clips, political events, and fast editorial rhythms create an overloaded representation of the 24-hour media cycle.
Films like Don't Look Up, and why
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
shared apocalyptic satire, political absurdity, and dark comedic treatment of institutional failure
Network
shared media satire, celebrity culture critique, and heightened black comedy
Wag the Dog
shared disaster scenario, social commentary, and bleakly comic view of human denial
The Menu
shared climate anxiety, ensemble comedy, and uncomfortable social satire
Movie Details
- Director
- Adam McKay
- Release Date
- 2021-12-08
- Runtime
- 138 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (9724)
Cast
- Leonardo DiCaprio
- Jennifer Lawrence
- Meryl Streep
- Cate Blanchett
- Rob Morgan
- Jonah Hill
- Mark Rylance
- Tyler Perry
- Timothée Chalamet
- Ron Perlman
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Don't Look Up about?
- Two astronomers race against a comet and an attention economy that turns extinction into political entertainment.
- What is Don't Look Up like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Don't Look Up as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Don't Look Up violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Don't Look Up as mild.
- What did critics think of Don't Look Up?
- Critics broadly praised the starry ensemble and sharp frustration with media and political denial, while finding the satire excessively loud and uneven.
- Which films are like Don't Look Up?
- Films with a similar feel include Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, Network, Wag the Dog, and The Menu.
- How long is Don't Look Up?
- Don't Look Up runs 138 minutes.
- Where can I watch Don't Look Up?
- In United States, Don't Look Up streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
