Don't Look Up
The brief
McKay turns his Big Short energy toward climate apocalypse with mixed results - DiCaprio sweats through every scene as the anxious scientist while Lawrence delivers her lines like she's perpetually hungover from dealing with idiots. The satire hits hardest in its first hour before getting bogged down in its own 138-minute runtime, though Streep clearly relishes playing a Trump-esque president. It's essentially Idiocracy meets Armageddon, but without the tight pacing of either. Perfect for anyone who enjoyed Vice or wants their existential dread served with celebrity cameos and social media jokes.
The verdict
If you enjoy Adam McKay's satirical style and don't mind heavy-handed climate change allegory served with A-list performances, this is a wickedly funny takedown of political incompetence. If you prefer subtler comedy or get impatient with bloated runtimes, the 138-minute lecture will test your patience despite some brilliant moments.
Watch with
- 👥 Friends who love political satire
- ⚠️ Anyone seeking light entertainment
Heads up
- Strong language throughout (frequent)
- Apocalyptic themes and mass destruction (moderate)
- Political mockery and social commentary (frequent)
Credits
- Director
- Adam McKay
- Cast
- Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchett, Rob Morgan, Jonah Hill, Mark Rylance
Official synopsis
'Two astronomers go on a media tour to warn humankind of a planet-killing comet hurtling toward Earth. The
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with Animal Farm (2026)
Both satirize how power corrupts and societies ignore obvious threats.
Total runtime: 2h 18m + 1h 36m = 3h 54m
