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 enjoyed The Big Short or Vice and have the patience for McKay's heavy-handed but often hilarious take on climate denial, this is a solid watch that nails its satire in the first hour. If you prefer tighter pacing or get exhausted by 138 minutes of increasingly on-the-nose social commentary, you'll find this overstays its welcome despite strong performances from DiCaprio and Streep.
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
