Jordan Peele's decent attempt at an unconventional alien invasion story, but weakened by a lackluster third act.


Directed by: Jordan Peele
Imdb link -> Nope (2022) - IMDb

" What's a bad miracle? 

OJ (Daniel Kaluuya) and Emerald (Keke Palmer) at an electronics store in Nope, directed by Jordan Peele


Spoilers ahead...


Plot: Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer Discover a UFO Ship

The Haywood siblings—OJ (Daniel Kaluuya) and Emerald (Keke Palmer)—discover a UFO encounter over their ranch in Agua Dulce Valley, California. Eager to capture the 'Oprah shot' and earn fame and fortune, they have little idea of the alien ship's true intentions.

This sci-fi horror mystery explores themes of exploitation and human greed throughout the narrative. The Gordy 'Chimp' story is particularly effective. The movie begins with a birthday TV show event that turns chilling with background noises suggesting an attack on everyone present. It's creepy, with most details wisely left unseen.

It's ironic to see Ricky "Jupe" Park (Steven Yeun), a survivor of the Gordy incident, now exploiting his own tragedy for money. During his live show 'The Starlight Lasso Experience,' he faces another beast—an alien—feeding it horses he bought from OJ. Jupe believes he's protected by God again, unaware he just got lucky the first time.

Expectedly, there's a character, Antlers Holst (Michael Wincott), who gets greedy for the fame shot, resulting in his demise. Meanwhile, Angel Torres (Brandon Perea) plays a supportive role, intelligently taking precautions to avoid the hungry alien (or extraterrestrial creature).

Issue in Nope: Oprah Shot Subplot is Too Long

The alien plot is a mixed bag. Initially, it maintains a mysterious feel, but once revealed, the entire ship as a single alien behind a stationary cloud, the following scenes lack the expected intensity. The 'Oprah shot' subplot drags too long. A more thrilling final act, focusing on escaping the alien's havoc, would have been better.

The movie's social commentary on human carelessness and greed, reminiscent of 'Don't Look Up,' highlights the tendency to exploit dire situations for personal gain rather than ensuring safety.

Verdict on Nope

Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer complement each other perfectly in contrasting roles—Kaluuya as reserved and observant, Palmer as talkative and sometimes silly. Despite their differences, they support each other when it matters most.

Overall, 'Nope' is a likable movie with some trademark Peele-style horrific moments. However, the third act could have been executed differently. I prefer 'Us' and 'Get Out' over this one. Still, I appreciate Peele's unconventional ideas and enjoyed this unique take on aliens, even if the execution wasn't fully satisfying.

Rating: 6/10

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