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Don't Look Up

Don't Look Up is a 2021 American political satire black comedy film written, produced, and directed by Adam McKay.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Don't Look Up is a 2021 American political satire black comedy film written, produced, and directed by Adam McKay. It follows two astronomers who try to warn humanity about a comet on a collision course with Earth. The film uses the comet as an allegory for climate change and satirizes political, media, corporate, and celebrity indifference.

Plot

The story follows Kate Dibiasky and Randall Mindy, two astronomers who discover a comet heading toward Earth and try to alert the government and the public. Their warnings are met with apathy, media spectacle, and political obstruction.

Themes

The film is a satire of political, social, corporate, celebrity, and media indifference. Its disaster premise is used as an allegory for climate change and, more broadly, for the treatment of scientific warnings in public life.

Cast

The film features an ensemble cast led by Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence, with supporting roles for Meryl Streep, Jonah Hill, Mark Rylance, Cate Blanchett, Tyler Perry, Timothée Chalamet, and others.

Release

Don't Look Up was released in 2021 and distributed by Netflix. Netflix describes it as an R-rated film and lists a runtime of 138 minutes.

Key facts

  • The film was written and directed by Adam McKay.
  • Its plot centres on two astronomers warning about a planet-killing comet.
  • The comet is an allegory for climate change.
  • The ensemble cast includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, and others.
  • Netflix categorizes it as comedy, science-fiction, satire, and drama.
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Canadian context

The film was widely available to Canadian viewers through Netflix, and its themes of climate change, science communication, and media polarization have relevance for Canadian audiences.

Frequently asked questions

What is Don't Look Up about?
It follows two astronomers who try to warn humanity about a comet that will destroy Earth, but they struggle to get governments, media, and the public to take the threat seriously.
Who directed Don't Look Up?
Adam McKay directed the film and also co-wrote and co-produced it.
What is the film an allegory for?
The comet is used as an allegory for climate change and for how societies respond to scientific warnings.
Who stars in Don't Look Up?
The cast includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Jonah Hill, Mark Rylance, Cate Blanchett, Tyler Perry, and Timothée Chalamet.
What genre is Don't Look Up?
It is generally described as a political satire black comedy, and Netflix also categorizes it with science-fiction and drama.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don't_Look_Up
    Supports: Director, writers, cast, plot premise, satire themes, climate-change allegory
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11286314/
    Supports: Basic plot premise and director credit
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11286314/plotsummary/
    Supports: Detailed plot summary involving the comet warning and government response
  4. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/81252357
    Supports: Release availability, genres, cast listing, runtime, rating
  5. Common Sense Media — https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/dont-look-up
    Supports: Release timing, runtime, rating, cast, plot description