Netflix’s Nope Is Still the Smartest Sci-Fi Movie of the Decade

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Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to the genre, this streaming service features some of the greatest horror films ever made. The newest addition is Jordan Peele’s thrilling sci-fi western, Nope. Many consider this 2022 film to be Peele’s most straightforward horror movie, and it’s a uniquely unsettling story about two siblings attempting to photograph a UFO that’s causing terror in the Santa Clarita Valley.

Though sometimes mistaken for a standard alien invasion film and unfairly compared to Jordan Peele’s other work, Nope is actually one of his most insightful movies yet. It’s less direct than films like Get Out and Us, but this suspenseful sci-fi thriller cleverly uses its story to comment on the entertainment industry and our culture’s fascination with sensationalism. Nope is a truly original take on a familiar idea, and a welcome addition to Netflix’s offerings.

Nope Is Riddled With Hidden Meanings and Deeper Themes

Jordan Peele’s films tend to be fairly direct in their meaning. For example, he’s used concepts like brain transplants and the “sunken place” to represent ideas like class differences and the challenges of achieving the American dream. Because of this, many viewers have seen his latest film, Nope, simply as a science fiction story about a monster.

Okay, so “Nope” centers around OJ and Emerald Haywood, a brother and sister trying to document a UFO sighting on their family’s ranch in California. It starts as this quest for proof, but quickly spirals out of control when they realize whatever’s up there isn’t just a spaceship – it’s a living creature, and a seriously hungry one. They team up with Angel, a tech guy, and this incredibly eccentric cinematographer named Antlers Holst, but honestly, nothing can fully prepare them for what they’re dealing with. It’s a thrilling ride, but be warned – this alien isn’t here to make friends.

Initially, Nope seems like a thrilling spectacle packed with stunning visuals, intense action, and plenty of humor. It’s comparable to classic blockbusters like Jaws, Jurassic Park, and Alien, offering a complete escape into a world of airborne alien danger for two hours. But, like many of Jordan Peele’s films, a closer look reveals layers of hidden meanings and insightful social commentary.

It’s ironic that despite being a sci-fi film, the biggest focus of the 2022 movie is its grand scale and visual impact. Director Jordan Peele explained in an interview with TODAY that he was inspired by the way people are drawn to disasters. He described how a traffic accident slows everyone down because people can’t help but look, and he wanted to create a film that explored that same human tendency.

In Jordan Peele’s Nope, the mysterious object captivates everyone. The characters’ risky pursuit to film it mirrors how we often consume tragedy, both in everyday life and within the entertainment industry. Peele uses the idea of profiting from spectacle to critique this tendency.

When OJ and Emerald Haywood discover Jean Jacket is nearby, they try to get the perfect photo – nicknamed the “Oprah Shot” – hoping it will make them rich and famous. They dedicate themselves to the task, buying cameras, hiring Holst, and carefully planning a trap over several weeks. However, others also attempt to profit from the alien sighting: a TMZ reporter arrives to cover the story, Holst abandons the plan to pursue his own vision, and a theme park owner named Jupe organizes a ticketed event. Unfortunately, all these attempts end in disaster.

Everyone in the story is driven by the potential for fame and fortune, and they take advantage of a gentle creature in the process. The film serves as a commentary on Hollywood and our culture’s tendency to sensationalize real-life tragedies for entertainment, with the character Jean Jacket symbolizing the end of classic filmmaking. Jordan Peele delivers this message most directly in the film’s final moments.

This creature is designed like an old-fashioned camera. Its flexible, ribbon-like parts move like a camera’s shutter, and its mouth looks like a film frame. When Emerald defeats it, the creature’s death represents how the entertainment industry can be overly focused on spectacle and ultimately destructive, making the film itself a clever commentary on that very issue.

Nope Is One of the Smartest Sci-fi Horrors of the Decade

What makes Nope so clever is that it subtly critiques the very types of movies it is – but it doesn’t do so in a straightforward, obvious way. Many genres, like sci-fi, horror, and westerns, have been parodied or analyzed before – A Million Ways to Die in the West spoofed classic westerns, and Starship Troopers questioned the pro-military themes of old science fiction. What sets Peele’s film apart is that the audience is enjoying the very thing the movie is actually criticizing: big, over-the-top spectacle.

Jordan Peele’s Nope isn’t just about big-budget movies; it’s about our fascination with watching things happen. The film explores what it costs to entertain people and how the entertainment industry can be exploitative, even as it delivers a spectacle itself. Similar to the analogy Peele uses, the film intentionally uses certain scenes to grab your attention, then uses that attention to make a larger point about the issues it raises.

It wasn’t surprising that the scene worked so well, especially since the most discussed part of the movie was “Gordy’s Home.” This scene had a dual purpose: to highlight a key theme and, unfortunately, to shock audiences for the wrong reasons.

The fictional flashback to the sitcom ‘Gordy’s Home,’ featuring a chimpanzee attack triggered by a popping balloon, is a standout scene in Peele’s film. Disturbing and frightening, and inspired by actual events, it powerfully exposed the harsh treatment of animals in the entertainment industry. The scene masterfully builds tension and keeps viewers captivated. Despite knowing it’s not real, the clip went viral online, suggesting a similar reaction would have occurred if the events were genuine.

It’s natural for people to be fascinated by tragedy and danger, almost against their will – it’s like being unable to look away from a car crash. Jordan Peele isn’t necessarily criticizing this instinct itself, but rather how we often exploit these terrible events – through sharing them on social media, filming them, or even profiting from them.

Later in the film, Jupe tells OJ and Emerald about fans of Gordy, the creature from a past tragedy. He explains that people will pay him $50,000 to spend the night in his collection of Gordy memorabilia, and mentions a Saturday Night Live sketch was made about the incident. This highlights the film’s criticism of how real-life trauma is often turned into entertainment, condemning both the creators and the consumers of that content.

Similar to the fictional show within the film, Nope ends up embodying what it’s criticizing. Peele uses exciting and dramatic scenes to pull viewers into a compelling story, then subtly challenges their enjoyment of sensational content – whether it’s real or not. The way the critique happens without the audience immediately noticing is actually central to the film’s message.

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2026-05-21 06:42