Nope (2022)

O'Sullivan calls the film an original, brain-engaging event movie that also delivers a rollercoaster ride. She praises the cinematography and its memorable practical effects, as well as Daniel Kaluuya's magnetic performance.

The review praises Nope as a formally accomplished, entertaining film that trusts its audience. It singles out the lead performances and the cinematography and sound for creating tension and striking visuals.

Ehrlich finds the film a wildly entertaining, inventive blockbuster whose spectacle carries a modern critique of our appetite for real-life terror. He especially praises Hoyte van Hoytema’s 65mm cinematography for giving the set pieces and finale an awe-inspiring scale.

Brody praises Nope as an ingenious, exhilarating film and a major work about moviemaking and cinematic representation. He singles out Peele’s use of cinema history and the camera’s gaze to explore the exploitation and erasure of Black Americans.

Allen finds the film an ambitious, entertaining spectacle with an unsettling edge. He particularly praises Keke Palmer’s lively performance.

Willmore finds the film thrilling and incisive, with a compelling critique of celebrity and spectacle. She particularly praises the unsettling use of the wide skies and the frightening flashbacks to Jupe’s sitcom past.

The critic finds it stylish, unsettling and hugely entertaining. They single out Peele’s channeling of 1950s sci-fi scares as a strength.

Graham calls the film a thrilling, original event movie and says Peele is three for three. He praises its suspenseful build-up, unsettling imagery, and spectacular scale.

Campbell calls Nope an ambitious, provocative original blockbuster that balances crowd-pleasing thrills with a critique of Hollywood. He particularly praises Peele’s control of perspective and the visceral, visually striking horror set-pieces.

Grierson presents the film as a thrillingly ambitious achievement. He singles out its reach and ambition, though the paywall hides the full review.

Barsanti finds the film an effective thriller whose ambitious meta-commentary does not fully cohere. He praises its tense, humorous near-escape sequences and the cast’s performances, while noting that the chimpanzee flashback feels disconnected.

Gyarkye finds the film rapturous and ambitious, though its sprawling approach may frustrate some viewers. She praises Daniel Kaluuya’s expressive performance and the cinematography and score that sustain the suspense.

The review suggests the film delivers a clearly positive spectacle, whatever viewers make of its meaning. It singles out the spectacle as the film’s chief strength.

Chang finds the film imaginative and unusually well-crafted, though its high-mindedness and closing stretch sometimes undermine its ambitions. He especially praises Peele’s visual craft and the striking images that build suspense while supporting the film’s critique of spectacle.

The critic finds the film worth seeing but uneven, with its genre pleasures lacking clarity, tension and bite. The expansive sky imagery and eerie sound design make its watching-and-being-watched conceit especially compelling.

The review finds Nope ambitious and exciting but muddled, with its metaphors outpacing clear storytelling. It praises a barn sequence as brilliant, edge-of-your-seat entertainment, while faulting the film’s pacing and connective logic.

Kermode finds the film ambitious and often startling, but ultimately less than the sum of its parts. He praises its gorgeously rendered night-time vistas while faulting its pacing and uncertain balance of ideas with blockbuster spectacle.

Macnab finds the film visually majestic and full of striking ideas, but says its disjointed story and clunky finale weaken it. He particularly praises the cinematography and landscapes while faulting the lack of suspense compared with Peele’s earlier films.

The critic finds the film atmospherically compelling but ultimately arbitrary and over-sprawling. He praises its seductive mood of unease, while faulting its scattered plot and weak logic.

Bonaime finds Peele at his most ambitious, entertaining, and assured, praising the film’s confident blend of horror, adventure, and humor. He especially singles out Keke Palmer’s magnetic performance and the film’s carefully controlled revelations.

The critic calls it Peele’s most enjoyable film so far, even if it is not his best. They praise its spectacular filmmaking, especially the IMAX cinematography and visceral sound design.

Worthington finds the film a thrilling, special blockbuster whose maximalism makes its many tonal and thematic shifts work. He especially praises its expansive cinematography and the final stretch’s creature-feature thrills.

Maeve praises Nope as a self-assured, thrilling work of American mythmaking. She singles out Steven Yeun’s exceptional performance and the film’s layered engagement with Hollywood spectacle and Black cinematic lineage.

The review recommends the film despite its unusual genre shifts. It praises Peele’s blending of comedy and horror, along with performances that make the story rewarding to revisit.

The review finds Nope ambitious and visually impressive, but ultimately muddled, with an incoherent third act and themes that never come together. It praises the cinematography and immersive visuals, especially the vast skies and visceral attack sequences.

The critic finds the film ambitious but ultimately incohesive, with its many ideas failing to form a satisfying whole. They praise the suspenseful scenes and single out Brandon Perea for a memorable comic performance.

The review finds Nope visually impressive but ultimately muddled and disappointing, with its tension fading by the final act. It praises the atmospheric nighttime lighting and the expressive performances of Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer.

The critic calls Nope Peele’s weakest film, an entertaining but unwieldy collection of scenes rather than a compelling whole. They praise its eerie stable sequence and comic performances, but fault the underdeveloped characters and bloated pacing.