Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Brilliantly crafted sci-fi horror tale has gore, swearing.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Nope
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 29 parent reviews
Parents say this film is entertaining but contains excessive language and disturbing scenes, making it unsuitable for younger viewers. While some found it a thrilling sci-fi experience with character depth, others described it as slow-paced and lacking a coherent plot, resulting in a divide between critics and fans.
- language concerns
- mixed reviews
- disturbing scenes
- plot coherence
- targeted age group
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 59 kid reviews
Kids say the film is a unique blend of horror and sci-fi with strong themes about spectacle and trauma, garnering mixed reactions. While some appreciate its intense scenes and thought-provoking messages, others criticize it as boring and overly focused on language and violence, often commenting on the lack of clarity in the plot.
- strong themes
- mix of reactions
- intense scenes
- excessive language
- lack of clarity
- thought-provoking messages
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In NOPE, OJ Haywood (Daniel Kaluuya) works with his father, Otis (Keith David), on a ranch, training horses for movies and TV. Otis is killed after a freak accident, and OJ finds himself struggling to run the business with his flighty younger sister, Emerald (Keke Palmer). A deal with former child actor Ricky Park (Steven Yeun), who now runs a Western-themed amusement park, helps for a bit. But when OJ sees what appears to be a UFO over their land, he and Emerald get the idea to film it -- and make a fortune. Angel (Brandon Perea), a tech-savvy Fry's Electronics employee who's also a UFO buff, helps the Haywoods set up surveillance cameras. But the next time the visitor comes back, its true nature is revealed.
Is It Any Good?
Jordan Peele's sci-fi/comedy horror movie doesn't quite have the cultural impact of his earlier films, but it's an expertly constructed, hugely entertaining ride. Each intricate puzzle piece is perfectly fitted. Nope doesn't have as much to say about America and where we are right now as Get Out and Us did, but that's about where any complaints might stop. This film seems to be concerned with themes of humans attempting to tame and control other species, up to and including filming them for entertainment and profit. A subplot about a chimp that snapped and went on a bloody rampage on the set of a 1990s TV sitcom doesn't quite seem to belong to the overall plot about UFOs, but, upon reflection, it helps put everything in context. It connects everything.
Peele's skill as a filmmaker keeps improving. His camera placement, cutting, and shocking use of sound design and music combine to create a truly surprising experience. We're frequently kept off-balance as bits of mystery are doled out sparingly, then slyly answered, only to be replaced by new mysteries. Details that may seem insignificant can become important, or vice versa. Best of all, Peele lets his comedy side flow here. While his last two films had funny moments, the tension was too strong to really allow for laughter. Here, the balance allows for more big laughs, more often. Kaluuya and Palmer are responsible for many of these, as well as for all of the movie's heart. Kaluuya's stoic, monosyllabic character and Palmer's chatty, free-spirited one are opposites, but also part of a whole. They make us say "Yep" to Nope.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Nope's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
Is the movie scary? What's the appeal of scary movies? Why do people sometimes like to be scared?
Do you consider any of the characters to be role models? Why, or why not?
What does the subplot about the chimp's rampage have to do with the main plot about the mysterious visitor? What do you think the movie is trying to say?
How does the movie compare to Jordan Peele's films Get Out and Us? How does Peele's body of work shine light on the ways that Black people have always been critical to cultural production in the United States in unacknowledged ways?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 22, 2022
- On DVD or streaming : August 26, 2022
- Cast : Daniel Kaluuya , Keke Palmer , Steven Yeun
- Director : Jordan Peele
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Director(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Asian Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Universal Studios
- Genre : Horror
- Character Strengths : Teamwork
- Run time : 135 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language throughout and some violence/bloody images.
- Award : NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated : February 6, 2026
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