“No” first reactions: director Jordan Peele hailed by critics

Early reactions to Jordan Peele’s “Nope” are pouring in as the film continues its Los Angeles premiere, earning praise for the director’s turn toward sci-fi and drawing comparisons to filmmakers like Steven Spielberg.

Expectations are high for “No,” given Peele’s emergence as one of the most beloved directors over the past five years. His debut film, “Get Out,” earned four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Director for Peele and Actor for Kaluuya. Peele won the Oscar for Original Screenplay. The film’s $255 million worldwide gross was matched by Peele’s follow-up, “We,” which received critical acclaim and sent fans into spirals of theories and explanations.

Although he built a brand with just two films, Peele said he entered “No” relatively free of public expectations of him.

“We tried to make a big summer blockbuster that you can enjoy however you want,” Peele said. Variety Angelique Jackson at the premiere of the film. “You want to come in and just smoke a big joint and talk with a friend about social issues, you can do that. If you want to come relax and get away from it all and see Keke Palmer in the middle of a UFO then this is it. that we have for you.”

“Nope” reunites Peele with his “Get Out” star Daniel Kaluuya in the story of two siblings (Kaluuya and Keke Palmer) who discover an alien spacecraft hovering above their family’s horse ranch. The duo set out to film the spacecraft, but the mission doesn’t go as planned.

Steven Yeun, Brandon Perea, Michael Wincott, Wrenn Schmidt and Keith David round out the cast of “Nope.” The film marks the first collaboration between Peele and cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema, best known for filming Christopher Nolan’s tentpoles “Interstellar”, “Dunkirk” and “Tenet”.

“No” begins screening for critics in most major markets on Tuesday, but the film has already been previewed by some members of the press.

Collider editor Steven Weintraub kept his praise light on the details, but assured his opinion was a “big thumbs up”.

Won’t spoil any aspect of @JordanPeeleit is #NopeMovie except to say *big* thumbs up.

And cinematographer Hoyte Van Hoytema shot the film using @IMAX cameras so if you are going to see #Nope see it in IMAX. Hoytema has already filmed “Tenet”, “Dunkirk” and “Interstellar”. pic.twitter.com/92z9udtRMT

— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) July 19, 2022

CNN entertainment reporter Frank Pallotta called the film “out of this world”, peppering his praise with references to Alfred Hitchcock, John Carpenter and Adam McKay.

NOPE is out of this world. A monster mash with great performances (especially Kaluuya) and a 50s sci-fi invasion motif. A show about the horrors of shows.

Jordan Peele has been compared to Hitchcock, but NOPE shows he’s a next-gen carpenter. Enjoy the show and don’t look up. pic.twitter.com/dGKwbXg0WF

– Franck Pallotta (@frankpallotta) July 19, 2022

People editor Nigel Smith called “No” a “resounding YES”, calling the film “a thrilling and eerie sight”.

#NopeMovie is a resounding YES. See it on the biggest screen you can find. An exciting and strange sight unlike anything else. I will never look at the sky the same way again.

— Nigel Smith (@nigelmfs) July 19, 2022

Daily Dead News editor Heather Wixson called the film “absolutely phenomenal”, praising the genre mix with “Hollywood calculus”.

So #NopeMovie is absolutely phenomenal in so many ways. Perfectly blends a sci-fi spectacle with a story that also feels like a Hollywood reckoning and blew my expectations away. Beautifully shot, the sound mix is ​​thunderous and the cast shines. Love love adored him. pic.twitter.com/qdcZIvsX5T

— Heather Wixson (@MMEFXBook is out now!) (@thehorrorchick) July 19, 2022

Huffington Post senior cultural reporter Candice Frederick is still working on the film. It seems to have given him a lot to chew on.

I don’t know how you can react so quickly to #NopeMovie. I’m still in my head about this.

— Candice Frederick (@ReelTalker) July 19, 2022

A member of the Hollywood Critics Association has praised the ambition of “No”, with the caveat that he believes the film marks Peele’s weakest effort so far.

Nope is Jordan Peele’s most ambitious film but also his weakest. The first act is superb but from the second, it loses its footing and becomes a bad M. Night Shyamalan film with Spielbergian elements. It lacks a sense of focus with a story that is never fully realized. #NopeMovie

—Scott Menzel (@ScottDMenzel) July 19, 2022

See more reactions below:

#NOPEMovie isn’t what you expect and the trailer doesn’t do it justice.

Jordan Peele does the unimaginable – again.

RUN, DON’T WALK TO SEE IT THIS WEEKEND.

EXCELLENT-!

GIVE KEKE PALMER ALL AWARDS CONSIDERATION THIS YEAR.

—Ernest Owens (@MrErnestOwens) July 19, 2022

The most important thing you need to know about NOPE is that it’s completely different from Get Out & Us. It’s Jordan Peele spreading his wings and doing big-budget Spielberg/esque sci-fi, but with the subtext you expect. Enter with an open mind and you will be rewarded. #NopeMovie

— Kevin Polowy (@djkevlar) July 19, 2022

#NopeMovie is an absolute blast!! @JordanPeele crafted a loving tribute to fans of a certain Spielberg masterpiece – I’ll let you find out. The cast is excellent and the sound and sets are impeccable! Full review @joblocom very soon! It’s a crazy race!

— Jïmm¥†ðtheO (@JimmytotheO) July 19, 2022

Jordan Peele #Nope is one of the best movies I’ve seen this year! It’s scary and fierce, but also very funny and unlike any UFO movie you’ve ever seen. It’s a very unique and VERY entertaining horror epic full of crazy surprises and an unforgettable performance from Keke Palmer pic.twitter.com/iua9HPt0RG

— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) July 19, 2022

Jordan Peele’s Nope is his most confident, free and potentially controversial take to date. Swapping the exclamation points of horror for the question marks of science fiction is less fear. With hints of close encounters, jaws and more, #NopeMovie is a real box of puzzles. pic.twitter.com/Ny3EVaLTqW

—Simon Thompson (@ShowbizSimon) July 19, 2022

#NopeMovie is otherworldly but indescribable. From moments of sheer terror to heartfelt moments between characters, #Nope is an experience that won’t be easy to shake off as you find yourself picking your jaw up off the ground. Jordan Peele has done it again! @nopemovie pic.twitter.com/bUr1ad5TAx

— Shannon McGrew 🎃🍭 @ Screaming into the void (@shannon_mcgrew) July 19, 2022