Bill Nye calls Don’t Look Up a ‘painfully’ accurate commentary on climate crisis inaction
Netflix’s black comedy received a mixed critical response, but its commentary on science is spot on, says Bill ‘the Science Guy’ Nye
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Bill Nye says Don’t Look Up was such a “painfully” accurate commentary on the state of inaction in fighting the climate crisis that the satirical film’s message was missed.
The “Science Guy” told USA Today that the Netflix dark comedy about two experts trying to warn about an imminent catastrophic meteor strike had portrayed the science accurately.
However, he added it was “preaching to the converted” and likely hadn’t persuaded many climate change deniers.
“I wouldn't be surprised if the irony of Don't Look Up is lost on the people it was really intended for because it is so painfully close to what's happening right now.”
The star-studded film received a mixed response upon its release on Netflix in December last year.
Scientists were largely supportive of the film’s theme that politicians and the media are too caught up in trivial scandals and sideshows to achieve any meaningful progress on the climate crisis.
Writing in the Scientific American, astrophysicist Rebecca Oppenheimer lauded the film for “taking on the gargantuan task of combatting the rampant denial of scientific research and facts”.
“Funny, yet dead serious, Don’t Look Up is one of the most important recent contributions to popularising science,” she wrote.
The critics consensus on Rotten Tomatoes, where it has a rating of just 56 per cent, was less favourable, saying it “aims too high for its scattershot barbs to consistently land”.
The movie, which starred played by Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Jonah Hill and Timothee Chalamet, received a respectable 78 per cent rating in its audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Actor Ron Perlman, who played a general sent into space to stop a comet, had a blunt message for the critics in an interview with The Independent in January.
“F*** you and your self-importance and this self-perpetuating need to say everything bad about something just so that you can get some attention for something that you had no idea about creating,” said the actor.
It was nominated for four Academy Awards including Best Picture, but failed to win any.
Bill Nye is promoting a new show on climate disasters The End is Nye, in which he explores the possible impacts of six human and natural disasters, including a meteor strike and super volcano.
He told USA Today he was trying through the Peacock show to empower individuals to take action by providing them with pragmatic advice.
“Vote for lawmakers who want to address these problems. Take the environment and the future into account when you vote,” Mr Nye told the site.
“If you’re not optimistic, you’re not going to get anything done.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments