Nope marks Jordan Peele’s third film, following the wildly successful two-punch of Get Out and Us, respectively. While the alien invasion flick hasn’t enjoyed the same critical praise as Peele’s previous efforts (currently, Nope sits at 82% on Rotten Tomatoes compared to the 98% earned by Get Out and 93% earned by Us), it still features enough of the same unique horror elements that made the director’s first two offerings so memorable.
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Now that Nope has been unleashed onto audiences, we thought it was time to rank Peele’s three efforts from worst to best. Let’s get to it!
Us
To call Us Jordan Peele’s worst film is quite the compliment. The sophomore effort from the acclaimed director doesn’t capture the same balance of wit and horror as Get Out, and it does meander a bit in its middle act (albeit, en route to a fascinating climax). Yet, there’s still a lot to admire about this bizarre tale, as it’s centered around doppelgängers living beneath our feet and waiting to assume control of our lives. Visually, it’s probably Peele’s best flick.
Throw in a mesmerizing (and curiously overlooked) Lupita Nyong’o performance, some genuine scares, a couple of nifty twists and turns, and you have yourself a fun, creepy night at the movies — and a horror film with a little more to substance to go with the splattering gore.
Nope
The reaction to Nope has been quite puzzling. A number of critics and fans decry the alien invasion flick as an empty spectacle, while others feel the third act takes one wild swing too many — reactions that echo those doused upon M. Night Shyamalan’s Signs 20 years ago.
Hogwash, I say!
Nope certainly isn’t perfect. The first act is a little clunky, as are the attempts at humor. Daniel Kaluuya’s soft spoken character takes some getting used to, and patience is definitely required for the various moving parts (notably a side story about a chimpanzee) to fully come together. Yet, when the horror/action finally kicks in, Nope takes off in unexpected ways and has more to say than you might think.
If Get Out provided an eerie look at social politics, and Us used its slasher premise to examine class structures, Nope offers a heavy handed damnation of Hollywood and the entertainment industry in general, specifically in its treatment of animals used in various forms of entertainment.
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Sure, the third act needs a little work, and doesn’t always successfully deliver on its promise of spectacle, but Nope still boasts a mesmerizing subject matter, offers a few unique twists and turns, and brings the goods in terms of horror/adventure. You may never look at the sky the same way again.
Get Out
Get Out may be the most socially relevant horror movie since George A. Romero’s 1968 masterwork Night of the Living Dead. Peele (in a stunning directorial debut) offers a fascinating exploration of racial politics packaged in a novel concept that simultaneously entertains and terrifies. Peele strikes that perfect balance of humor, horror, and entertainment that few films have ever achieved, and delivers any number of iconic sequences that stick in your mind long after the credits roll.
Daniel Kaluuya is terrific in the lead role and is flanked by a sturdy cast of talented supporting stars who fit their parts with aplomb. Michael Abels’ score pops, while Toby Oliver’s cinematography perfectly captures Peele’s haunting, even vivid, vision.
In short, Get Out is one of those rare films that you never forget, and thus is deserving of the top spot on this list.