Jordan Peele always makes a splash. The word anticipation has become affixed to his namesake, and for excellent reasons. His ability to mold social commentary until it is malleable and digestible, after which intermixing it with terror, is impressive. This was proven in the climactic build-up to his 2022 release Nope. Anxious fans wagged their tongues like puppies wagged their tails. The hype was incessant.
Nope premiered in the heat of summer of 2022, July 22, to be exact. But the climate mattered little to eager fans. The masses were overly responsive in their support. Although the feature did not fare as well as Peele’s earlier hit, Get Out, it was successful nonetheless. According to Variety,
“Audience’s response of a resounding “Yep, to Jordan Peele’s Science Fiction Thriller, “Nope” helped top the box office with $44 million on its debut.”
So, by all indications, it was not a failure.
Of course, not everyone was a fan of this selection. And many vocalized their disdain on various social media outlets, citing varying rationales. A select group was unimpressed with the monster element, remarking on its resemblance to an essential piece of living room decor. Others failed to understand the message. And a few others didn’t understand the need for any message at all. After all, some prefer their entertainment, like dessert, sweet and simple.
But then there was the counter camp of moviegoers who fell shy of defining Nope as a modern masterpiece. There was no denying the camps were divided. But looking back and considering the great divide, one wonders if Nope has perhaps lost its appeal. And if it is still worth a re-watch today. Here are a few reasons that slant toward a yes.
Universal Messages Never Get Old
Messages with an impact never age, so films with a message don’t age either. This argument makes for a perfect rationale for re-watching Nope. Although many people may not have gotten Peele’s message, it was present and had universality. And as dismissive as some may be, Peele was never silent on the context underlying his film.
Peele reportedly told many outlets Nope was a movie about people’s fascination with spectacles and the dismissal of those things that truly matter. Peele’s verbalization of such was merely one point of confirmation. Ironically, Peele exemplified this in subtext and overtly through the composition of the piece itself. Yet, viewers still missed the primary context or clues revealing the greater theme. They got lost in the larger spectacle of the film. Thus, looking at this factor with greater analysis, one cannot help to denote Peele’s brilliance. As Vox notes,
“Nope is a big, loud, and effects-driven spectacle. It’s a movie with a thousand references to the past. But it functions at least a bit as a warning, a prophecy, a call for a reboot, or a reminder to care about what or who gets our attention.”
And that’s worth a reminder every so often.
Successful Films Always Deserve a Re-Watch
Films that are deemed a success are done so for a reason. While there may be a mass of dissenting individualized opinions on the movie’s caliber, filmgoers vote with their dollars. And per Variety, post-screening data collection revealed that not only did opening weekend box office revenue underscore the success but also the demographic pool.
According to the data, the reported factors showed Nope appealed to a diverse pool of moviegoers. Furthermore, while opening weekend sales translated favorably, that was only part of the picture. The film averaged over 17O million at the global box office when it was all said and done. Conclusively, when a movie is that successful, especially given these factors, it serves as grounds for a re-watch, whether to reconfirm its greatness or to separate hype from facts.
Some Things Remain Unseen
Movies with layers are complex watches. Because rarely does one catch everything at first watch. Nope falls into that category. When considering the layering of a film, a re-watch is not so much of a big deal for those who have become experts at deep dives on the first watch. However, for others, it will take a look or two to absorb everything the film offers. This is the same as a good book; it doesn’t matter how many times one reads it; there is always something new to find, and such is the case with Nope.
Comparing Nope to Peele’s Previous Work
A film connoisseur lives for the sport of comparing works, and Peele’s works provide a great base of study. Peele has several pieces in his catalog, Get Out, US, and now Nope, all of which use social commentary and horror. Although these elements have not always been broached, when they have, it is often not with the same measure of success.
Thus, Peele’s directorial skills are constantly being held up. This is a means to examine the unique talent, skill, and methodology of a man who almost single-handily bolstered socially conscious horror and helped redefine the horror genre. So re-watching any films in his catalog gives better insight into his approach and who he is as a director. It’s a study of the mastery of a craft. For that reason, yes, Nope is worth a re-watch.
One can find many reasons to watch or not watch a particular film. And it is a fan’s choice. Given Nope’s success, the universality of its message, its complexity, and in consideration of the creator, it is worth re-watching. Nope, it is currently streaming on Prime Video for those who haven’t seen the incredible spectacle of 2022 or who want to tune in for a re-watch.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
