Time is running out for fans of Jordan Peele's ambitious sci-fi thriller Nope. The 2022 film, starring Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, and Steven Yeun, will depart Peacock in the United States on May 18, 2026. If you haven't yet experienced this big-screen spectacle at home, now's your last chance.
Peele, who won an Oscar for Get Out, has built a reputation for blending genre thrills with sharp social commentary. Nope marked his third feature and a bold shift from horror to alien-invasion territory. While it earned mostly positive reviews—boasting an 83% Certified Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes—it remains his lowest-grossing film worldwide, pulling in about $171 million on a $70 million budget. Domestically, it was a hit, but international audiences didn't flock to it the same way.
The film follows siblings OJ (Kaluuya) and Emerald Haywood (Palmer), who run a Hollywood horse-training ranch. After strange occurrences in the sky, they team up with a tech salesman (Brandon Perea) and a grizzled cinematographer (Michael Wincott) to capture evidence of a UFO. Peele has cited The Wizard of Oz and Close Encounters of the Third Kind as key influences, and the result is a movie that examines humanity's obsession with spectacle—and the dark side of commodifying art.
Shot by Hoyte van Hoytema, Christopher Nolan's longtime cinematographer, Nope was designed for the largest screens possible. Its IMAX sequences are stunning, but the film's themes resonate just as powerfully at home. If you're a fan of sci-fi action movies where soldiers battle aliens, Nope offers a more cerebral take on the genre.
Peele's next project remains a mystery. Universal had assigned a release date for his fourth film, but it was removed from the calendar after the filmmaker reportedly struggled to make progress. There's no word yet on what he's cooking up, but given his track record, anticipation is sky-high.
For now, Nope is a must-watch for anyone who appreciates ambitious, original storytelling. It's a film that rewards repeat viewings, with layers of meaning hidden in its stunning visuals and eerie sound design. Don't let it slip away without giving it a chance.
If you're looking for more underrated sci-fi gems, check out our list of the most underrated time-travel binges on streaming. And for those who love a good director's cut, we've got 10 movies that prove the director's cut beats the original.
