Don’t Look Up (2021) Ending Explained: What Happens During Climax Of Netflix Movie?

As a die-hard fan of Adam McKay’s masterpieces, I can’t help but feel utterly devastated yet oddly satisfied by the heart-wrenching climax of Don’t Look Up. The movie is nothing short of a modern-day cautionary tale that mirrors our current societal predicaments with an eerie accuracy.


Adam McKay’s 2021 satirical disaster film, Don’t Look Up, left audiences in suspense with its puzzling finale. The story revolves around two astronomers, Randall Mindy (portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio) and Kate Dibiasky (Jennifer Lawrence), who uncover that a comet is on a collision course with Earth, with the impact due to occur in just six months, erasing all traces of human existence.

After that, they collaborate with NASA scientist Dr. Teddy Oglethorpe, portrayed by Rob Morgan, to disclose an impending disaster to President Janie Orlean, played by Meryl Streep. However, their warnings fall on deaf ears as the president and her son/adviser, Jason, portrayed by Jonah Hill, show no concern.

Following their termination by the President, they subsequently attempted to convey a warning about Earth’s impending destruction to the public via the media. However, they were met with derision from talk show hosts Brie Evantee (portrayed by Cate Blanchett) and Jack Bremmer (played by Tyler Perry).

As an ardent astronomer, I was left with a heavy heart after my efforts to alert the public about the looming catastrophe fell on deaf ears. Yet, amidst the disappointment, a glimmer of hope emerged when a scandal compelled the president to heed our warnings and take action against the comet, even going so far as to plan its destruction in space. Regrettably, each attempt we made to ensure the mission’s success was thwartled. The CEO of BASH Technologies, Peter Isherwell, managed to sway the president with his argument that the comet could harbor trillions of dollars worth of precious minerals, an economic boon our country couldn’t afford to pass up.

After long anticipation, Mindy and Diviasky’s forecasts prove accurate as the comet appears in the night sky. In their final effort to educate the public, they initiate a ‘Look Up’ campaign, aiming to convince people of the potential threat and encouraging governments to take urgent action.

Influenced by greed and manipulation, President Orlean initiates the “Don’t Look Up” campaign, urging the public not to notice or react to the apparent comet in the sky, acting as if it doesn’t exist.

Yet, disregard for the astronomers’ cautions eventually leads to disaster as their prophesied outcomes come true.

Does the comet hit the Earth in Don’t Look Up?

Indeed, in the final analysis, the comet collides with our planet, bringing an end to human civilization, despite the valiant attempts made by the Just Look Up campaign. Regrettably, even the tireless efforts of Isherwell and his BASH team to extract minerals from the comet were fruitless.

Who dies at the end of Don’t Look Up? 

Following Orlean and her affluent peers understanding the peril of the comet and fleeing Earth aboard a concealed spaceship, they enter suspended animation, allowing their vessel to carry them far into the cosmos in search of a fresh planet to accommodate the surviving human race.

Instead of boarding the spaceship, Mindy, Diviasky, and Oglethorpe opt to spend their final hours on Earth with their significant others.

Most of the key figures such as Dr. Randall Mindy, Kate Dibiasky, Dr. Teddy Oglethrope, Yule (played by Timothée Chalamet), among others, meet a tragic end when the comet strikes our planet.

As a die-hard admirer, let me recount the extraordinary tale unfolding on our planet. It seems that only two individuals have managed to endure – the President’s son, none other than Jason Orlean (Jonah Hill), and our esteemed Chief of Staff. In her desperate bid to evade the impending catastrophe, his mother inadvertently left him behind.

What Does the Post-Credit Scene Mean?

Upon landing on a foreign planet aboard their spaceship, Orlean and her high-ranking comrades are swiftly assaulted by terrifying creatures indigenous to the world. In a tragic turn of events, President Orlean falls prey to an alien being called Bronteroc, who claims her life. The fates of other affluent humans are left uncertain as the screen darkens and the film concludes, with their encounters with Bronterocs yet to be revealed.

What is the Message Behind Don’t Look Up?

Don’t Look Up offers a subtle representation of people ignoring significant problems that threaten our planet. The comet symbolizes various issues such as global warming, climate change, pandemics, wars, and so forth. Yet, the underlying theme remains consistent: the relentless human pursuit of self-interest and disregard can ultimately bring about our demise.

Don’t Look Up is available to stream on Netflix right now.

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2024-08-26 18:10