Don't Look Up · written by Adam McKay · 2021

The launched vehicles turn around and head back toward Earth as the global crowd falls silent.

Scene 123 of 205 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Five-Act Structure: Climax
Onlooker
Guy
Anchors Chatter

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:10 into a 2:06 film

The story so farBefore scene 123

After PhD candidate Kate Dibiasky discovers a comet on a direct collision course with Earth, she and Professor Randall Mindy try to persuade a politically distracted President, a media-saturated public, and a powerful technology company to stop it before impact.

Scenes 1–7
Kate and Randall work within the familiar routine of astronomy and university research.
Scenes 8–26
They discover the impact deadline and need the government and public to respond, but Orlean refuses immediate action.
Scenes 27–60
Kate and Oglethorpe take the warning outside official channels, entering the press and television world to reach the public.
Scenes 61–72
The scientists navigate conspiracy claims, arrest, and political reversal as Orlean finally announces a deflection mission.
Scenes 73–122
Their warning appears to win official action and a national launch, though Randall’s celebrity role and BASH’s access undermine the effort.
Just before
Scene 120
Drask addresses Indigenous peoples and gay people before Mission Control calls out an imminent booster ejection.
Scene 121
A Mexican father and son watch the launch on a phone from their truck.
Scene 122
Brie quotes a French poem as she kisses Randall in the situation room; Orlean returns with news about the mission.
Scene 123
This scene

123EXT. KENNEDY SPACE CENTER - SAME TIME

MASSIVE CROWD WATCHING AND CHEERING ON THE SPACE SHUTTLE

Although it’s just a flaming speck in the sky, we see slowly but surely that THE LEAD SPACE SHUTTLE BEGINS TURNING. The crowd begins to chatter.

ONLOOKER

Hey! It’s looks like it’s turning

around!

GUY

No it’s not! It’s a course

correction! Pretty standard! I was

in the Navy.

Nope. It’s turning around.

ONLOOKER

Nope! It’s turning around!

And now IT’S FULLY HEADED BACK TO EARTH along with the other shuttles and satellites. THE CROWD AND CROWDS ACROSS THE WORLD ARE SILENT AND CONFUSED.

ANCHORS CHATTER (V.O.)

There seems to be some confusion -

I’m not gonna lie to you - This

reporter is at a loss for words -

It’s definitely turning around.