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

Tenant and Pawketty lead a “Don’t Look Up” rally until a supporter sees the approaching comet and the crowd turns on Jason.

Scene 165 of 205 · ≈ 1 min on screen · First scene of act three

Congressman Tenant
Loyal Supporter
Jason

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:48 into a 2:06 film

The story so farBefore scene 165

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.
Scenes 123–164
The mission turns back; BASH substitutes mining for deflection, Kate is silenced, Randall’s family breaks apart, and a rival mission fails.
Just before
Scene 162
Riley sings the bridge of “Just Look Up” as the concert continues.
Scene 163
Kate and Yule spray-paint “JUST LOOK UP” on a bank window.
Scene 164
Oglethorpe learns that Russia, India, and China’s separate deflection attempt exploded and failed, leaving only BASH’s mission.
Scene 165
This scene

165EXT. DON’T LOOK UP RALLY - GREAT LAWN, D.C. - THAT NIGHT

Congressman Tenant with Dan Pawketty, Jason Orlean, and KID ROCK (look alike) speak to a giant crowd wearing the “Don’t Look Up” red, white and blue caps.

CONGRESSMAN TENANT

These “Just Look Uppers” want

millions of illegal Chileans to

come across the border! Don’t Look

Up! Don’t Look Up!

CRANE ARM DOWN to one LOYAL SUPPORTER, early 20s in a Don’t Look Up hat, as he looks back up over his shoulder for JUST A SECOND.

LOYAL SUPPORTER

What?

(and then louder)

What the hell is that!?

Crowd hushes and starts to turn around and look up. In the sky is a GIANT GLOWING BALL a fifth the size of the moon.

LOYAL SUPPORTER (CONT'D)

Fucking lied to us!

Crowd starts to murmur. Jason runs up to the mic.

JASON

The President just texted me.

“Don’t trip. It’s all good. Don’t

trip.”

The crowd shouts and boos over him. A BOTTLE HITS JASON in the head cutting him. More bottles and caps start to rain down.

JASON (CONT'D)

You cut my face, you fucking

rednecks!

Jason storms off stage, clutching his face.