Climate change is a complex topic for any film, let alone a satire. Don’t Look Up, which tackled some of the most controversial issues—being a political satire—was not easy for audiences to digest either. Since the Netflix film's release, critics, viewers, and activists have both criticized and praised the film. The backlash, in particular, highlighted the challenges of delivering an urgent message through political satires these days. Nonetheless, now the director has come forward to share a different perspective on the film’s reception that had not been explored yet.

Adam McKay confirmed that, despite the negativity from critics, the film has managed to connect with audiences and spark curiosity.

In an interview with NME, Adam McKay revealed that Don’t Look Up, despite the criticism, was watched by an estimated “400 million to half a billion” people on Netflix. He also shared that the satirical comedy reached number one in 85 countries, which, according to McKay, is “extremely rare for a comedy.” He tied the film’s plot to the current state of the “global neo-liberal economy,” speculating that this may have helped the viewers connect with the message, eventually drawing a vast audience despite the mixed reviews.

Don’t Look Up was a reflection of today's grim reality—climate change will lead to millions of deaths, and only the wealthy will manage to shield themselves, too disconnected to pass on the message to future generations. There is no happy ending, no last-minute savior, and no 'and' either. Because of this, many critics found the film to be overly heavy-handed. But that was not the only concern fans had.

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A major criticism from fans was the gender pay gap between the leads, which ultimately led Jennifer Lawrence to defend her co-star.

Several reports on Don’t Look Up claimed that Jennifer Lawrence was paid significantly less than her co-star Leonardo DiCaprio. According to Variety, DiCaprio received $30 million for the film, while Lawrence was paid $25 million—20% less than the Titanic star. This again drew attention to the gender pay gap discourse in Hollywood. However, Jennifer Lawrence defended the makers' decision.

Lawrence, who had previously criticized Hollywood’s gender pay gap after being supposedly underpaid for American Hustle, explained that DiCaprio’s higher salary for Don’t Look Up was justified. Speaking to Vanity Fair, Lawrence said, “Leo brings in more box office than I do.” She also expressed that she feels “extremely fortunate and happy” with the project, and from what it seems, Adam McKay feels the same way.

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What do you think about Adam McKay's interview? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!