In the title compound, C21H15NO3, the molecule has an E conformation about the C=C bond, and the C—C=C—C torsion angle is −178.24 (18)°. In the molecule, the planes of the terminal rings are twisted by an angle of 42.19 (10)°, while the biphenyl part is not planar, with a dihedral angle between the rings of 39.2 (1)°. The dihedral angle between the nitrophenyl ring and the inner benzene ring is 5.56 (9)°. The 3-nitro group is approximately coplanar with the benzene ring to which it is attached [O—N—C—C = 0.1 (3)°]. In the crystal, molecules are linked via C—H⋯π interactions, involving the terminal benzene rings, forming corrugated layers parallel to (100).