CULTURE CLASSICS - Get Out - Creators For The Culture

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With A-List creator for The Culture Jordan Peele’s new film Us dropping this week, we’re taking a look at his first major motion picture. The breakout hit and instant horror #CultureClassic Get Out.

Get Out is a satirical horror film written and directed by Jordan Peele in his directorial debut. It stars Black Panther’s Daniel Kaluuya as a young black man who uncovers a disturbing secret when he meets the family of his white girlfriend. The film dropped February 24, 2017 with small expectations but immediately blew up and became a cultural phenomenon. The twist (which we won’t spoil) became the water cooler moment of 2017, the “sunken place” became a real place in The Culture’s lexicon (go ask Kanye), and the memes…oh the memes. Critics also praised the screenplay, direction, acting, satirical themes, and it’s unique take on race relations in America today. The film made countless top 10 lists and was nominated for four Oscars, including Best Picture, and won for Best Original Screenplay making Peele the first black winner in that particular category.

And just as importantly, it handled it’s business business. Get Out grossed $255 million worldwide with a minuscule (in Hollywood) $4.5 million budget. It finished with a net profit of $124 million meaning it made over 27 times it’s money back and finished as the tenth most profitable film of 2017.

Black horror is an often forgotten genre relegated to low-budget fare or independently made and distrubred status, but Get Out made the genre front-and-center in Hollywood leading to Peele signing deals to produce even more (including Us) and rebooting and hosting The Twilight Zone. Get Out was a true game changer in the genre and huge leap for black cinema as a whole. And that is why it’s an officially certified #CultureClassic.

#FunFact: In the Best Original Screenplay category, Peele was the first black person to win and only the fourth ever nominated. The other three are John Singleton, Spike Lee, and Suzanne de Passe).