Jordan Peele first came to prominence on Key and Peele with Keegan Michael Key, but he’s been making quite the impression as a director. His 2017 directorial debut Get Out was a phenomenon and his 2019 follow-up Us is another must-see.
Peele has a knack for social examinations presented and dissected through horror concepts. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of the top 5 Jordan Peele Movies T Watch.
1. Get Out
The ibomma film that put Peele on the map, Get Out was an equal parts gripping thriller and thought-provoking social commentary. It follows photographer Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) as he visits his white girlfriend Rose’s family estate and finds himself ensnared in their sinister, overly accommodating behavior.
The movie builds on the age-old genre foundation that something is always wrong behind closed doors, but adds a racial edge. It also demonstrates Peele’s mastery of the horror film form, with shots that feel like comedy and others that feel completely horrific.
Get Out and 2019’s Us have proven that Peele is a force to be reckoned with in the horror genre, offering a unique blend of social commentary and spine-chilling suspense. His latest project, Nope, stars Keke Palmer and Steven Yeun and will be released this year. Check out the first trailer below.
2. Us
After the massive success of Get Out, Jordan Peele has been busy on several projects. He has a new CBS series remake of The Twilight Zone; a Toy Story 4 and a Candyman remake in the works; and of course Us, his highly anticipated home invasion horror film.
The film stars Lupita Nyong’o as Adelaide Wilson and her tethered doppelganger Red who appear one night at the family’s beachside home. In a twist that is both mind-bending and heartbreaking, Adelaide discovers the truth behind these shadow creations.
Like all great horror movies, Us keeps audiences at the edge of their seats with perfectly timed jump scares and a story that is just close enough to reality to haunt you forever. And to make sure his star, Lupita Nyong’o, was ready for such a demanding role, he curated a list of horror films as her homework.
3. Nope
After bringing modern edge to possession horror with Get Out, Peele followed up with Us, a film that layered social commentary with eerily gripping cinematic style. His third movie, Nope, reunites with slick star Daniel Kaluuya and Hustler’s scene-stealer Keke Palmer for a sci-fi thriller that draws inspiration from Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and Poltergeist.
The first trailer for Nope dropped months ago, and it offered viewers a handful of clues but no easy explanations. The plot centers on a pair who run a ranch that trains horses for Hollywood productions and who encounter a mysterious cloud that may be the shape of an alien spaceship. Peele has a tendency to scatter breadcrumbs, and he may be playing with the audience here. But whatever he’s trying to say, Nope delivers nerve-shredding suspense and a mesmerizing performance from Lupita Nyong’o.
4. Black Klansman
Whether you think it’s timely or not, this is one of the best films of 2018. The premise alone that a black cop infiltrates the Ku Klux Klan — defies credibility. But it’s based on true events, and director Spike Lee mines the story for humor, drama, and tragedy.
John David Washington stars as real-life cop Ron Stallworth, who went undercover in the 1970s to investigate his local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan. His encounters with members are sometimes disturbing and often funny.
BlacKkKlansman was a box office hit, and its critics are calling it one of the best movies of 2018. It’ll likely continue to dominate through the summer and may even find some awards season love. It’s out August 10. Watch the trailer below. And don’t miss our deep dive into the film.
5. Us Again
As a director, Peele has been very open about his love for horror movies. From 1980s slashers to meticulously crafted contemporary psychological horror, he’s a fan of all subgenres.
A Tale of Two Sisters was a Korean folktale adaptation that made it to the top of Peele’s horror movie shortlist while he was working on Us Again. It’s a dark and eerie tale about a woman who returns to her family only to be tormented by her stepmother and mysterious spirits.
This stop-motion film starring Keegan-Michael Key and Daniel Kaluuya is a surprisingly bone-chilling and funny movie. It’s also a testament to how far Peele and his team can push the boundaries of comedy with their visual effects. This film is a must-watch for any horror and animation fans. It’s available on Netflix.