Jordan Peele’s third film as a director, Nope, just dropped its final trailer before its scheduled July 22, 2022 release date. And the movie appears to have all of the trademark Peele touchstones: an expansive mythology, a variety of colorful characters, some tongue-in-cheek humor, and a healthy dose of social commentary. Nope is a collage of genres and tones that has come to separate Peele from just about every other director in Hollywood.
It’s funny to think how far Peele has come in just five years since his directorial debut. Nope is a sci-fi blockbuster backed by a big budget…while his first film, Get Out, feels more like a quiet, low-budget, psychological horror-indie. Produced by Blumhouse Productions, which brought us movies like Insidious, Sinister, and Paranormal Activity, Peele’s debut film has all the hallmarks of a horror film confined to a single household. It creates a sense of anxiety and disorientation and despair, backed by a healthy dose of claustrophobia and panic.
So if you’re looking for more films like this: what movies fit this description? We’ve got a list of great options to check out as you wait for the next Jordan Peele movie.
Candyman (2021)
Why not start with a movie that Peele wrote? While the film was directed by another black filmmaker, Nia DaCosta, Candyman feels like a slasher version of Get Out. Headed by a mysterious killer that’s essentially a Freddy Krueger/Jason Voorhees type of villain, the film goes in a much bloodier and more traditional direction for horror movies, while also retaining the biting racial commentary that made Get Out so impactful back in 2017.
mother! (2017)
Any film that entirely confines itself to one house is going to capture that sense of claustrophobia that makes Get Out so engaging. But mother! in particular took that kind of entertainment to insane levels that matched the wild ending of Peele’s first film. From Darren Aronofsky, this psychological horror follows a young woman who spends her days renovating a Victorian mansion while her husband struggles with writer’s block. Before long, her husband allows strangers to stay in their home, leading to an out-of-control domestic situation that only gets worse and worse.
Happy Death Day (2017)
While Get Out is a sinister, terrifying horror film, it’s backed by a considerable amount of sarcasm and dark humor. It was written by Peele, after all, who first became famous thanks to his Comedy Central sketch show Key & Peele. So if you’re looking for a Blumhouse horror film packed with lots of cheeky humor, then Happy Death Day is the pick for you. Following the formula of Groundhog Day, this 2017 sleeper from Christopher Landon follows a self-obsessed college student repeatedly wakes up to the same day where she’s killed over and over.
Rear Window (1954)
It feels wrong to make a list like this that doesn’t include Alfred Hitchcock. Peele is clearly inspired by the master of suspense, as Us feels like a modern update of The Birds and Nope appears to have all the thrilling hallmarks of North by Northwest. So if we’re going to focus on the horrifying domesticity and the crippling groundedness of Get Out, then we have to mention Hitchcock’s Rear Window in the same breath. The 1954 film tells the story of a news photographer confined to a wheelchair in his apartment. From his window, the man spies on his neighbors—and becomes convinced that he’s witnessed a murder.
The House of the Devil (2009)
One of the best parts of Get Out is that you don’t know what is happening for a long, long time. You suspect something is awry—but you could never possibly guess what this rich white family is up to. That overwhelming sense of insecurity and tension is what makes Get Out such a spine-tingling experience. It’s also what made Ti West a household name in the indie-horror genre when he released his first noteworthy film, The House of the Devil. The movie follows a desperate college student who takes a mysterious babysitting job. Little does she know that the family is hiding a dark secret that involves her presence.
Antebellum (2020)
After the resounding success of Get Out—a movie that made a staggering $255 million at the box office—it was only a matter of time before we saw more black-centric stories from in the horror setting. And one of the biggest players was Antebellum, which was co-directed by Gerard Bush (as well as Christopher Renze) and starred Janelle Monáe. Released in 2020, Antebellum tells the story of a successful author who’s on the verge of finishing her next book. But a shocking turn of events forces her to confront her past, presence, and future in a horrifying manner.
Don’t Breathe (2016)
Part of what makes Get Out so great is its defiance of what’s “normal” when it comes to horror movies. It feels like the kind of debut only a young director could muster—bitter, defiant, and unforgiving in its carefully calculated approach. The film became instantly associated with Peele’s unique style. The same thing happened to Fede Álvarez, who released Don’t Breathe back in 2016. While Evil Dead was his first feature, Don’t Breathe was his first original film—and it put him on the map. Don’t Breathe follows three thieves who break into a blind veteran’s home to steal some money. Before long, however, they make a shocking discovery about the man and become trapped inside.
The Shining (1980)
While Get Out might be remembered for its twist ending and wild mythology, a majority of its entertainment rests in the quiet mystery of Chris’s situation. Little does he know the dread and terror that lurks around every corner of Rose’s childhood home. Similarly, The Shining has become famous for its big set pieces at the end of the movie. But the first 80% of the movie is full of the kind of mystery that gives your entire body goosebumps. The Shining follows an author who brings his family to an isolated hotel as he battles writer’s block. Before long, however, he starts to have terrifying visions and discovers some dark secrets about the hotel.
Other movies from Jordan Peele
- Us (2019)
- Nope (2022)
Get Out stars Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford, Catherine Keener, LaKeith Stanfield, and Lil Rey Howery.
