As the 2017 theatrical season begins to enter its third quarter some of the year’s previous blockbusters have retained their buzz.
One of these movies has been “Get Out”, a film directed by Jordan Peele. Previously known for his long-term comedy act Key and Peele, he started transitioning into a theatrical position with his first film role within Keanu. Peele decided to stay on the big screen, this time as a director. “Get Out” was the first movie written and directed by Peele, and yet, was officially named the most profitable movie of 2017. This was achieved not solely due to its box office sales, as it did not lead in this category, but instead because of its extremely low budget.
The film itself was restricted to a mere 4.5 million dollars, which compared to other large blockbusters, is minuscule. Of course, its low cost wasn’t the only factor as it still managed to rake in 252.4 million dollars internationally. A large portion of this came from within the United States in which the film gained most of its support.
This announcement is exciting, symbolic of progression, and also not very surprising. “Get Out” met more than just commercial success, receiving equally high praise from the critics. The title finished its box office run with a whopping 99% on Rotten Tomatoes.
This feat is incredible, especially when Peele's lack of directing experience is considered. The combination of a well-thought and skillful cast led by a disciplined creator was enough to carry “Get Out” above and beyond its numerical heights. The horror-drama was emotionally inciting, providing a combination of humor, thrills, and fear to create an interactive exchange with its audience.
While its plot was unforeseen its future is not. The movie has continued onward, creating a large amount of Oscar’s buzz for both its creator and its cast. “Get Out” was well made, but most importantly, it was individualized, displaying the personal tastes of the film makers that created it. This is a quality that is noticeable in nearly every acclaimed film, a quality that shines through in Peele’s project.
Everything from editing to audio mixing plays a role in how receptive the audience will be towards a movie. For a film like “Get Out”, the potential for individuality was high, especially considering that both its director and main character are people of color. Peele was able to execute this flawlessly, which is why mainstream America had never truly seen a film like this before.
While the success of the movie is deserved it is also something that the film industry desperately needs to see. Poor representation within media has become a commonly known issue. However, “Get Out” does more than represent marginalized groups, it showcases the theatrical power that these groups can achieve both monetarily and culturally.
Unless Hollywood changes its mindset on film production, which is not likely to happen anytime soon, the fiscal success of films starring and written by people of Color is crucial to obtaining more diverse content. Peele’s "Get Out" is exactly that, diverse, profitable, unique, well-made, well-acted and a true theatrical gift.
