Jordan Peele Makes Film Debut History as First Black Director-Writer to Make $100M

Jordan Peele’s “Get Out” has inspired memes and social media challenges. (Kevin Edwards)

Jordan Peele’s so-called racist film “Get Out” has made him the first Black director-writer whose debut film earned $100 million.

Fans hustled to theaters the weekend of March 10 to see the movie that follows a Black man, played by Daniel Kaluuya, who goes to visit his white girlfriend’s parents for a weekend and is forced to deal with awkward encounters that later turn horrific.

“Get Out” earned $21 million this past weekend, pushing it to a $111-million gross in its third week. The previous Black-directed film that earned $100 million was F. Gary Gray’s “Straight Outta Compton,” but Gray didn’t have a hand in the script. Other Black directors whose movies are in the 9-digit gross club include Tim Story β€” who, like Gray, has two films that made $100 million β€” Ryan Coogler, John Singleton and Keenan Ivory Wayans.

Peele, who co-produced “Get Out,” not only set a record for himself, but he did the same for Blumehouse Productions. The company’s 19-day, $100-million earnings for the horror film “Split” was surpassed when “Get Out” crossed that threshold in 16 days.

Although the flick garnered criticism from some sectors that felt certain plot details were anti-white, fans continue to fawn over the film and Peele expressed his gratitude via Twitter.

The actor also has consistently retweeted fan reactionsΒ to “Get Out,” including creative takes on the film and analysis.

https://twitter.com/LEGIQN/status/840689508089774082

https://www.instagram.com/p/BRkchRPh8dk/

Back to top