Get Out: Jordan Peele’s Acclaimed Horror Classic Returns to BBC

Nearly a decade after its release, Get Out remains one of the most acclaimed horror films of the 21st century. Jordan Peele’s directorial debut combines psychological horror, dark comedy and sharp social commentary, creating a film that continues to resonate long after its shocking twists.

The film stars Daniel Kaluuya as Chris Washington, a young Black photographer who travels with his white girlfriend, Rose Armitage, played by Allison Williams, to meet her family for the first time.

What initially appears to be an awkward weekend with his girlfriend’s parents soon becomes something far more disturbing.

A Weekend Visit Takes a Terrifying Turn

Chris expects some tension when he meets Rose’s relatives, but the Armitage family’s unusual behavior quickly begins to unsettle him.

He becomes increasingly suspicious of the family’s Black household workers and the strange visitors who appear around the property. Small details that initially seem merely uncomfortable gradually take on a much more sinister meaning.

As Chris investigates what is really happening, he discovers the disturbing reason the family has taken such an interest in him.

Peele uses that revelation to build a story that works simultaneously as a horror thriller and an examination of racism, prejudice, privilege and entitlement.

The film’s central premise is deliberately unsettling because the threat does not immediately appear to come from an obvious source. Instead, the tension grows through seemingly polite conversations, strange behavior and increasingly disturbing discoveries.

From $4.5 Million Budget to a Global Hit

Released in 2017, Get Out became a major commercial success despite being made on a relatively modest $4.5 million budget.

The film ultimately earned approximately $255.5 million worldwide, turning Peele’s first feature as a director into an international hit.

Its success was followed by widespread critical recognition. Get Out received four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director for Peele and Best Actor for Kaluuya. Peele ultimately won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.

The achievement was particularly significant for Peele, who became only the third filmmaker at the time to receive nominations for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for the same film.

Daniel Kaluuya’s Performance Became a Major Talking Point

Kaluuya’s portrayal of Chris became one of the film’s defining strengths.

Much of the horror is experienced through Chris’s perspective, meaning the audience is forced to share his growing discomfort as ordinary situations become increasingly threatening.

His performance earned him a Best Actor Oscar nomination, marking his first Academy Award nomination.

Allison Williams also plays a crucial role as Rose, whose relationship with Chris provides the starting point for the disturbing weekend that follows.

The supporting cast includes Catherine Keener, Bradley Whitford, Caleb Landry Jones, LaKeith Stanfield, Lil Rel Howery and Betty Gabriel.

A 98% Rotten Tomatoes Score

The film’s reputation has remained remarkably strong years after its theatrical release.

Get Out currently holds a 98% Tomatometer score from 403 critics on Rotten Tomatoes, while its audience score stands at 86% from more than 50,000 ratings. Rotten Tomatoes’ critics’ consensus describes the film as a combination of horror, comedy and thought-provoking social criticism.

The film has also been included on Rotten Tomatoes’ list of the 100 Greatest Movies of the 21st Century, where it appears at No. 27 with a 98% critics’ score.

That critical response reflects how effectively Peele blends entertainment with its broader themes. The film can function as a tense horror story on the surface while simultaneously examining the ways racism and prejudice can operate beneath seemingly ordinary interactions.

Why Get Out Still Works

One of the film’s lasting strengths is its gradual escalation.

Rather than revealing everything immediately, Peele allows Chris — and the audience — to notice one strange detail after another. The unease builds until the seemingly harmless family visit becomes a fight for survival.

That slow escalation also gives the film’s social commentary greater impact. The horror is closely tied to the behavior of the people Chris encounters, making the threat feel both surreal and disturbingly grounded.

Viewers have continued to praise the film for that combination of suspense, humor and social observation. Audience reactions on Rotten Tomatoes frequently highlight its carefully constructed tension, purposeful details and Kaluuya’s performance.

For many viewers, that is what separates Get Out from a conventional horror film: the scares are only part of the experience.

Get Out Returns to BBC

Jordan Peele’s acclaimed debut remains a landmark horror film nearly a decade after its 2017 release, with its 98% Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score, four Oscar nominations and Best Original Screenplay win continuing to underline its enduring reputation.

For viewers discovering the film for the first time — or returning to it years later — the combination of Daniel Kaluuya’s performance, Peele’s direction and the film’s unsettling examination of race and privilege remains at the heart of its appeal.

Get Out is scheduled to air on BBC Three at midnight tonight, giving audiences another chance to revisit one of the most distinctive horror films of the past decade.