In 2017, writer-director Jordan Peele captivated audiences with his debut feature film, Get Out. This psychological thriller quickly became iconic for its incredible blend of humor, horror, and depth. Peele coined the term “social thriller” to describe a genre where the real bad guy is society itself. Get Out masterfully satirized race and the underlying racism within white liberalism.
The film tells the story of Chris, a Black man in an interracial relationship, who visits his white girlfriend Rose’s family. Initially assured by Rose that her family is accepting, Chris soon discovers the horrifying truth. The Black individuals he encounters at the family’s home exhibit unsettling behavior, and it’s revealed that they plan to steal his body for their purposes. Get Out uses allegorical symbolism to critique the commodification of Black bodies and the insidiousness of white liberals who refuse to relinquish their power.
Get Out not only achieved commercial success but also made history. It received nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor and Best Writing at the 90th Academy Awards. Jordan Peele became the first African American to win the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Within three weeks of its release, Get Out earned $100 million domestically, making Peele the first Black writer-director to achieve this milestone with a debut movie. Thanks to the success of Get Out, the social thriller genre gained popularity, enticing audiences to seek out thought-provoking horror films. If you loved Get Out, here are 25 movies that deliver a message while offering jump scares and deep reflections on societal issues.
Nope
Jordan Peele’s latest horror film, Nope, continues his exploration of social commentary in a thrilling setting. Starring Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer as siblings, the movie revolves around a UFO that repeatedly appears above their ranch. Nope delves into the exploitation present in the entertainment industry and highlights the dangers of hyper-commercialization at the expense of living beings.
The Blackening
Premiering at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival, The Blackening follows a group of friends who find themselves stalked by a killer during a weekend getaway in a remote cabin. This film cleverly subverts horror tropes, particularly the racist trope of the Black character being the first to die. With elements of meta-narratives, social commentary, and comedy, The Blackening mirrors the style of a Jordan Peele film while delivering its own unique twist.
The Menu
The Menu offers an unsettling critique of wealth, power, and fine dining. The movie follows Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult as they embark on what seems to be an idyllic trip to a remote luxury restaurant. However, as in Get Out, they soon realize that things are not as they seem. The Menu explores the dark underbelly of privilege and the lengths people will go to maintain their status.
Ready Or Not
In Ready Or Not, Samara Weaving portrays a bride who discovers that her wealthy in-laws are part of a psychotic game of hide and seek. Much like Get Out, this film centers on an outsider who quickly realizes that the family she married into is dangerous. Ready Or Not combines elements of horror, comedy, and social commentary to create a thrilling and thought-provoking experience.
Us
Us is Jordan Peele’s second horror film, following the success of Get Out. The movie follows the Wilson family as they fight for survival against their doppelgängers clad in red jumpsuits. While the social commentary in Us is more ambiguous compared to Get Out, the film still sparks wild theories and offers audiences plenty of Easter eggs to discover. Lupita Nyong’o’s exceptional performance won her an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress.
Candyman (1992)
Candyman, a 1992 Black horror classic, served as a major influence for Get Out. The film centers around Helen, a white graduate student researching superstitions in a Chicago housing project. As she delves into the legend of Candyman, a bogeyman with a hook for a hand, she awakens a supernatural killer who terrorizes her and the project’s residents. Candyman confronts racism and serves as a catalyst for the events that transpire, much like Get Out.
Candyman (2021)
The 2021 sequel to Candyman, produced and co-written by Jordan Peele, continues the exploration of racial themes. In this film, an artist unknowingly unleashes Candyman while researching the urban legend. Set in a gentrified Chicago, Candyman tackles the violence inflicted upon Black bodies by white supremacy. With a stellar cast and a modern reimagining of the classic horror movie, Candyman is a must-watch for fans of Get Out.
His House
His House explores race and immigration through the lens of a haunted-house horror film. The story follows Bol and Rial, a young couple seeking asylum in an English town after fleeing war-torn South Sudan. However, their new home is plagued by lurking spirits. This social thriller cleverly uses the haunted-house trope to shed light on the hardships faced by immigrants and refugees in a country rooted in colonialism and oppression.
Atlantics
Atlantics combines supernatural elements with a romantic drama to create a unique horror experience. The film centers around Ada, a girl living in Senegal coping with the loss of her lover, Souleimane. When Souleimane returns as a ghost seeking revenge, Atlantics delves into themes of migration, inequality, and the ills of capitalism. This thought-provoking social thriller challenges traditional horror tropes while shedding light on pressing social issues.
Bad Hair
Bad Hair tackles beauty standards for Black women, much like Get Out explores racism. Set in 1989 Los Angeles, the film follows Anna, a young woman aspiring to be an on-air personality. When she gets a weave to conform to societal expectations, Anna discovers that her new hair has a mind of its own. Bad Hair delves into the painful experiences of Black women who face discrimination and conform to Eurocentric standards of beauty.
Ma
Ma is a disturbing psychological horror film that delves into the horrors of racial isolation. Octavia Spencer delivers a compelling performance as the titular character, a lonely middle-aged woman who befriends local teenagers in her small Ohio town. However, her friendship takes a dark turn, and her basement becomes a horrifying dungeon where her obsession with control unfolds. Ma explores the traumas faced by Black individuals in predominantly white spaces.
Parasite
Parasite, the South Korean Oscar-winning film, critiques greed and class differences, leading to violence and chaos. The movie depicts the interactions between the wealthy Park family and the struggling Kim family, their employees. While Get Out straddles the line between horror and thriller, Parasite leans more towards thriller with a dark comedic undercurrent. The film’s social commentary transcends language and location, resonating with audiences worldwide.
The Oath
The Oath may lean more towards dark comedy than thriller, but its premise aligns with Get Out. Tiffany Haddish and Ike Barinholtz star as a married couple whose Thanksgiving holiday takes a dark turn when US citizens are asked to sign an oath of loyalty to the president. This film explores the tensions that arise when politics and family gatherings collide, highlighting the experiences of being the only Black member of a predominantly white household.
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
Another film that influenced Get Out is Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner. Released in 1967, the film portrays the challenges faced by a white woman, Joanna Drayton, as she introduces her Black fiancé, Dr. John Prentice, to her wealthy white liberal parents. The movie confronts racism and culminates in a powerful exploration of interracial relationships. Sidney Poitier’s groundbreaking performance earned him the distinction of being the first Black man to win an Oscar for Best Actor.
