Jordan Peele’s ‘Get Out’ Success Shows Black-Driven Cinema is Profitable
Jordan Peele’s satirical-horror film “Get Out” became the second non-franchise movie this year racking in over $100 million in box office sales. The film was produced with $4.5 million, and has received raved reviews including a 99 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes. More than the box office success, and critical acclaim, Peele’s debut fills a void missing in cinema that has been lacking in Hollywood.
The idea that movies only sale with a White male actor leading an unoriginal script that has been tossed around for decades which features a mutant with adamantium claws protruding from his knuckles is ridiculous and insulting as a movie consumer. Alright, I’m kidding comic book fans! “Logan” was OK for a movie that has had the luxury of developing itself for the last 17 years and finally got it right — once.
“Get Out’s” success is found outside of the mainstream phenomenon; one that hasn’t often had a voice at the table, which is the Black experience. The reason “Get Out” is so good — besides that it is well written and directed — is that the story is so authentic that it would seem as if Peele was writing about his actual experiences. Although, the movie is extremely outlandish, as you would expect a satirical-horror film to be, the foundation of social critique is at its core.
The ability to relate to a piece of art is what consumers want, and what White consumers generally get first. We know Black communities dictate pop culture, with the variable new Dab-like trend shooting off every 3 months. More than that, numbers indicate black consumers already outpace their white counterparts by 138 percent in spending power.
Movies like “Get Out,” “Moonlight,” and “Fences” — all directed by Black men — are speaking about unique positions in the Black experience that only those close to the subject could tell. Each of these pieces of art were different in its’ own identity, but allows a generation of people of color to relate with and find pride in the works.
Cinema in 2016 saw a shift with how Black creatives are celebrated at award shows and in society. This type of recognition should be applauded, but should not stop there. Now is the time for production houses to put their money in the hands of these visionaries, and allow them to produce films for people of color at a much grander scale. We already see the prospect these stories have.
If you haven’t seen “Get Out” yet, please do, and support the #Culture. See how fans reacted below.
