Jordan Peele's creative journey from writing Key & Peele to directing Get Out and producing Monkey Man

Jordan Peele
Jordan Peele's latest release is Monkey Man (Image via YouTube/Universal Pictures, 00:06)

The creative journey of Jordan Peele displays his adaptability and understanding of the entertainment industry.

As a writer and actor in the comedy sketch show Key & Peele, Peele proved that he could come up with unexpected plots and make them meaningful and relatable for the audience.

His first movie as a director, Get Out, premiered to great reviews and became a box-office smash, for which he was awarded an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. Peele's boundary-pushing method blends genres and infuses social commentary into the plot.

The fact that he stands for diversity and representation can be seen in his work, especially as a director and a curator. Monkey Man, directed by Dev Patel and produced by Peele, is a gritty action revenge story set in India.

Peele's influence on the horror genre and devotion to exposing societal themes places him among the most significant movie creators globally.


Jordan Peele-produced movies have been major box-office hits

The box office performance of Jordan Peele's movies is usually exceptional, with the works getting high critical and commercial returns. Peele's ability to mix innovative storytelling and societal commentaries has connected with audiences, making him a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood.

How did Jordan Peele start Monkeypaw Productions?

Peele's company is named Monkeypaw Productions (Image via YouTube/Key and Peele, 0:30)
Peele's company is named Monkeypaw Productions (Image via YouTube/Key and Peele, 0:30)

Inspired by The Monkey's Paw, a horror short story by W.W. Jacobs, Jordan Peele established his own company, Monkeypaw Productions. Monkeypaw's name is inspired by a tale that centers around wishes and their side effects.

He was specifically propelled by the story's moral about being careful about what one wishes for, linking that to his early career days over at MADtv. Peele wasn't happy with the work he was doing and used the story's moral to drive his production company toward challenging traditional storytelling.

The goal of Monkeypaw Productions and Peele is to let unique voices be heard and to come up with a different way of telling stories that is, according to him, beyond making money.


Looking at the Jordan Peele-produced movies' box-office collection and budget

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Jordan Peele-produced films have accomplished celebrated commercial success, despite differing in budgets. Here is, as per Slashfilm and Screen Rant, a summary of the box-office collections and budgets for some of Jordan Peele's produced movies:

Get Out (2017)

  • Box Office Collection: $255.7 million
  • Budget: $4.5 million

Us (2019)

  • Box Office Collection: $255.2 million
  • Budget: $20 million

Nope (2022)

  • Box Office Collection: $172 million
  • Budget: $68 million

Storks (2016)

  • Box Office Collection: $183.5 million
  • Budget: $70 million

Keanu (2016)

  • Box Office Collection: $20.7 million
  • Budget: $15 million

Wanderlust (2012)

  • Box Office Collection: $23.8 million
  • Budget: $35 million

The Bob's Burgers Movie (2022)

  • Box Office Collection: $34.1 million

Monkey Man's premiere box-office collection

Dev Patel in Monkey Man (Image via YouTube/Universal Pictures, 1:06)
Dev Patel in Monkey Man (Image via YouTube/Universal Pictures, 1:06)

The film Monkey Man opened to $1.4 million in ticket sales. It was originally intended for a Netflix release but eventually was bought by Universal and Jordan Peele's company, Monkeypaw Productions.

The film was released at 592 different cinemas across the UK and Ireland via Universal. The opening word-of-mouth reviews of the movie are good, with fans noting its resemblance to the original John Wick.


Jordan Peele has an eye for unconventional horror movies

Peele's individual and innovative style, mixing terror with social commentary and deep psychology, often elicits positive reviews.

How Jordan Peele changed the horror genre

Peele's films transform the image of horror (Image via YouTube/ Late Night with Seth Meyers, 1:52)
Peele's films transform the image of horror (Image via YouTube/ Late Night with Seth Meyers, 1:52)

Jordan Peele has, in his own way, revolutionized the horror genre by introducing his unique narrative style and underlying social messages. Using parody and comedy to highlight societal themes, Peele has used the horror medium to make movies that can be enjoyed by almost everyone.

His influence is undoubtedly the springboard for a new generation of BIPOC filmmakers as well as the revival of a unique type of storytelling within the horror niche. Peele's films not only belong to a genre that is traditionally overlooked, but they have also helped to transform the public's image of horror.

They have proven that the genre can be more than just entertainment; rather, it can be a way for filmmakers to make a statement about society.


Out There Screaming: An Anthology of New Black Horror book by Jordan Peele: Synopsis explored

This book contains a collection curated by Peele (Image via YouTube/Book Break by Pan Macmillan, 2:22)
This book contains a collection curated by Peele (Image via YouTube/Book Break by Pan Macmillan, 2:22)

Out There Screaming: An Anthology of New Black Horror is a compilation of horror stories by Black writers that explore the fictional and painfully real sides of injustice.

This anthology is curated by Jordan Peele, with each narrator telling their story in their own way, defying the norm of traditional horror storytelling. The stories in this book make readers question what it is to be afraid of something.

The horror anthology has contributions from some high-profile writers like N. K. Jemisin, Rebecca Roanhorse, Tananarive Due, and Nnedi Okorafor.


Why is Jordan Peele so good at horror?

A scene from Peele's Us (Image via YouTube/ Universal Pictures, 0:07)
A scene from Peele's Us (Image via YouTube/ Universal Pictures, 0:07)

Jordan Peele's uniqueness as a horror director is revealed through his capacity to creatively and independently construct stories that do not conform to the classical horror genre.

He works a lot with the themes of modern society. For example in Us he represents the failure of the American dream, and in Candyman the power of storytelling. Peele's movies provide psychological horror, great characters, and suspense.


What does Jordan Peele write about?

Jordan Peele, who made a name for himself in the comedy genre, has found success in writing as well. One of Peele's writing strategies is using subtle sounds and visuals to affect the audience's mood.

What inspired Jordan Peele to write Get Out?

Get Out was influenced by A Nightmare on Elm Street (Image via YouTube/ Universal Pictures, 0:16)
Get Out was influenced by A Nightmare on Elm Street (Image via YouTube/ Universal Pictures, 0:16)

The foundation for the work of Jordan Peele on Get Out was his childhood experience with horror movies, particularly A Nightmare on Elm Street. The poster and the character of Freddy Krueger left a really deep mark on him, making him interested in horror and motivated to write his own scary stories.

Peele decided that his new life purpose was not to make people laugh but to scare them just like one of his favorites, Rod Serling. On top of that, Peele's writing deals with the injustices of society, which is not often seen in the horror genre.

His works have been introduced as groundbreaking explorations on racial topics, white savior tropes, black fetishism, and ignorance of White Liberals.


How did Jordan Peele make an impact with his writing?

A lot of his films deal with racial identities (Image via YouTube/The Daily Show, 1:29)
A lot of his films deal with racial identities (Image via YouTube/The Daily Show, 1:29)

Jordan Peele's contribution to the genre of horror can be linked to three factors. First is his narrative style, where he merges horror with social commentary to produce a witty story that appeals to a wide audience. Peele's films are about race, privileges, and society's perception; they are not just regular scary movies.

Next, Peele's ability to build a mysterious and unorthodox story ensures his films do not fall under the typical horror genre. Thirdly, through both his directing and curating, Peele shows his devotion to diversity and representation.


What genre does Jordan Peele write?

The iconic scene from Us (Image via YouTube/Universal Pictures, 0:10)
The iconic scene from Us (Image via YouTube/Universal Pictures, 0:10)

Jordan Peele's writing is well-known for its ability to mix genres. Peele is no stranger to exploring various genres in his films, but more often than not, he will take a genre and then flip it upside down. For example, he saw Get Out as a romance film, and Nope as a western.

While Peele doesn't specify the genre that Us falls under, it is usually speculated to belong to horror, slasher, comedy, black comedy, thriller, philosophical drama, and maybe a little bit of sci-fi. Genre blending and having distinct narratives are the strongest characteristics of Peele's writing style.


What does Jordan Peele say about Us?

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According to Peele, Us is a horror movie about a family and the breakdown of the American dream.

He has also stated to the Golden Globes:

"The reason I created this movie stems from this notion that we are our worst enemies – as individuals but also as a society and as a group."

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Peele explained that he wanted to explore the idea of:

"The duality of human nature."

He also added:

"We are all capable of both good and evil."

Moreover, he pointed out that the movie is centered on themes of privilege and class, and how the American dream can be very deceptive. Peele has also touched on the indirect meanings of Us, such as the importance behind the number 11 and the symbolism of rabbits.


How did the comedy sketch, Key & Peele come to production?

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The comedy sketch show Key & Peele came to production through the joint effort of Kegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, who are both sons of Black fathers and white mothers.

Their mixed background was a cross-cultural gateway that they could use to research and develop a multitude of characters and themes in their sketches.

By getting into the skin of different characters, like nerds, bullies, icons, and buppies, they looked to confront race and cultural issues in a bold and fresh manner.

One of the most popular recurring skits had Peele portraying an unflustered Barack Obama.

The duo stands out from other comedians for having first attempted the feat of applauding and critiquing racially divided/unified cultures with satire. Their work won them the Peabody Award too.


Did Jordan Peele quit acting?

Nope came out in 2022 and continued Peele's fame (Image via YouTube/Universal Pictures, 0:25)
Nope came out in 2022 and continued Peele's fame (Image via YouTube/Universal Pictures, 0:25)

Peele disclosed that he left the acting business due to a proposal to play the role of Poop in The Emoji Movie. It is a widely criticized film, with very low ratings. Peele was offered the role, but he declined when he learned that Sir Patrick Stewart had already been cast to play the role.

This experience forced him to reassess his acting career, and he decided to concentrate more on directing and writing instead. Another reason that pushed Peele to leave acting is the success of his directing debut, Get Out, which was nominated in four categories at the Oscars.


Monkey Man, which stars Dev Patel, Vipin Sharma, and Sobhita Dhulipala, was released on April 5, 2024.

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