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Get Out: The Complete Annotated Screenplay
Jordan Peele’s celebrated screenplay combines horror and dark humor to reveal the terrifying realities of being Black in America
"Blending race-savvy satire with horror to especially potent effect, this bombshell social critique from first-time director Jordan Peele proves positively fearless."
–Peter Debruge, Variety
"An exhilaratingly smart and scary freak out about a black man in a white nightmare."
–Manohla Dargis, New York Times
"A major achievement, a work that deserves, in its own way, to be viewed alongside Barry Jenkins' Moonlight as a giant leap forward for the possibilities of black cinema; Get Out feels like it would have been impossible five minutes ago."
–Brandon Harris, New Yorker A New York Times 2019 holiday gift guide pick
Jordan Peele’s powerful thriller Get Out debuted in 2017 to enormous public and critical acclaim, a Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? for the age of Obama and Trump that scared audiences and skewered white liberal pieties at the same time. Rather than rely on popular archetypes, Peele weaves together the material realities and daily manifestations of horror with sociopolitical fears and elements of true suspense, and combines them with pitch-perfect satire and a timely cultural critique. This companion paperback to the film presents Peele’s Oscar-winning screenplay alongside supplementary material.
Featuring an essay by author and scholar Tananarive Due and in-depth annotations by the director, this publication is richly illustrated with more than 150 stills from the motion picture and presents alternate endings, deleted scenes and an inside look at the concepts and behind-the-scenes production of the film. Continuing in the legacy of 1960s paperbacks that documented the era’s most significant avant-garde films―such as Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon , Jean-Luc Godard’s Masculin/Feminin and Michelangelo Antonioni’s L’Avventura ― Get Out is an indispensable guide to this pioneering and groundbreaking cinematic work.
Jordan Peele (born 1979) is an American writer, director and producer. Peele’s directorial debut, Get Out (2017), earned him an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay as well as nominations for Best Picture and Best Director. In 2012, Peele founded Monkeypaw Productions, which amplifies traditionally underrepresented voices and unpacks contemporary social issues, while cultivating artistic, thought-provoking projects across film, television and digital platforms, including Peele’s follow-up to Get Out , the critically acclaimed horror epic, Us (2019).
"Blending race-savvy satire with horror to especially potent effect, this bombshell social critique from first-time director Jordan Peele proves positively fearless."
–Peter Debruge, Variety
"An exhilaratingly smart and scary freak out about a black man in a white nightmare."
–Manohla Dargis, New York Times
"A major achievement, a work that deserves, in its own way, to be viewed alongside Barry Jenkins' Moonlight as a giant leap forward for the possibilities of black cinema; Get Out feels like it would have been impossible five minutes ago."
–Brandon Harris, New Yorker A New York Times 2019 holiday gift guide pick
Jordan Peele’s powerful thriller Get Out debuted in 2017 to enormous public and critical acclaim, a Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? for the age of Obama and Trump that scared audiences and skewered white liberal pieties at the same time. Rather than rely on popular archetypes, Peele weaves together the material realities and daily manifestations of horror with sociopolitical fears and elements of true suspense, and combines them with pitch-perfect satire and a timely cultural critique. This companion paperback to the film presents Peele’s Oscar-winning screenplay alongside supplementary material.
Featuring an essay by author and scholar Tananarive Due and in-depth annotations by the director, this publication is richly illustrated with more than 150 stills from the motion picture and presents alternate endings, deleted scenes and an inside look at the concepts and behind-the-scenes production of the film. Continuing in the legacy of 1960s paperbacks that documented the era’s most significant avant-garde films―such as Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon , Jean-Luc Godard’s Masculin/Feminin and Michelangelo Antonioni’s L’Avventura ― Get Out is an indispensable guide to this pioneering and groundbreaking cinematic work.
Jordan Peele (born 1979) is an American writer, director and producer. Peele’s directorial debut, Get Out (2017), earned him an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay as well as nominations for Best Picture and Best Director. In 2012, Peele founded Monkeypaw Productions, which amplifies traditionally underrepresented voices and unpacks contemporary social issues, while cultivating artistic, thought-provoking projects across film, television and digital platforms, including Peele’s follow-up to Get Out , the critically acclaimed horror epic, Us (2019).
206 pages, Paperback
First published November 26, 2019
26 people are currently reading
1216 people want to read
About the author
Jordan Peele
7 books499 followersJordan Haworth Peele is an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker. He is best known for his film and television work in the comedy and horror genres. Peele started his career in sketch comedy before transitioning his career as a writer and director of psychological horror and satirical films.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
February 11, 2023
Masterfully written with a stunning introduction dissecting the history of Black horror movies, this annotated screenplay solidifies Jordan as a masterclass artist whose attention to detail, use of symbolism, and simplistic yet intricate dialogue is one-of-a-kind. To step into the mind of his artistic process and reasonings behind his stylistic choices only strengthens my awe of his work.
Now, I need him to share annotated screenplays for Us and Nope.
Now, I need him to share annotated screenplays for Us and Nope.
May 3, 2021
It is absolutely SICKENING how good this movie is and so when I saw there was an annotated screenplay I jumped at that chance to get my hands on it. Everything about this movie is perfection and it is by far one of the best horror movies I’ve ever watched. I was instantly captivated and when I realized where the story was going I was SHOOK. And then the movie took it even further than I thought it would and I couldn’t believe what I was watching. To get to read the screenplay with all the deleted scenes and annotated by Peele himself on how he came up with certain ideas and brought them to life was so freaking excellent. I have even more love for the film now and a huge amount of respect for Peele. The essay about Black horror by Tananarive Due was an excellent added bonus as well and just the cherry on the sundae!
April 4, 2020
"This is some shit right here..."
I loved reading the annotated screenplay of Get Out! This is one of my favorite horror movies, and it was really cool to read about Jordan Peele's thought process. There were notes on things that I hadn't fully noticed before, and also some deleted dialogue, along with the alternate ending. Tananarive Due wrote the intro for this, and it was really good. If you're a Get Out and/or Jordan Peele fan, I highly recommend picking this up. I really enjoyed reading it, and I would love to read one for US, too, if it ever exists.
I loved reading the annotated screenplay of Get Out! This is one of my favorite horror movies, and it was really cool to read about Jordan Peele's thought process. There were notes on things that I hadn't fully noticed before, and also some deleted dialogue, along with the alternate ending. Tananarive Due wrote the intro for this, and it was really good. If you're a Get Out and/or Jordan Peele fan, I highly recommend picking this up. I really enjoyed reading it, and I would love to read one for US, too, if it ever exists.
June 16, 2020
Wow! Yes the script is fantastic, but have you ever read this script with annotations from Jordan Peele about his story choices and influences, as well as deleted scenes?
July 13, 2025
Read this! The introductory essay by Tananarive Due alone is worth the price of the book. Then, you get the added and very substantial bonus of annotations by Jordan Peele.
DEFINITELY RECOMMEND
DEFINITELY RECOMMEND
October 27, 2021
Finally had the chance to sit down with the movie with the screenplay. Very cool, LOVED the notes at the end.
December 27, 2023
jordan peele you are insane and i love you
October 14, 2025
Get Out, written and directed by Jordan Peele
Get Out is acclaimed as one of the best films of 2017, nominated for Golden Globes and four Oscars…
In addition, some of the most important ones at that:
Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role, Best Achievement in Directing and
Best Original Screenplay.
In my opinion, there are small chances for the film to win in any of the categories, albeit Moonlight was an outsider last year.
For this viewer it was lucky that the information that this is a horror film was missing initially, for I would have a different, negative mindset, for I tend not to watch this genre of motion pictures…
- What am I saying, I never watch horror knowingly…
- Well, if it is appreciated as one of the best movies of the year, it must be noticed and watched, at least for some minutes
Get Out starts out reasonably and it continues like that, on the horrifying front anyway, where there is not much to terrify audiences.
We have a deer that dies, when the car of the protagonists hit it on the road and the poor animal makes a very upsetting, painful sound.
Moreover, this happens in the first few minutes, while white Rose Armitage aka Allison Williams drives Chris Washington aka the Oscar nominated Daniel Kaluuya to her parents’ home in the country.
Chris is African American and much of the story revolves around that, from the moment when he asks his girlfriend if her parents are aware that he is black.
After they hit the deer, they call the police and the white man of the law asks for the ID of the man in the car…
“Why are you asking for his ID? He wasn’t driving?” Is a reasonable attitude, although the policeman explains that this is standard procedure after an accident happens…only the fact that he is asking an African American raises a question, or more
Once they arrive at the estate, where there is a large, luxurious mansion and a sizeable property, a series of strange incidents start to happen, some of which made me smile, again, not knowing this is actually a horror film.
The parents are apparently friendly and accommodating, albeit in an outré manner and Missy Armitage, the mother, is soon somewhat harsh with the African American servant who spills some tea.
Missy is a psychiatrist and the father, Dean, is a surgeon who quickly asks if Chris is smoking and specifies that the analyst of the family had cured him, through hypnosis, making him sick at the thought of cigarettes.
During the night, the guest walks out to smoke a cigarette, observing the weird behavior of the maid and being almost run over by the gardener, who is also African American, at least in appearance, while he is jogging…in the middle of the night.
On the next day, a large group of guests arrives for the annual party and they all act like if this is a Vampire Ball, one of them measuring the muscles on Chris ‘arms, another saying that Black is in fashion.
The only other African American at this shindig acts in a way that suggests he is either hypnotized or…someone else is in control of his mind.
Chris is intrigued and more and more suspicious of all this “paranormal” activity until a nadir is reached.
The “brother” who seems to be “owned” by a rather corpulent, twice as old woman has a strange breakdown:
When Chris uses the flash of his phone, the only other African American guest attacks him viciously.
This is explained as an effect of the epilepsy that is plaguing the young man, but The hero knows about this disease and is convinced the clarification is actually a lie and in line with all the “shit” that has been going on at this weird place.
When he understands that something awful is taking place, after finding on the internet about the identity of the “epileptic” man, who has been missing for some years, after a career as a jazz musician in New York and is now transformed into a completely different, outlandish “sex slave”, Chris decides to leave right away.
Rose says she loves him and shows compassion, while deciding to find an excuse and leave the parents’ house earlier.
This is where it becomes terrifying and without going into details, I will just say that Things Fall Apart.
Get Out is a good motion picture, notwithstanding the fact that it is not really my cup of tea and some propositions are preposterous…
Posted 28th January 2018 by realini
0 Add a comment
Get Out is acclaimed as one of the best films of 2017, nominated for Golden Globes and four Oscars…
In addition, some of the most important ones at that:
Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role, Best Achievement in Directing and
Best Original Screenplay.
In my opinion, there are small chances for the film to win in any of the categories, albeit Moonlight was an outsider last year.
For this viewer it was lucky that the information that this is a horror film was missing initially, for I would have a different, negative mindset, for I tend not to watch this genre of motion pictures…
- What am I saying, I never watch horror knowingly…
- Well, if it is appreciated as one of the best movies of the year, it must be noticed and watched, at least for some minutes
Get Out starts out reasonably and it continues like that, on the horrifying front anyway, where there is not much to terrify audiences.
We have a deer that dies, when the car of the protagonists hit it on the road and the poor animal makes a very upsetting, painful sound.
Moreover, this happens in the first few minutes, while white Rose Armitage aka Allison Williams drives Chris Washington aka the Oscar nominated Daniel Kaluuya to her parents’ home in the country.
Chris is African American and much of the story revolves around that, from the moment when he asks his girlfriend if her parents are aware that he is black.
After they hit the deer, they call the police and the white man of the law asks for the ID of the man in the car…
“Why are you asking for his ID? He wasn’t driving?” Is a reasonable attitude, although the policeman explains that this is standard procedure after an accident happens…only the fact that he is asking an African American raises a question, or more
Once they arrive at the estate, where there is a large, luxurious mansion and a sizeable property, a series of strange incidents start to happen, some of which made me smile, again, not knowing this is actually a horror film.
The parents are apparently friendly and accommodating, albeit in an outré manner and Missy Armitage, the mother, is soon somewhat harsh with the African American servant who spills some tea.
Missy is a psychiatrist and the father, Dean, is a surgeon who quickly asks if Chris is smoking and specifies that the analyst of the family had cured him, through hypnosis, making him sick at the thought of cigarettes.
During the night, the guest walks out to smoke a cigarette, observing the weird behavior of the maid and being almost run over by the gardener, who is also African American, at least in appearance, while he is jogging…in the middle of the night.
On the next day, a large group of guests arrives for the annual party and they all act like if this is a Vampire Ball, one of them measuring the muscles on Chris ‘arms, another saying that Black is in fashion.
The only other African American at this shindig acts in a way that suggests he is either hypnotized or…someone else is in control of his mind.
Chris is intrigued and more and more suspicious of all this “paranormal” activity until a nadir is reached.
The “brother” who seems to be “owned” by a rather corpulent, twice as old woman has a strange breakdown:
When Chris uses the flash of his phone, the only other African American guest attacks him viciously.
This is explained as an effect of the epilepsy that is plaguing the young man, but The hero knows about this disease and is convinced the clarification is actually a lie and in line with all the “shit” that has been going on at this weird place.
When he understands that something awful is taking place, after finding on the internet about the identity of the “epileptic” man, who has been missing for some years, after a career as a jazz musician in New York and is now transformed into a completely different, outlandish “sex slave”, Chris decides to leave right away.
Rose says she loves him and shows compassion, while deciding to find an excuse and leave the parents’ house earlier.
This is where it becomes terrifying and without going into details, I will just say that Things Fall Apart.
Get Out is a good motion picture, notwithstanding the fact that it is not really my cup of tea and some propositions are preposterous…
Posted 28th January 2018 by realini
0 Add a comment
December 25, 2020
Having watched the movie and loved that it was unique in the horror genre, I had to get my hands on the screenplay that also contained deleted scenes and annotations regarding scenes from Jordan Peele. A must read for fans of the movie!
August 22, 2022
I don't really read a lot of screenplays but when I saw this one at the bookstore, I couldn't resist. Read it in one sitting and once again, it shows the genuis of Peele.
I am still mad that we lost the line " A mind is a terrible thing to waste" 🥺
I am still mad that we lost the line " A mind is a terrible thing to waste" 🥺
July 13, 2025
This illustrated screenplay, including an alternate ending, deleted scenes and annotations by Jordan Peele is absolutely brilliant. I got it originally just as a research tool, but it’s proven to be so much more than that - there are a few others of these available and I’m going to pick them up too.
A quick read but one that will linger. Learnt a lot and will at some point attempt my own screenplay - so it paid off and if you’ve thought about writing a screenplay before, get this book, learn from a modern master, it’s great!
A quick read but one that will linger. Learnt a lot and will at some point attempt my own screenplay - so it paid off and if you’ve thought about writing a screenplay before, get this book, learn from a modern master, it’s great!
February 18, 2024
I read this as I watched the movie and it was amazing to see what was edited or improvised. Especially seeing what made such a huge impact and Peele's thoughts while making this movie. I recommend if you're going to pick this up, you should definitely read it as a read along for the biggest impact.
(ALSO I'M SO HAPPY THEY GOT RID OF THE ALTERNATE SCENE.)
(ALSO I'M SO HAPPY THEY GOT RID OF THE ALTERNATE SCENE.)
December 18, 2022
Wanted to knock out something quick and boy was this perfect. I love the movie and it was so insightful to read the prologue from Tananarive Due and the screenplay and annotations from Peele. Also reading the deleted scenes and alternate ending was super cool because that's not something the average viewer will ever get to look into.
Peele is a master at what he does. The fact that this is so loaded and precise and it's his first feature effort is nothing short of a miracle. A good miracle.
Peele is a master at what he does. The fact that this is so loaded and precise and it's his first feature effort is nothing short of a miracle. A good miracle.
January 12, 2025
Anyone who loves this film should read this book given the additional insight Jordan Peele provides into the choices he made in the film ranging from annotations, deleted scenes, and the original ending.
September 20, 2024
LOVED all the annotations. Such an interesting movie.
July 13, 2025
One of my favorite horror films just got even better.
Reading Jordan Peele’s annotations is like getting a masterclass in storytelling, symbolism, and social commentary
If Get Out blew your mind on screen, this annotated screenplay will make you appreciate just how meticulously that impact was crafted.
Reading Jordan Peele’s annotations is like getting a masterclass in storytelling, symbolism, and social commentary
If Get Out blew your mind on screen, this annotated screenplay will make you appreciate just how meticulously that impact was crafted.
February 19, 2021
Like the film itself, the annotated screenplay for Get Out is the easiest five stars I can give a piece of media.
Jordan Peele knows horror. He understands it deeply. Its roots, its future. (The future that, arguably, Peele is leading.) There’s no doubt that Peele is the best horror writer and director in present times - of all time, perhaps?
Having a physical copy of this screenplay would be enough. But to have the essays at the beginning, the annotations about what Peele’s thought process was, the deleted scenes, the alternate ending. This book is a ticket into the mind of a phenomenal writer; it’s practically priceless with the amount of information we get about writing processes, about Black lives, about horror in general.
For writers and filmmakers of any genre, this is a must. Just taking a look into Peele’s genius is such an honour.
Jordan Peele knows horror. He understands it deeply. Its roots, its future. (The future that, arguably, Peele is leading.) There’s no doubt that Peele is the best horror writer and director in present times - of all time, perhaps?
Having a physical copy of this screenplay would be enough. But to have the essays at the beginning, the annotations about what Peele’s thought process was, the deleted scenes, the alternate ending. This book is a ticket into the mind of a phenomenal writer; it’s practically priceless with the amount of information we get about writing processes, about Black lives, about horror in general.
For writers and filmmakers of any genre, this is a must. Just taking a look into Peele’s genius is such an honour.
September 21, 2020
If you are a big fan of this film, there is really no reason to not read it. The annotations by Peele are so insightful and crisply illuminates the film, while the analysis essay by horror writer Tananarive Due, which opens the book, is enthusiastic and probing.
The pocket-book style packaging itself is first-class. I adore this film, and since it is a film I enjoy teaching in my Monsters class (and am currently teaching), I find this book a nearly essential read.
The pocket-book style packaging itself is first-class. I adore this film, and since it is a film I enjoy teaching in my Monsters class (and am currently teaching), I find this book a nearly essential read.
February 15, 2020
Peele's insight into his own decision-making was soooo fascinating.
February 27, 2020
OH MY GOD YES
January 1, 2021
Essential for all writers, in tandem with watching the film with director’s commentary.
January 27, 2021
Damn, this was a riveting read. The buildup is perfectly executed and the finale is genuine nail biting material.
October 11, 2023
it is perhaps unsurprising that the screenplay of my favorite movie is also a favorite read . . . but this experience might be even better than the film.
The essay by Tananarive Due perfectly sets the tone for the film and why conversations about this film need to be happening. Get Out was an incredibly important addition to the horror genre, but the publication of this screenplay and its annotation also brings the conversation about representation to the book world—where the thriller and horror genres are disproportionately saturated by white authors and narratives.
Jordan Peele's annotations and explanations for certain decisions are also fascinating for any writers or storytellers. His insight into why the movie *works* is so valuable and, as someone who adores this movie, it was interesting to spot differences between the script and the actual movie, as well as hear thoughts like "I wasn't expecting this to get as much of a laugh as it does in theaters."
I loved the inclusion of the deleted scenes and alternative ending. Truly my only complaint is that I always want more of Jordan Peele's thoughts. I will definitely continue collecting these editions for his other/future films!
The essay by Tananarive Due perfectly sets the tone for the film and why conversations about this film need to be happening. Get Out was an incredibly important addition to the horror genre, but the publication of this screenplay and its annotation also brings the conversation about representation to the book world—where the thriller and horror genres are disproportionately saturated by white authors and narratives.
Jordan Peele's annotations and explanations for certain decisions are also fascinating for any writers or storytellers. His insight into why the movie *works* is so valuable and, as someone who adores this movie, it was interesting to spot differences between the script and the actual movie, as well as hear thoughts like "I wasn't expecting this to get as much of a laugh as it does in theaters."
I loved the inclusion of the deleted scenes and alternative ending. Truly my only complaint is that I always want more of Jordan Peele's thoughts. I will definitely continue collecting these editions for his other/future films!
Read
September 5, 2024This little edition was unexpectedly one of the most forthright and revealing books on creative process I’ve ever read.
Not only is this one of the best films of the new century, I believe its filmmaker and writer is one of our finest, most creative and conscientious storytellers in any medium, and this book proves it. Reading the script is an interesting experience, but the real star of the show here are Peele’s 90 or so illuminating annotations. He offers insight on his careful considerations of the most seemingly small decisions, talks at length about what the audience needs in order to buy into this world and feel compelled on both grounded and heightened genre levels, how happy accidents in the writing process became profoundly meaningful in the finished product, and shows an incredible awareness of set up and payoff, which is what made him such an effective comedian and also what makes him such an incredible filmmaker.
I need one of these for Nope.
Not only is this one of the best films of the new century, I believe its filmmaker and writer is one of our finest, most creative and conscientious storytellers in any medium, and this book proves it. Reading the script is an interesting experience, but the real star of the show here are Peele’s 90 or so illuminating annotations. He offers insight on his careful considerations of the most seemingly small decisions, talks at length about what the audience needs in order to buy into this world and feel compelled on both grounded and heightened genre levels, how happy accidents in the writing process became profoundly meaningful in the finished product, and shows an incredible awareness of set up and payoff, which is what made him such an effective comedian and also what makes him such an incredible filmmaker.
I need one of these for Nope.
June 15, 2024
First read of vacation. Jordan Peele’s screenplay is so thoughtfully constructed (not that I’ve read many screenplays BUT it’s well done imho). His commentary notes are fascinating. Loved reading Peele’s insights and absorbing all the meticulous details he placed in Get Out, including other films/stories he referenced—The Shining, Misery, Silence of the Lambs, Halloween, etc.
July 6, 2025
De unos años para acá he hecho las paces con la parte del guion. Me mama esta película, pero no sé qué tanto podamos atribuirle al papel.
Definitivamente encuentro la parte bella de la guía para el momento de ponerse a filmar, pero encuentro más divertidas y enriquecedoras las notas sobre lo que está escrito. Quizá dar un paso pa’ atrás y leer el guion hace que identifiques por qués, pero los para qués están en las notas.
Vivan los para qués.
Definitivamente encuentro la parte bella de la guía para el momento de ponerse a filmar, pero encuentro más divertidas y enriquecedoras las notas sobre lo que está escrito. Quizá dar un paso pa’ atrás y leer el guion hace que identifiques por qués, pero los para qués están en las notas.
Vivan los para qués.
January 1, 2024
Fantastic, of course, I just sat down and read the whole thing in 2 hours.
The added annotations give some really interesting insight, and the essay at the front was really thought provoking. Love love love the script
The added annotations give some really interesting insight, and the essay at the front was really thought provoking. Love love love the script
December 28, 2022
was fucking awesome and he is a genius
March 1, 2024
Almost pooped my pants just reading it
September 6, 2024
jordan peele is truly one of the most thought provoking screenwriters and directors of our time. as a film enthusiast, i loved learning about the process behind each scene and decision
Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews