Podcast Summary:

The Big Picture – The 25 Best Movies of the Century: No. 13 – ‘Get Out’
Host: The Ringer
Episode Date: September 1, 2025
Hosts: Sean Fennessy & Amanda Dobbins

Episode Overview

Sean Fennessy and Amanda Dobbins continue their countdown of the 25 best movies of the 21st century, ranking Jordan Peele's "Get Out" at No. 13. They delve into its significance as a horror film, its unexpectedly massive cultural impact, and the reasons why it's arguably the defining movie of its era—not just in terms of genre, but as a pop-cultural and sociological phenomenon. The episode features breakdowns of the film's context, themes, performances, and broader legacy, while also celebrating Peele’s ascendance to auteur status.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Genesis and Cultural Shockwave of "Get Out"

• Jordan Peele’s Background & Directorial Debut

  • Known primarily as a comedian/sketch performer with Key & Peele, Peele’s decision to make a horror film was unexpected.
  • Peele’s inspirations draw from Wes Craven and John Carpenter, aiming to channel his real-world experiences through horror tropes.
  • The film was an independent Blumhouse production with a ~$4 million budget.
  • "[Get Out] changed the face of horror. Honestly, the last eight or nine years is very much living in the shadow of what Get Out accomplished." — Sean (03:00)

• Cultural & Pop Cultural Impact

  • The film became a phenomenon, grossing over $200 million worldwide and winning the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.
  • Amanda notes this level of impact is rare in modern movies:
    • "We don't have movies with this kind of giant impact anymore, give or take your Barbenheimers." — Amanda (05:18)

• Influence on Other Filmmakers and the Industry

  • Paved the way for horror/adult, original films as reliable box office draws.
  • Methodically associated with filmmakers like Robert Eggers, Ari Aster, Coogler, Gerwig, Chazelle, and Jenkins—seen as a "class" of emerging auteurs.

2. Themes: Satire, Race, and the Post-Obama Era

• Satirical Direction in Two Directions

  • Peele skewers the notion of a “post-racial America” after Obama's presidency and sharply critiques liberals’ self-congratulatory attitudes toward race.
  • "The villains… being upper middle class liberals, not your redneck… was very cutting at the time and very clever and one of the funniest and best parts of the movie." — Sean (08:48)
  • The film’s release just after Trump’s inauguration deepens its resonance:
    • "It is the post-Obama era movie… debuted at Sundance three days after Trump's first inauguration. So like this stuff was happening all at the same time." — Amanda (07:47)

• The Sunken Place & Iconic Phrases

  • The term “The Sunken Place” became cultural shorthand for marginalization and disenfranchisement.
  • "There’s so many ideas and phrases in this movie that have stuck to the ribs of our diet." — Sean (07:40)
  • Discussion of instantly iconic lines: “I would have voted for Obama a third time if I could.” (07:47)

• Meta-Commentary on Audience & Pop Culture

  • The film’s popularity among both Black and White audiences created a real-world analog to its satire of cultural consumption:
    • "There is something really interesting about the way the movie's ideas can become realized in the real world." — Sean (14:01)

3. Craft & Genre Breakdown

• Defining “Horror” and “Social Thriller”

  • Peele’s term “social thriller” aligns with his influences (like The Stepford Wives), but the film is still deeply rooted in horror.
  • Homage to the “mad scientist” body-swapping trope (Cronenbergian, but more psychological than visceral).
    • "The thing that makes it pure horror to me is that there is a kind of mad scientist fantastical trope..." — Sean (12:18)
  • Incorporates social critique into classic horror structure—audience feels complicit, not just witness.
    • "It brings the audience in and the signals it gives... It's an amazing sociological text about the liberal class… and also about how we watch these movies." — Amanda (12:55)

• Tone & Mechanics

  • Striking balance: fun, funny horror but the “mechanics are good, but what makes it special is… the sharpest critique of a post-racial America.” — Sean (06:01)
  • Minimal violence, leaning on suspense, psychological unease, and metaphorical horror.

4. Performances and Technical Elements

• Daniel Kaluuya’s Breakthrough

  • Understated, quietly powerful performance that hinges on stillness and emotional nuance.
    • "Kaluuya has this great stillness as an actor...super-expressive eyes." — Sean (26:34)
    • “I had the moment like, oh, there's the shot… and that is like a single shot that we think of when we think of 'Get Out.'” — Amanda (27:56)

• Supporting Cast & Key Scenes

  • Allison Williams subverts her innocent image; her villainous turn is made iconic (the “can’t give you the keys” moment and the “milk scene”).
  • "She is the trap, she is complete or the bait, I suppose, in the trap. And she is weaponizing what we knew about Marnie from Girls so well in this movie.” – Sean (29:25)
  • Bradley Whitford and Catherine Keener bring distinct energy to their roles, grounding the film’s satire.
  • Mention of strong minor performances, especially Betty Gabriel’s (“no, no, no, no, no” scene).

• Cinematography, Score, and Production Design

  • Noteworthy use of budget:
    • "Sunken Place sequence is a pretty big visual achievement for a $4 million movie." — Sean (17:30)
  • Michael Abel’s score and the film’s sound design are praised for tension and atmosphere.

5. Key Scenes & Memorable Quotes

• Party Sequence / The “Upstairs” Moment (23:00–23:46)

  • "Kris runs upstairs. All of the white patrons just stop talking. And they all look up at the same time...That's the moment where you're like, they're all watching him. He is prey in this deadly game." — Sean

• The Alternate Endings Debate (23:55–26:08)

  • Original ending had Chris arrested rather than saved—focus groups wanted Chris to survive and "walk out exalted."
  • "I remember vividly being in the movie theater seeing for the first time Lil Rel popping out of the car and the audience went apeshit." — Sean (24:54)
  • Amanda: "Is the [alternate] ending truer?" Sean: "Is it the success that it is? Is it as widely seen and discussed as it is? Almost certainly not." (25:20–25:43)

• Iconography

  • "The Sunken Place is a phrase that is in our culture that you will hear about all the time." — Sean (33:09)
  • "All of the quotes from the white attendees of the party are chillingly funny and clearly reflect experiences that Jordan Peele has had in his years moving through the world." — Sean (33:19)
  • "There's something kind of horrific about milk...Milk is kind of gross." — Jordan Peele, quoted by Sean (31:39)

6. Legacy, Oscars, and Peele’s Oeuvre

• Awards & Box Office
  • $255 million box office; high for an original genre debut.
  • Four Oscar nominations, winning Best Original Screenplay.
• 2017 Best Picture Race Recap (34:08–36:19)
  • Brief, nostalgic rundown of stacked nominees.
• Peele’s Filmography
  • Discussion on why Get Out is THE Peele film on the list (over Us and Nope).
  • "Nope’s" ambition and complexity championed by Sean, but consensus is that "Get Out" is the cultural touchstone.
    • "The metaphors, the satire, the phraseology of get out is very approachable and very easy to understand." — Sean (36:52)

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• "Get out is a tremendously important movie to this show...I don't think I quite knew at the time what a culture changing event the movie was." – Sean (02:41)
• "It's really, really hard to overstate how big a deal this was and how it did come out of not quite nowhere, but pretty much." – Amanda (05:18)
• "This is really the sharpest critique of a post-racial America that we’ve had at the movies." – Sean (06:01)
• "It is the post-Obama era movie… debuted at Sundance three days after Trump’s first inauguration." – Amanda (07:47)
• "Satire really moves in two directions in that way too...the villains of this movie being upper middle class liberals...was very cutting at the time and very clever." – Sean (08:48)
• "She's the trap. She is bait in the trap. And she is weaponizing what we knew about Marnie from Girls so well." – Sean, on Allison Williams (29:25)
• "Kaluuya has this great stillness as an actor...super expressive eyes." – Sean (26:34)
• "Milk is kind of gross." – Jordan Peele, quoted by Sean (31:39)

Important Timestamps

• 02:08 – Introduction of Get Out as No. 13 on the list
• 03:00–05:18 – Peele's transition from comedy, Get Out’s surprise impact
• 06:01–08:48 – Analysis of Get Out’s place in horror/social commentary, its resonant themes
• 12:18–14:01 – Genre, horror mechanisms, audience implication (Sunken Place)
• 23:00–23:46 – Party sequence and film’s best suspense moment
• 23:55–26:08 – Debate over the film’s alternate ending(s)
• 26:31–28:34 – Daniel Kaluuya’s performance and iconic Sunken Place shot
• 29:16–31:39 – Allison Williams’ role and the infamous “milk” scene
• 33:09–34:08 – Box office, legacy, and Oscars discussion
• 34:08–36:19 – 2017 Best Picture nominees rundown

Final Thoughts & Legacy

• Resonance & Enduring Relevance

  • The "Sunken Place," the biting Obama-era satire, and the subversion of horror conventions ensure Get Out’s place as both a great horror film and a defining American film of the century.
  • Amanda: "It is both a great horror movie and then, like, one of the great American films of the first 21st Century so far." (39:55)

• Peele’s Influence

  • Ongoing curiosity and excitement for Peele’s next steps reflect his stature among contemporary filmmakers.

Recommended If You Like

• Other socially conscious horror like Sinners, The Stepford Wives, or Cronenberg films (The Brood), as well as classics like The Shining and suspenseful cinema like Hitchcock’s Shadow of a Doubt.
• For fans of the recent “elevated horror” wave and/or movies grappling with American society’s racial history and tensions.

Episode's Tone

Engaging, conversational, and thoughtful—with both hosts blending pop culture knowledge, personal anecdotes, critical insight, and playful banter. Deep respect for the film’s artistry and impact is ever-present, with moments of nostalgia and good-natured debate.

(Summary prepared for those who want a comprehensive look at the substance, structure, and insights of The Big Picture’s “Get Out” episode.)