Skip to main content

12 films that influenced Us

12 films that influenced Us

With Jordan Peele’s latest horror available on Sky Cinema, we examine his inspiration

A terrifying psychological horror scattered with references to other frightening flicks? Yep, Us is the Peele deal…

Us, available from Friday 10 January in Sky Cinema on demand. Cert 15

Jordan Peele made history with his first foray into filmmaking as the first black person to win an Oscar for original screenplay for Get Out. Although Peele was already on our radar, mostly for sketch comedy series Key & Peele, featuring his partner-in-crime Keegan-Michael Key, this career move turned Peele into a household name. We were all thinking the same thing – wow, he can do funny and scary! And he’s struck again.

 

For Us, Peele constructed a world where our biggest enemies are ourselves. When Adelaide Wilson (Lupita Nyong'o, Black Panther) returns to her beachside childhood home with husband Gabe (Winston Duke, Black Panther) and their children Zora (Shahadi Wright Joseph, The Lion King) and Jason (Evan Alex, Kidding), she has an eerie sense of foreboding something bad is about to happen – and it does.


Four strangers descend on the house – and they all look exactly like the Wilsons. What ensues is a battle for survival in this creepy, creative film that maintains its sense of humour. Before filming, Peele gave Nyong’o and Duke a list of films to watch in order to create “a shared language”. In making the list public, Peele provided viewers with a way to join the conversation.

 

“Everything in this movie was deliberate. That is one thing I can guarantee you," Peele told Mashable. "Unless you didn't like something, and that was a complete accident.” The list contained ten films, but the influences for Us are numerous, especially if you know where to look. Check out 12 movies that made their mark on Peele and on Us.

 

 

Find out what’s on Sky Cinema

Get even more lights, cameras and action with our movie homepage, featuring all the daily premieres and more of the thousands of films available on demand on Sky Cinema.


Watch on the go

If you subscribe to Sky Cinema on Virgin TV, you can watch on the go with the Sky Cinema app on your mobile, laptop or tablet anywhere in the UK (or while temporarily in the EU) with a WiFi or broadband connection. Just download from the Apple app storeGoogle Play or the Amazon appstore and log into the app to start watching.

 

Upgrade to Sky Cinema now

Don’t have Sky Cinema? You can find out about our Sky Cinema package and upgrade here.

You might also like

TV channels: Channels, content and features available depend on your chosen package. Channel line-ups and content are subject to change at any time and to regional variations.

HD: HD TV set, V HD Box, TiVo box or Virgin TV V6 connected with HDMI cables required for HD channels. Number of inclusive HD channels depends on package.

Sky Cinema on demand: Sky Cinema subscription required.

Sky Cinema HD: Sky Cinema Premiere +1 not available in HD.

Sky Cinema apps: Only available via the Sky Cinema apps to customers who subscribe to these channels. Apps for selected iOS and Android™ mobiles and tablets. UK only (or while temporarily in EU). Maximum 6 registered devices. Maximum of one device can watch TV at any one time. Selected content may not be available to view. Separate terms and conditions apply to the Sky Cinema apps.

Premium channels (add-ons): 30 days’ notice required to remove premium channels/packs. Sky Cinema Premiere +1 not available in HD.