To say that Jordan Peele revolutionized the Black horror genre is something of an understatement. “ Get Out” continues to be one of the most critically acclaimed suspense thriller movies of this century. Meanwhile, from stints directing the series reboot of “ The Twilight Zone” and HBO’s “ Lovecraft Country” to movies like “ Nope” and “ Us ,” Peele has mastered the art of centering the Black experience within the horror genre, while still creating content that is relatable to a wider audience. While most people initially recognized Peele from his hit comedy sketch show “ Key & Peele” that he helmed with co-host and friend Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele earned his acting and comedic chops much earlier. With all of his accolades and continued success, one might be wondering just how much this pivoting actor turned filmmaker is worth. Jordan Peele’s Humble NYC Beginnings Born in 1979, Jordan Peele is a native New Yorker who grew up on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. He was raised...

Jordan Peele continues to defy industry standards. The filmmaker’s latest project just closed its first weekend in the United States with an estimated $44 million in ticket sales, Time reports. What’s more, “Nope” — which is Peele’s most expensive film to date — has now become “the biggest of the pandemic for an original screenplay.” Peele seems to only be in competition with himself with “Nope” as his movie “Us,” which came out more than three years ago, had a $71 million debut. The latest film stars Keke Palmer and Daniel Kaluuya, who also played the lead in Peele’s critically acclaimed “Get Out.”

History was made this past weekend in the box office as Nia DaCosta’s “Candyman” became the first No. 1 film directed by a Black woman. According to IndieWire, the film grossed an estimated $22.3 million in its initial domestic weekend. The film’s earnings surpassed its projection of $15 million. Variety reported that the film’s release was delayed numerous times due to the coronavirus pandemic. While “Candyman” was initially set to hit movie theaters last year, the decision to delay its release ultimately worked in the film’s utmost favor. Both old and new fans filled movie theaters across the nation and brought in a diverse audience. “Universal believed it would attract Black viewers with the pedigree of Get Out and Us , and it did,” reported IndieWire. “However, the appeal was more diverse: Per the studio’s audience survey, 37 percent of the audience was Black, white was 30 percent, Latinos 22 percent, and Asians 5 percent. That spread was key to reaching the higher number.” With...