Many elements make an iconic director. To remain in the minds of audiences for decades to come, you need an impressive body of work, unique style choices, or both. Jordan Peele is among a rising crop of young filmmakers who have proven that having both can help you leave a lasting mark on the industry.
Peele, previously known for his comedic work in the series Key and Peele, has quickly made a name for himself in an already saturated field. Peele made his filmmaking debut in 2017 with Get Out, a thriller movie that tackles racial prejudice in America and stars Daniel Kaluuya and Alison Williams. It instantly received critical acclaim, garnering $255 million at the global box office and earning Peele an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, making him the first African-American to win in the category. His succeeding films, which established his eerie and meticulous directing style, were also successful in their own right. 
What makes him stand out? Below, we look at elements that can rank Jordan Peele among the greats – from filmmaking and storytelling style to his eclectic fashion choices.
Unique Directing Style and Story Choices
Aside from Get Out, Peele is known for his other thriller films like Us (2019) and Nope (2022). Audiences are familiar with Peele’s approach to political and social commentary in his filmography. For instance, in Nope, Peele delves into the concept of spectacle and exploitation, particularly when the characters are trying to capture a mysterious entity over their town to turn it into a for-profit spectacle – which some film reviews argue is a critique of capitalism. Peele also likes to incorporate ominous or mysterious creatures, atmospheric tension, and psychological explanations behind certain characters’ actions, allowing viewers to understand the psyche behind the actions of his film antagonists. Stories often revolve around protagonists dealing with an ominous mystery, injected with social and political commentary like racial issues. 
The director also tends to pay homage to timeless classic movies. In Us, for example, Peele reimagines and appropriates some elements of Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining (1980). He did this by featuring some visual aspects in Us that are similar to The Shining, such as doppelgängers, showing a scene of butchered twins, and ominous corridors. The difference is Peele, like in his other films, uses these elements to highlight timely social issues like racial prejudice. 
Distinct Fashion Choices
Becoming an icon in directing isn’t just about your work, however. Fashion style has been an essential part of many directors’ personas and branding. Just take a look at Wes Anderson’s commitment to corduroy suits, John Ford’s open-collared dress shirts, and David Cronenberg’s signature white sunglasses. These style choices helped these auteurs stand out and enabled audiences to identify them outside of their films. Similarly, Jordan Peele takes a unique approach to both his filmmaking and fashion, often sporting different eyeglasses alongside quirky suits. His signature square frames, similar to the Romy and Sequence eyeglasses, add a finishing touch to his usually casual yet sharp looks. The accessory also adds an edge to Peele’s round facial features. 
Peele’s style is also characterized by either toned-down shades or loud hues that make him stand out. For instance, during the Los Angeles premiere of Nope in 2022, Peele wore a custom purple suit with an embroidered cloud and kite, referencing the ominous clouds featured in the film. During a film premiere event in the same year, Peele wore a merlot-hued suit, a more laidback choice of color. Peele also pairs his statement suits with plain white shirts to balance his looks. 
Future Projects
While his body of work is great enough to revisit time and again, fans of Peele’s directing style already have something to look forward to. The Oscar-award-winning director announced on X (formerly Twitter) that his fourth film will be released on October 23, 2026, almost two years later than the original release date of December 25 this year. The delay was caused by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, leading to a temporary production pause. Aside from the new release date, there’s not much information about the upcoming movie, creating a sense of suspense among eager film enthusiasts – similar, in fact, to the mood that Peele usually plays with in his films. 
Peele’s distinct storytelling techniques have made him a prominent auteur in his own right. With a critically acclaimed filmography and unique fashion style, Jordan Peele has the potential to rank among the greatest directors of all time. In fact, he might already be well on his way there.
