Monkeypaw Productions

Overview

Monkeypaw Productions is the Los Angeles-based production company founded by Jordan Peele in 2012. The company produces horror, thriller, and genre projects that combine social commentary with commercial filmmaking. Monkeypaw maintains a first-look deal with Universal Pictures that runs through 2030, covering both film and television output. The TV deal moved from Amazon Studios to Universal Studio Group in 2021, consolidating all Monkeypaw output under the NBCUniversal umbrella.

Peele's three directed films have collectively grossed $683 million worldwide on combined production budgets of approximately $100 million:

• Get Out (2017): $255M worldwide on a $4.5M budget. Won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
• Us (2019): $256M worldwide.
• Nope (2022): $172M worldwide.

These films established Monkeypaw as a brand that can open original horror properties at franchise-level box office numbers without relying on existing IP.

History

Jordan Peele founded Monkeypaw Productions in 2012 while still known as one half of the comedy duo Key and Peele. The company's pivot from comedy to horror came with Get Out (2017), which Peele wrote and directed. The film's success led to a two-year first-look deal with Universal, which was expanded to a five-year exclusivity deal in October 2019 and has since been extended through 2030.

Subsequent productions include Us (2019), Candyman (2021, directed by Nia DaCosta), Nope (2022), and the rebooted The Twilight Zone television series (2019-2020) for CBS All Access. Monkeypaw also produced Wendell and Wild (2022), a stop-motion animated film directed by Henry Selick for Netflix, and Hunters (2020-2023) for Amazon Prime Video, and Lovecraft Country (2020) for HBO.

In 2024, Peele came on board as a producer for Dev Patel's directorial debut Monkey Man, persuading Universal to acquire the project from Netflix. The most recent Monkeypaw theatrical release was Him (September 19, 2025), directed by Justin Tipping and starring Marlon Wayans and Tyriq Withers. The film had a $27 million production budget and grossed $28 million worldwide.

Current Projects

Peele's Fourth Directorial Film

As of June 2026, Peele has completed the script for his fourth feature film as director, a follow-up to Nope (2022). The untitled project was originally scheduled for December 25, 2024, then moved to October 23, 2026, but has been removed from Universal's release calendar entirely. Universal is on board with the project, but no new release date or casting has been announced. Cameras have not yet rolled.

OD (Video Game)

Peele is collaborating with Hideo Kojima (creator of Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding) on OD, a horror video game for Xbox Game Studios. Peele is credited as a co-writer. The project was announced at The Game Awards 2023 and resumed production in July 2025 following the SAG-AFTRA video game strike. The game stars Sophia Lillis, Udo Kier, and Hunter Schafer. No release date has been confirmed.

Other Active Projects

Monkeypaw continues to develop and produce genre projects through its Universal deal. The company acquires material through agent submissions and internal development, with producers Ian Cooper, Win Rosenfeld, Jamal Watson, and Kate Oh overseeing the slate alongside Peele.

What Filmmakers Should Know

Acquisition and Development Model

Monkeypaw develops projects internally and acquires material through agent submissions. The company bought the spec script for Him (originally titled Goat) in June 2022 through a deal with Universal, before the script was even on the Black List. This illustrates that Monkeypaw acquires promising genre scripts early in their development cycle.

The company prioritizes genre projects with strong social themes, distinctive visual identities, and commercial potential. Peele's involvement as a producer attracts talent and financing that other genre-focused production companies cannot access. Daniel Kaluuya, Lupita Nyong'o, Keke Palmer, Steven Yeun, and Marlon Wayans have all worked on Monkeypaw productions.

The Universal Deal

The first-look deal with Universal Pictures gives Monkeypaw access to studio-level distribution, marketing, and production resources. Universal handles theatrical distribution for all Monkeypaw features. The TV deal with Universal Studio Group (signed September 2021) replaced a previous arrangement with Amazon Studios and brought both film and television output under the NBCUniversal partnership.

For filmmakers, this means Monkeypaw projects get wide theatrical releases through a major studio distribution apparatus rather than limited or platform releases. Get Out opened on 3,168 screens; Nope opened on 3,712 screens.

Budget Range

Monkeypaw operates in the mid-budget range. Get Out was made for $4.5M, Us for $20M, Nope for $68M, and Him for $27M. The company does not produce micro-budget horror (the Blumhouse model) or $100M+ tentpoles. This mid-budget space is where Monkeypaw has found its commercial niche: original genre films that cost enough to deliver theatrical-scale production value but are inexpensive enough to be profitable without franchise-level box office.

For Emerging Filmmakers

Monkeypaw represents an aspirational production partner for genre filmmakers. The company values both creative vision and audience engagement. However, Monkeypaw does not openly solicit pitches from unrepped filmmakers. Material typically comes through agent submissions or is developed internally. Filmmakers interested in working with Monkeypaw should have representation and a strong sample of work in the genre space.

Key Personnel

• Jordan Peele: Founder, writer, director, producer
• Ian Cooper: Producer
• Win Rosenfeld: Producer
• Jamal Watson: Producer
• Kate Oh: Executive producer

House Style & Genre Focus

Monkeypaw Productions, founded by Jordan Peele in 2012, is known for socially conscious horror, thriller, and genre films that use genre conventions to explore race, class, and American society. The company's filmography includes Get Out (2017, $255 million worldwide on a $4.5 million budget, Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay), Us (2019, $256 million worldwide), Nope (2022, $171 million worldwide), Candyman (2021, $77 million worldwide, directed by Nia DaCosta), and Black Klansman (2018, co-produced with Focus Features).

Monkeypaw's house style blends horror, sci-fi, and thriller elements with sharp social commentary. Peele's films feature distinctive visual styles, unexpected narrative turns, and layered thematic content that rewards repeat viewing. The company has a first-look deal with Universal Pictures, with most Monkeypaw films distributed through Universal. Recent productions include Nope (2022) and the upcoming Get Out follow-up project.

Monkeypaw does not accept unsolicited submissions. Projects are developed internally by Peele and the company's creative team, or come through established relationships with writers and directors. The company has been selective about output, producing approximately one film per year. For filmmakers, the pathway to working with Monkeypaw is through representation at major agencies and established industry relationships. Peele has actively championed emerging directors, including Nia DaCosta (Candyman) and Henry Selick (Wendell and Wild, Netflix).

Watch: Trailers & Behind the Scenes

See Also

For understanding how genre filmmaking and production models work, see Distribution Deals Explained. To model revenue projections for genre releases, use the Revenue Forecast Calculator. For calculating the break-even point on marketing spend, see the Ad Spend Break-Even Calculator.