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Us (film)

Us is a 2019 American psychological horror film written and directed by Jordan Peele.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Us is a 2019 American psychological horror film written and directed by Jordan Peele. It stars Lupita Nyong'o, Winston Duke, Elisabeth Moss, and Tim Heidecker, and follows a family terrorized by violent doppelgängers known as the Tethered. The film was released theatrically in the United States on March 22, 2019, by Universal Pictures.

Plot

The story follows Adelaide Wilson and her family during a vacation to Santa Cruz, California, where they are attacked by violent doubles of themselves. The encounter reveals a larger conflict involving the mysterious Tethered.

Production and release

Us was written and directed by Jordan Peele and released by Universal Pictures. It premiered at South by Southwest on March 8, 2019, before its U.S. theatrical release on March 22, 2019.

Cast

The principal cast includes Lupita Nyong'o, Winston Duke, Elisabeth Moss, Tim Heidecker, Shahadi Wright Joseph, and Evan Alex.

Reception and box office

The film was a commercial success, earning around $256 million worldwide on a $20 million budget. It was widely discussed for its horror elements and social subtext.

Key facts

  • Us is Jordan Peele's second feature as writer-director after Get Out.
  • The film grossed about $256 million worldwide against a $20 million budget.
  • The plot centres on the Wilson family and their confrontation with doppelgängers called the Tethered.
  • The film premiered at South by Southwest on March 8, 2019.
  • Lupita Nyong'o and Winston Duke are among the film's lead performers.
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Canadian context

Us was distributed in Canada through Universal Pictures' North American release and is relevant to Canadian viewers as a major 2019 English-language horror film that received wide theatrical and home-entertainment availability in Canada.

Frequently asked questions

What is Us about?
It follows a family who are attacked by their own doppelgängers, called the Tethered.
Who directed Us?
Jordan Peele wrote and directed the film.
When was Us released?
It premiered on March 8, 2019, and opened in U.S. theatres on March 22, 2019.
Who stars in Us?
The main cast includes Lupita Nyong'o, Winston Duke, Elisabeth Moss, and Tim Heidecker.
How successful was Us at the box office?
It grossed about $256 million worldwide against a reported $20 million budget.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Us_(2019_film)
    Supports: Basic film identification, director, cast, premiere date, U.S. release date, plot premise, and box office figures.
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6857112/
    Supports: Runtime, release date, rating, and plot synopsis.
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/us_2019
    Supports: Synopsis, director, producers, distributor, runtime, genre, and release date.
  4. Universal Pictures / YouTube trailer — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNCmb-4oXJA
    Supports: Official synopsis, cast, and release information.
  5. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogererbert.com/reviews/us-2019
    Supports: Plot interpretation and critical context.