Get Out: Alternate Ending

Jordan Peele originally intended for the movie Get Out to have a much different ending. This ending was the first ending that he wrote and was fully shot. It was later cut and replaced by the ending that we see in the film.

The scene, included above, begins with Chris strangling Rose while a police car pulls up. We pan over to the police lights and instead of seeing Rod come out of his TSA car, we see two police officers telling Chris to put his hands up. 

The scene then cuts to an over the shoulder shot of Rod talking to Chris through a visitation window. Chris appears stone-faced, a shell of himself. Rod tries to get information out of Chris which would presumably help get him out of jail, but it is clear that Chris does not think it's worth the time. He tells Rod, "I'm good. I stopped them." in a very depressing tone. The scene ends with Chris being escorted back to his jail cell as music plays.

This ending is much darker but arguably more realistic. If police officers were to appear on the scene they likely would not have believed Chris, especially due to the fact that the house burned down. He would have been arrested for the murder of Rose and potentially the others as well. 

This ending sends a strongest message about racism in a movie full of strong messages. It shows just how much the system is set up in favor of the rich white people at the heart of this ring. Chris stands no chance in our justice system when it is his word against theirs. 

This ending feels like a gut punch for the audience, one that illustrates how drastic and hopeless the fight against racism can be. In his commentary of this scene, Jordan Peele says that ultimately he decided to change the ending because he felt that the audience needed a hero and a release.

I agree with Peele's decision here. While keeping this original ending would have made the movie immensely powerful and possibly more meaningful, it would have dark way to end an already dark movie. The new ending, where Rod saves the day, represents hope. It shows that good things can still happen and that progress can be made.