US Analysis: Story Structure, Themes, and Easter Eggs Explained | Screenwriting 101

In this episode, we go scene-by-scene to break down the three act structure of the award-winning horror film, US -- written and directed by Jordan Peele -- in order to analyze its themes, story structure, and character arcs.

Check out the rest of my film analysis videos and plot breakdowns:
🔹 Skyfall:    • SKYFALL Analysis: Story Structure, Themes,...  ​
🔹 Parasite:    • PARASITE Analysis: Story Structure, Themes...  ​
🔹 Us:    • US Analysis: Story Structure, Themes, and ...  
🔹 Doctor Strange:    • DOCTOR STRANGE Analysis: Story Structure, ...  ​
🔹 Soul:    • Pixar's SOUL Analysis: Story Structure, Th...  
🔹 Bridesmaids:    • BRIDESMAIDS Analysis: Story Structure, The...  
🔹 Nightcrawler:    • Видео  

THREE ACT STRUCTURE OF US
🔸 0 - 9 •••••••••• Teaser
🔸 9 - 17 •••••••• Meet the Hero
🔸 17 •••••••••••• Inciting Incident (Challenge From the Universe)
🔸 17 - 36 ••••••• Resistance
🔸 36 - 44 ••••••• End of Act 1 (Challenge Accepted)
🔸 44 - 63 ••••••• New World, New Rules
🔸 63 ••••••••••••• Midpoint Reversal
🔸 63 - 89 ••••••• Roll Downhill
🔸 89 ••••••••••••• End of Act 2 (Rock Bottom)
🔸 89 - 95 ••••••• Ride Into Battle
🔸 95 - 107•••••• Climax
🔸 107 - 111 •••• Resolution

One of the best ways to teach yourself screenwriting is to break down screenplays of films you like. Here at ClassAct, that's exactly what we do -- using classic principles of three act structure, we break down movies and their screenplays scene-by-scene, so that we might learn some new techniques for our own screenwriting journeys.

US
Written & Directed by Jordan Peele

CLASSACT
Written, Directed, Edited by Wigham Foothill
Music by Berry Deep, M. Oliver Ullmann, Sunshine Music, Andrew Langdon, Myuu, Pop Villains, and Lost Harmonies

CHAPTERS
00:00​ Intro to Us
00:42​ Plot Points Overview
01:01 0 - 9 | Teaser
02:18 9 - 17 | Meet the Hero
03:57 17 | Inciting Incident (Challenge From the Universe)
04:36 17 - 36 | Resistance
07:23 36 - 44 | End of Act 1 (Challenge Accepted)
07:50 44 - 63 | New World, New Rules
09:43 63 | Midpoint Reversal
09:12 63 - 89 | Roll Downhill
13:24 89 | End of Act 2 (Rock Bottom)
13:49 89 - 95 | Ride Into Battle
14:29 95 - 107 | Climax
16:22 Final Analysis