diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 094969b..8267873 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -9,9 +9,6 @@ This is a small tool built with neofetch/fastfetch, ffmpeg and chafa. It allows
 ### Prerequisites
 
 Recommended Python version: 3.12 and later
-
-You need the following tools installed on your system:
-
 - `bc`
 
   - Debian/Ubuntu: `sudo apt install bc`
@@ -163,11 +160,12 @@ Any video file you give to anifetch will be stored in `~/.local/share/anifetch/a
 ### Example usage:
 
 ```bash
-anifetch video.mp4 -r 10 -W 40 -H 20 -c "--symbols wide --fg-only"
+anifetch video.mp4 -k -r 10 -W 40 -H 20 -c "--symbols wide --fg-only"
 ```
 
 ### Optional arguments:
 
+- `-k` / `--key-exit`: exits `anifetch` on any keypress. 
 - `-f` / `--file`: path to the video file (the path can be added without the `-f` argument)
 - `-s` / `--sound`: optional sound file to play alongside (requires `ffplay`)
 - `-r` / `--framerate`: frame rate of playback
diff --git a/src/anifetch/anifetch-static-resize2.sh b/src/anifetch/anifetch-static-resize2.sh
index 3c88fea..41f9091 100644
--- a/src/anifetch/anifetch-static-resize2.sh
+++ b/src/anifetch/anifetch-static-resize2.sh
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@ FRAME_DIR="$HOME/.local/share/anifetch/output"
 STATIC_TEMPLATE_FILE="$HOME/.local/share/anifetch/template.txt"
 
 # check for num of args
-if [[ $# -ne 6 && $# -ne 7 ]]; then
-  echo "Usage: $0 <framerate> <top> <left> <right> <bottom> <template_actual_width> [soundname]"
+if [[ $# -ne 6 && $# -ne 7 && $# -ne 8 ]]; then
+  echo "Usage: $0 <framerate> <top> <left> <right> <bottom> <template_actual_width> [soundname] [--key-exit]"
   exit 1
 fi
 
@@ -15,7 +15,16 @@ left=$3
 right=$4
 bottom=$5
 template_actual_width=$6
-soundname=$7
+soundname=""
+if [ $# -ge 7 ] && [ "${7}" != "--key-exit" ]; then
+  soundname=$7
+fi
+
+# Check if key-exit functionality is enabled
+key_exit_enabled=false
+if [[ "${!#}" == "--key-exit" ]]; then
+  key_exit_enabled=true
+fi
 
 num_lines=$((bottom - top))
 sleep_time=$(echo "scale=4; 1 / $framerate" | bc)
@@ -29,15 +38,19 @@ last_term_width=0
 # Hide cursor
 tput civis
 
+# Global variable to store the pressed key
+pressed_key=""
+
 # exit handler
 cleanup() {
   tput cnorm         # Show cursor
   if [ -t 0 ]; then
     stty echo        # Restore echo
-		stty icanon
+    stty icanon
   fi
   tput sgr0          # Reset terminal attributes
-  tput cup $(tput lines) 0  # Move cursor to bottom
+  tput cup $(tput lines) 0 # Move cursor to bottom
+  
   exit 0
 }
 trap cleanup SIGINT SIGTERM
@@ -217,7 +230,7 @@ trap 'on_resize' SIGWINCH
 draw_static_template
 
 # Start audio if sound is provided
-if [ $# -eq 7 ]; then
+if [ -n "$soundname" ]; then
   ffplay -nodisp -autoexit -loop 0 -loglevel quiet "$soundname" &
 fi
 
@@ -225,6 +238,10 @@ i=1
 wanted_epoch=0
 start_time=$(date +%s.%N)
 while true; do
+  # Check for any key press (non-blocking) - only if key-exit is enabled
+  if read -t 0 -n 1 pressed_key && [ "$key_exit_enabled" = true ]; then
+    cleanup
+  fi
   
   for frame in $(ls "$FRAME_DIR" | sort -n); do
     lock=true
@@ -248,8 +265,23 @@ while true; do
     sleep_duration=$(echo "$wanted_epoch - ($now - $start_time)" | bc -l)
 
     # Only sleep if ahead of schedule
-    if (( $(echo "$sleep_duration > 0" | bc -l) )); then
-        sleep "$sleep_duration"
+    if [ "$key_exit_enabled" = true ]; then
+      if (( $(echo "$sleep_duration > 0" | bc -l) )); then
+          # Check for key press during sleep
+          if read -t "$sleep_duration" -n 1 pressed_key; then
+              cleanup
+          fi
+      else
+          # Check for key press (non-blocking)
+          if read -t 0 -n 1 pressed_key; then
+              cleanup
+          fi
+      fi
+    else
+      # If key-exit is not enabled, just sleep normally
+      if (( $(echo "$sleep_duration > 0" | bc -l) )); then
+          sleep "$sleep_duration"
+      fi
     fi
 
     i=$((i + 1))
diff --git a/src/anifetch/cli.py b/src/anifetch/cli.py
index a19d484..971b875 100644
--- a/src/anifetch/cli.py
+++ b/src/anifetch/cli.py
@@ -105,6 +105,13 @@ def parse_args():
         action="version",
         version="%(prog)s {version}".format(version=get_version_of_anifetch()),
     )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "-k",
+        "--key-exit",
+        default=False,
+        action="store_true",
+        help="Enable key press to exit functionality. When enabled, pressing any key will exit the animation and echo the key to the terminal.",
+    )
 
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
diff --git a/src/anifetch/core.py b/src/anifetch/core.py
index eade650..a3b2809 100644
--- a/src/anifetch/core.py
+++ b/src/anifetch/core.py
@@ -392,6 +392,8 @@ def run_anifetch(args):
             ]
             if args.sound_flag_given:  # if user requested for sound to be played
                 script_args.append(str(args.sound_saved_path))
+            if args.key_exit:  # if user requested key exit functionality
+                script_args.append("--key-exit")
 
             print_verbose(args.verbose, script_args)
             # raise SystemExit