Triangle of Sadness

Triangle of Sadness

Year: 2022

Runtime: 147 min

Language: English

Director: Ruben Östlund

Echo Score: 73

Budget: $10M

DramaComedy

A model couple, caught in the crosshairs of class warfare, embarks on a luxury cruise catering to the ultra-rich. As the ship encounters a violent storm, the passengers find themselves shipwrecked on a deserted island. Stripped of their privilege and forced to confront their own natures, a chaotic power struggle ensues, revealing the absurdity and fragility of the wealthy elite. Director Ruben Östlund delivers a darkly comedic and satirical exploration of wealth, beauty, and survival.

Triangle of Sadness (2022) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Triangle of Sadness (2022) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In a world where glossy Instagram feeds and runway lights mask deeper insecurities, a pair of fashion‑obsessed lovers board a lavish cruise meant for the ultra‑wealthy. Their relationship, built on the fragile scaffolding of fame and beauty, is immediately contrasted with the opulent yet absurd rituals of the ship’s elite passengers, whose constant performance of status becomes both a comedy and a critique. The film’s tone balances sharp satire with a lingering sense of unease, hinting that the glittering façade may crumble under the weight of its own excess.

Carl and Yaya arrive as the most photographed couple on board, their every glance and pose engineered for clicks and comments. Around them, Paula, the meticulous head stewardess, orchestrates an endless stream of indulgent requests, while Captain Thomas steers the vessel with a weary confidence that borders on indifference. The crew, including the practical yet unassuming Nelson, move through the same gilded corridors, each aware of the unspoken hierarchy that dictates who gets served and who remains invisible. As the ocean swells, a sudden storm looms, turning the cruise’s polished pleasures into a chaotic scramble that tests the characters’ pretenses and reveals the thin line between privilege and vulnerability.

When the sea finally releases its hold, the survivors find themselves stranded on a remote island where the usual markers of wealth—designer clothes, curated meals, social media validation—lose their immediate relevance. Here, the group’s previous roles begin to blur, and the absurd power dynamics that once seemed inevitable take on a new, unpredictable shape. The arrival of Abigail, a resourceful member of the ship’s service staff, adds another layer of intrigue, suggesting that survival may depend less on past status and more on adaptability, cooperation, and the uneasy alliances that form when civilization’s veneer falls away.

Last Updated: August 09, 2025 at 21:13

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Sharp satires of class and society like Triangle of Sadness

Absurd comedies where extreme situations expose the fragility of social hierarchies.This collection features movies like Triangle of Sadness that use dark comedy and extreme situations to satirize wealth, power, and social class. If you enjoyed the film's critical look at the elite, you'll find similar stories where luxurious settings become pressure cookers for exposing human folly.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern typically begins in a controlled, privileged environment that is deliberately disrupted, often by a physical or social cataclysm. This disruption strips away the characters' societal masks, forcing them into a chaotic power struggle that reveals the superficiality of their values and the inherent flaws in the social order.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped together because they share a specific blend of dark satire, high-stakes scenarios, and a thematic focus on deconstructing social class. They balance uncomfortable humor with tense survival dynamics, creating a unique experience that is both intellectually critical and viscerally engaging.

Movies about island survival and power dynamics like Triangle of Sadness

Survival stories where a new social order emerges from the ashes of the old.For viewers who loved the island power struggle in Triangle of Sadness, this list features similar films about groups stranded in the wilderness. These stories explore how civilization breaks down and new, often brutal, social hierarchies form when characters are stripped of their former status.

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Narrative Summary

The journey follows a group's descent from a state of civilized order into a primal struggle for dominance. Characters who were powerless may gain authority, while former leaders often falter, leading to tense conflicts and an exploration of the core nature of power, leadership, and human morality when all modern comforts are removed.

Why These Movies?

These movies are united by their setting and central conflict: the formation of a new social order in a vacuum. They share a tense, uneasy mood and a thematic interest in how human nature reacts when the rules of society are erased, often resulting in ambiguous or bleak conclusions about our inherent savagery or resilience.

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Triangle of Sadness Summary

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Triangle of Sadness Summary

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Triangle of Sadness Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Triangle of Sadness

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Triangle of Sadness

Triangle of Sadness Ending Explained

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Triangle of Sadness Ending Explained

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