The Riot Club Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A bunch of posh boys get drunk, trash a pub, and learn absolutely nothing about consequences because privilege.

🍿 The Riot Club: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Oxford Arrival and Riot Club Invitation

Alistair Ryle and Miles Richards, both from aristocratic backgrounds, begin their first year at Oxford University. While Miles is grounded and starts a relationship with Lauren, who comes from a working-class background, Alistair is a snob with political ambitions. Both receive an invitation to join the infamous Riot Club, a notorious dining club known for its hedonism and belief that money can buy anything.

The Riot Club Dinner

The Riot Club members gather for their annual dinner at a local pub, indulging in excessive drinking and drug use. The evening quickly spirals out of control as their behavior becomes increasingly destructive and disrespectful. The situation escalates when a prostitute they hired refuses to cooperate, further fueling their rage and entitlement. The dynamic between the members begins to fray as tensions rise, reflecting deeper class and moral conflicts.

Escalating Violence and Its Consequences

The dinner descends into chaos as the Riot Club members trash the pub and physically assault the landlord, Chris. Miles, initially more moderate, becomes complicit in the escalating violence due to peer pressure and intoxication. The night’s events reach a shocking climax, leaving lasting consequences for everyone involved. The aftermath of the violence tests the loyalty of the club members and their ability to evade responsibility.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Alistair Ryle (Sam Claflin): An ambitious and snobbish Oxford student with aristocratic connections who embraces the excesses of the Riot Club.
• Miles Richards (Max Irons): A more grounded Oxford student from a privileged background, torn between his morals and the allure of the Riot Club.
• Harry Villiers (Douglas Booth): A charismatic and influential member of the Riot Club, representing the established elite.
• Rachel (Jessica Brown Findlay): The daughter of the pub landlord, representing the working class and bearing witness to the Riot Club’s destructive behavior.
• Lauren (Holliday Grainger): Miles’s grounded and principled girlfriend, who challenges the values of the Riot Club.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Alistair Ryle: “I’m sick to f*cking death of poor people!” – Alistair drunkenly rants about his resentment towards the lower classes.
• Alistair Ryle: “It’s uh, it’s actually just ‘PIN’. The N stands for number, it’s Personal Identification Number. So, if you say ‘PIN Number’ you’re saying ‘number’ twice. You’re saying ‘Personal Identification Number Number’. It’s just… it’s just wrong.” – Alistair corrects a mugger during an attempted robbery, highlighting his pedantic and condescending nature even in a dangerous situation.
• Lord Riot: “Reputations can be made or destroyed over the course of a single evening.” – Lord Riot speaks of the double-edged sword that is the Riot Club; it is a proving ground.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $10,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $7,734
• Worldwide Gross: $3,517,925

💥 The Riot Club Reviews

Personal Review

I found ‘The Riot Club’ to be a disturbing watch. The performances were great, and the film did an excellent job of showing the entitlement and lack of empathy of these young men. The dinner scene was particularly intense and left me feeling genuinely angry, which I think was the point. Definitely a film that stays with you, even if you don’t exactly enjoy the experience of watching it.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Viewers interested in British social commentary”
  • “Fans of dramas exploring class and privilege”
  • “Those who enjoy films with strong ensemble casts”
  • “Audiences fascinated by stories of elite university culture”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Strong language”
  • “Drug use”
  • “Alcohol abuse”
  • “Violence”
  • “Sexual content”

Professional Reviews

• IMDb: “The Riot Club is an interesting look at privilege and class, though it sometimes struggles with subtlety. The film is well-acted and creates an uncomfortable atmosphere, reflecting the behavior of the characters. The ending is a bit predictable.
• IMDb: “A genuinely uncomfortable, shocking film about yobbos in waistcoats that met and surpassed my expectations. The film is adapted from the stage play Posh by Laura Wade, and the middle section of the narrative, which is one long scene, certainly feels like the work of a playwright.
• IMDb: “Overall, The Riot Club is an excellent play-adaptation that makes for a highly gripping film. There’s laughs a plenty, shocks a plenty and a great cast. This is a must-see.

Audience Reactions

Claflin’s acting was brilliant.: Viewers loved the strong performances from the young cast, particularly Sam Claflin, who plays Alistair Ryle.

Some viewers found it disturbing but essential.: Many found the film to be thought-provoking and important for highlighting issues of class and privilege, although some were turned off by what they viewed to be an exagerrated take.

Overall Consensus: The Riot Club is a well-acted, thought-provoking film that explores themes of class, privilege, and the abuse of power. While some find it heavy-handed, it leaves a lasting impression.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film is based on Laura Wade’s play ‘Posh’, which premiered at the Royal Court Theatre in London in 2010.”
• “Filming took place at Winchester College in Hampshire, standing in for Oxford University.”
• “The Riot Club is inspired by the real-life Bullingdon Club, a notorious Oxford University dining society.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Riot Club?

Currently, The Riot Club is available for streaming on platforms like Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu, where you can rent or purchase the film. Availability may vary by region, so check your local listings.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Riot Club, you might like these similar films:

• Brideshead Revisited (2008): Explores themes of privilege, class, and moral decay within the context of Oxford University and the British aristocracy.
• The Wolf of Wall Street (2013): Features extreme hedonism, unchecked excess, and the consequences of unbridled wealth, though in a different setting.
• A Clockwork Orange (1971): Showcases nihilistic violence and the dark side of youth culture.

🛒 The Riot Club Related Products

• The Riot Club (Blu-ray): Experience the film in high definition with exclusive behind-the-scenes content.
• Posh by Laura Wade (Play Script): Read the original play the film is based on for a deeper understanding of the story.
• Oxford University Crest T-Shirt: Show your love for Oxford University with this stylish t-shirt.
• The Bullingdon Club: Power, Privilege and Scandal at Oxford: Explore the real-life inspiration for ‘The Riot Club’ with this expose on the notorious Bullingdon Club.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Riot Club features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Scarborough Fair” – performed by Hannah Northedge Choir
• “Song for a Secret” – performed by The Kaiser Chiefs

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

The Riot Club Cast Answer Fans Tweeted Questions | Glamour UK

Ever wondered what the cast of The Riot Club *really* thought about the movie? This video compiles questions tweeted by fans and answered by the stars themselves. Honestly, some of their responses are pretty insightful and funny, definitely worth a watch!

The Riot Club: inside Bullingdon – interview with Laura Wade & Max Irons | Channel 4 News

Want to know the real story behind ‘The Riot Club’? This interview with the play’s writer and Max Irons gives you all the inside scoop on the movie’s themes. Super interesting if you’re curious about the inspiration for the film.

‘How To Spot A Posh Person’ With The Cast Of Riot Club | London Live

Think you can spot a posh person? The cast of ‘The Riot Club’ sure can! This short clip is hilarious as they break down the tell-tale signs. It’s a fun little watch, and you might learn something about spotting a posh person in the wild.

Mark Kermode reviews The Riot Club

Before diving deep, here’s a critic point of view about this movie.

✨ Rate