🎯 Quick Overview
Trailer
- Director: Ruben Östlund
- Genre: Drama, Comedy, Satire, Black Comedy
- Release year: 2022
- Runtime (length): 2h 27min
- IMDb rating: 7.3/10 (198K votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 71%
😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained
A bunch of rich people get seasick and then discover the real treasure was the toilet cleaner they met along the way.
🍿 Triangle of Sadness: Detailed Plot Synopsis
Part 1: Carl and Yaya
The film opens by introducing Carl, a male model, and Yaya, a social media influencer. Their relationship is strained by unspoken expectations and financial imbalances, leading to arguments about who should pay for dinner. This section explores the superficiality and power dynamics within the fashion industry and modern relationships.

Part 2: The Yacht
Carl and Yaya are invited on a luxury cruise catering to the ultra-rich. The passengers are a collection of eccentric and often unpleasant individuals. As a storm hits, the cruise turns chaotic. A lavish captain’s dinner devolves into a mass vomiting and diarrhea event, symbolizing the upheaval of the established order.

Part 3: The Island
Following a shipwreck, a small group of survivors, including Carl, Yaya, and Abigail (a toilet manager from the cruise), find themselves stranded on a desert island. Abigail’s practical skills become essential for survival, shifting the social hierarchy. She uses her newfound power to manipulate the others, especially Carl, highlighting the corrupting nature of power, regardless of social class.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained
🎬 Cast & Characters
- Carl (Harris Dickinson): A male model grappling with his identity and relationship dynamics as he navigates the world of wealth and beauty.
- Yaya (Charlbi Dean): A social media influencer who uses her looks and charm to gain access to exclusive experiences, masking deeper insecurities.
- Abigail (Dolly De Leon): A toilet manager turned survival expert who leverages her practical skills to rise to a position of power after a disaster.
- The Captain (Woody Harrelson): An alcoholic and disillusioned boat captain who spouts Marxist rhetoric amidst the chaos of the luxury cruise.
- Dimitry (Zlatko Buric): A wealthy Russian oligarch who represents the excesses and contradictions of capitalism.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- The Captain: “We’re all in the same boat now.” – Said with dark irony as the yacht is sinking, highlighting the shared fate of the rich and poor.
- Abigail: “I can make fire.” – Abigail’s simple statement underscores her newfound power as the only one with survival skills on the island.
- Carl: “I think it’s a bit sexist that I always have to pay.” – Expresses Carl’s frustration with traditional gender roles and financial expectations in relationships.
- Dimitry: “In capitalism, everything is for sale.” – Said by Dimitry, the Russian oligarch, encapsulating his cynical view of the world during a debate with the Captain.
💰Box Office
- Budget: €10,000,000
- Domestic Gross: $4,608,096
- Worldwide Gross: $26,195,743
💥 Triangle of Sadness Reviews
Personal Review
I was floored by how much this film made me think. The Captain’s Dinner scene was both hilarious and disgusting. The ending left me with so many questions, debating what it all meant with my friends. The performances were excellent, and I loved how the film challenged my own assumptions. Definitely a film that sticks with you for a long time.
- Who would enjoy:
- “Fans of dark comedy and satire”
- “Viewers interested in social commentary on wealth and class”
- “Those who appreciate films that challenge societal norms”
- “Audiences who enjoy thought-provoking, ambiguous endings”
- Content warnings ⚠:
- “Strong language”
- “Graphic scenes of vomiting and diarrhea”
- “Sexual content”
- “Brief violence”
- “Mature themes”
Professional Reviews
- The Guardian: “Östlund’s satire is sharp and uncompromising, skewering the absurdities of wealth and beauty with uncomfortable precision. While occasionally heavy-handed, the film’s audacious set pieces and strong performances make for a truly memorable, if unsettling, experience. The Captain’s Dinner is the most memorable.
- Sight & Sound: “Triangle of Sadness is a savage, darkly funny takedown of the super-rich. Östlund crafts a visually striking and thought-provoking film that lingers long after the credits roll. The film challenges our notions of class and power with both humor and discomfort.
- IndieWire: “This film is ambitiously broad and doesn’t always stick the landing. Even with some over-the-top moments and unsubtle humor, it delivers many laughs.
Audience Reactions
The Captain’s Dinner scene is outrageous and unforgettable.: Viewers love the film’s dark humor and willingness to push boundaries.
Dolly de Leon steals every scene she’s in.: The film’s social commentary resonates with audiences concerned about wealth inequality.
Overall Consensus: Triangle of Sadness is a provocative dark comedy that divides audiences with its gross-out humor and unsubtle satire, but its sharp social commentary and strong performances have earned it critical acclaim.
Awards
- Cannes Film Festival (Palme d’Or)- 2022
🛠️ Behind the Scenes
- “Charlbi Dean’s untimely death shortly after the film’s release adds a layer of sadness to the production. She passed away from sepsis at the age of 32.”
- “The extended scene of mass vomiting during the storm was achieved through a combination of practical effects, strategic camera work, and actors’ commitment to portraying realistic discomfort.”
- “The film satirizes the fashion industry, social media influencers, and the ultra-rich, highlighting the superficiality and moral bankruptcy often associated with these worlds.”
🖥️ How to Watch Triangle of Sadness?
Triangle of Sadness is available for streaming on platforms such as Hulu. You can also rent or purchase the movie through platforms like Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu. Check local listings for theatrical showings as well, as it sometimes has limited releases.

🎥 Similar Movies
If you enjoyed Triangle of Sadness, you might like these similar films:
- The Menu (2022): Dark comedy that satirizes the wealthy elite, offering a critical look at societal hierarchies.
- Parasite (2019): Explores class disparities and social satire through a twisted, darkly humorous narrative.
- Swept Away (2002): Reversal of fortune and social classes when a wealthy woman and sailor are shipwrecked together on an island.
- Lord of the Flies (1963): Explores themes of survival, social order, and human nature when a group of boys are stranded on an island.
🛒 Triangle of Sadness Related Products
- Triangle of Sadness Movie Poster: High-quality print of the original movie poster. A great addition to any film lover’s collection.
- Luxury Yacht Model: A detailed scale model of a luxury yacht, reminiscent of the cruise ship in the film. Perfect for display.
- Eat the Rich Board Game: A strategy board game themed around social commentary, wealth inequality, and survival. Players navigate a world where resources are scarce and power dynamics shift.
- Fashion Design Sketchbook: A high-quality fashion design sketchbook with stencils and templates.
🎧 Soundtrack
Triangle of Sadness features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:
- “Born Free” – performed by M.I.A.
- “Marea (We’ve Lost Dancing)” – performed by Fred Again.. & The Blessed Madonna
You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.
🤨 FAQ
Filming locations included Greece (Chiliadou beach, Evoia) for the island scenes, and other locations in Sweden, France, and the Mediterranean for the cruise segments.
The ‘triangle of sadness’ refers to the glabella, the area between the eyebrows prone to wrinkling. In the film, it symbolizes superficiality and the pressures of the beauty industry, as characters are asked to relax this muscle for aesthetic purposes.
Triangle of Sadness is a dark comedy-drama that satirizes wealth, beauty, and social class. While it contains humorous elements, it also explores serious themes of power, inequality, and survival.
The ending is intentionally ambiguous. The survivors discover a nearby resort offering potential rescue. Abigail seems poised to murder Yaya, possibly to maintain her powerful position, and Carl runs towards them. Whether Abigail commits the act, and what Carl’s intentions are, remains unresolved.
🔥 Bonus Content
Inside Out Love Triangle Complete Edition
Curious about what a love triangle between Inside Out’s characters would look like? Check out this entertaining and quirky animated short!
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