Ruben Östlund’s ‘Triangle of Sadness’ was a deliciously uncomfortable takedown of the super-rich. If its mix of gross-out gags and sharp social critique left you hungry for more, you’re in luck. Here are five unforgettable films to watch next.
The Square (2017)
Let’s start
with the most logical next step: another masterpiece from the same director, Ruben Östlund. If 'Triangle of Sadness' skewers the worlds of fashion and influencers, 'The Square' sets its sights on the pretentious and often hypocritical contemporary art scene. The film follows Christian, the handsome, self-assured curator of a prestigious Stockholm museum, as his life unravels after his phone is stolen. What follows is a series of increasingly awkward and ethically compromising situations, including a disastrous marketing campaign and a gala dinner that descends into chaos. Like its successor, 'The Square' excels at creating cringe-inducing set pieces that expose the disconnect between the liberal ideals of the cultural elite and their selfish, primal instincts. It won the Palme d'Or five years before 'Triangle of Sadness' did, and you can see the DNA of Östlund’s satirical genius all over it.
Parasite (2019)
While Östlund uses a scalpel, Bong Joon-ho uses a sledgehammer in this Oscar-winning sensation. 'Parasite' is perhaps the definitive modern film about class warfare. It tells the story of the Kim family, who live in a semi-basement apartment and hustle to make ends meet, as they systematically con their way into the lives of the wealthy Park family. Posing as unrelated, highly qualified tutors, drivers, and housekeepers, they begin to live a symbiotic, or rather parasitic, life off their oblivious employers. The film brilliantly blends comedy, suspense, and tragedy, using the architecture of the Parks' luxurious home as a powerful metaphor for the invisible lines of class. Where 'Triangle of Sadness' watches the social order collapse on a desert island, 'Parasite' shows the explosive results when the downstairs world violently collides with the upstairs.
The Menu (2022)
This is the most direct 'eat the rich' companion piece to 'Triangle of Sadness', and it's just as vicious. A group of ultra-wealthy patrons, including a sycophantic foodie (Nicholas Hoult) and an unimpressed last-minute guest (Anya Taylor-Joy), travel to a remote island for an exclusive dining experience at a restaurant run by the enigmatic Chef Slowik (Ralph Fiennes). What begins as a pretentious tasting menu soon reveals itself to be a meticulously planned night of psychological torture, where each course is designed to expose the sins of the guests. 'The Menu' shares the same isolated setting and sense of impending doom, trading the yacht for a high-concept restaurant. It’s a sharp, bloody, and surprisingly funny satire on the commodification of art and the soullessness of the consumer class.
Force Majeure (2014)
Before stranding billionaires on an island, Ruben Östlund trapped a comfortable, upper-middle-class family in an emotional avalanche. During a ski vacation in the French Alps, a controlled avalanche appears to threaten an outdoor restaurant where a family is eating lunch. In a moment of panic, the father, Tomas, grabs his phone and runs, abandoning his wife and two children. The snow settles, everyone is fine, but the marriage is not. The rest of the film is a masterclass in slow-burn tension and dark, observational humor as the couple is forced to confront the father's moment of cowardice. It’s a brilliant examination of gender roles, masculinity, and the petty denials we cling to in order to preserve our self-image. If you appreciated the way 'Triangle of Sadness' deconstructed modern relationships, 'Force Majeure' is essential viewing.
The Lobster (2015)
If you're drawn to the sheer weirdness and deadpan absurdity of Östlund's work, then a trip into the world of Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos is in order. 'The Lobster' is set in a dystopian society where single people are sent to a hotel and given 45 days to find a romantic partner. If they fail, they are transformed into an animal of their choice. Colin Farrell stars as a recent divorcé who, should he fail, has chosen to become a lobster. The film is a surreal and biting satire of societal pressures around relationships, monogamy, and the superficial traits people seek in a partner. Like 'Triangle of Sadness', it uses a bizarre, contained environment to poke fun at social conventions with a uniquely unsettling and hilarious tone. It's less about class and more about the strange rules we live by, making it a perfect, albeit strange, cinematic cousin.
