Triangle of Sadness (2022)
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2025-09 to 2026-08
A luxury cruise turns into a desperate struggle for survival when a group of wealthy guests and their staff are stranded on an island.
The story
The film follows a celebrity couple, Carl and Yaya, who are invited onto a luxury superyacht for social media promotion. They join a group of wealthy guests, including a Russian oligarch and a tech millionaire, while a dedicated crew works to cater to their every whim. However, a combination of a raging storm and food poisoning leaves the guests incapacitated. When pirates attack and sink the yacht, the survivors—including the guests and several crew members—escape to a nearby island. On the island, the social hierarchy begins to shift as the power dynamics between the wealthy guests and the working-class staff are completely upended by the necessity of survival.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
The story begins with Carl and Yaya, a model couple, navigating their relationship and the pressures of social media. They are invited onto a superyacht where they join other wealthy individuals, including the oligarch Dimitry and his wife Vera, the elderly couple Clementine and Winston, a tech millionaire named Jarmo, and a wheelchair-bound woman named Therese. The crew, led by Paula, struggles to manage the guests' absurd demands during a storm. After the guests fall ill and the yacht is sunk by pirates, the survivors land on an island. The power dynamic shifts dramatically: Abigail, a member of the crew with survival skills, becomes the de facto leader. The wealthy guests remain largely passive, while the crew members find new roles. Abigail eventually establishes a private territory and enters a sexual relationship with Carl. The film concludes with Yaya discovering a lift to a nearby luxury resort, while Abigail prepares to defend her new position of power, and Carl is seen running through the jungle.
- First release year
- 2022
- Runtime (minutes)
- 147
- Production countries
- Sweden; Germany; France; United Kingdom
- Original languages
- English
- Writers
- Ruben Östlund · writer
- Cast and characters
- Harris Dickinson · Carl; Charlbi Dean · Yaya; Dolly de Leon · Abigail; Zlatko Burić · Dimitry; Iris Berben · Vera; Vicki Berlin · Clementine; Henrik Dorsin · Winston; Amanda Walker · Therese; Oliver Ford Davies · Jarmo; Sunnyi Melles · Paula; Woody Harrelson · Thomas Smith
- Genres
- satirical; black comedy
- Themes
- class struggle; social media influence; wealth and power; survival
- Tone and mood
- satirical; dark; absurd
- Premise and plot tags
- upper class; social media; survival; ship; island
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics, who praised the direction, screenplay, and the cast's performances, particularly Dolly de Leon's. It was noted for its unique blend of humor and social commentary.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 63 · scale: 100 · review count: 47
- Awards and nominations
- Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy · Golden Globe Awards · Nominated; Best Supporting Actress · Golden Globe Awards · Nominated; Best Film · European Film Awards · Won; Best Director · European Film Awards · Won; Best Screenwriter · European Film Awards · Won; Best Actor · European Film Awards · Won
- Production trivia
- The title refers to a term used by plastic surgeons for a worry wrinkle.; The film was shot on the yacht Christina O.; The production was halted multiple times due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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