The 15 Best Eat-the-Rich Movies, Ranked

“Eat the rich” is a sentiment that refers to the increasingly popular trend in movies, both comedic and dramatic, that criticize capitalism and analyze social class inequality. In a world where the wealthy and greedy thrive, those part of the working class struggle due to politics and oppression. They fight back, and power is reversed as the rich fall victim to their deceptive plans.

In recent years, filmmakers have explored the concept of rich vs. poor through a number of different narratives, genres, and perspectives. However, what these eat-the-rich movies all have in common is their critique of the excessive privilege the wealthy hold, and the lesser-off underdog outsmarting them all and giving them what they deserve. The working class end up on top, leaving the rich in their shoes.

15 ‘The Purge’ (2013)

Directed by James DeMonaco

A massively popular horror movie with a message, The Purge depicts a dystopian future where there’s an annual 12-hour period in which all crime becomes legal. It is centered on James Sandin’s (Ethan Hawke) wealthy family, who are ironically put in grave danger when the security system his company manufactures fails to protect them from a masked and murderous intruder (Rhys Wakefield).

The Purge explores humanity’s darkest of desires, and while the idea of a purge seems far-fetched, it is presented in a way that is unnerving and not completely unrealistic. The film has spawned a financially successful franchise, for better or worse, and is mostly known as a campy horror film with a great premise but average execution. It’s more concerned with delivering thrills and shocking moments rather than emphasizing any eat-the-rich element it has, but for fans of the franchise, it’s at least fun to watch.

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14 ‘Hustlers’ (2019)

Directed by Lorene Scafaria

Based on a true story and inspired by the viral New York Magazine article, Hustlers is a fascinating combination of true crime and social commentary. The film follows a group of female strippers, led by veteran Ramona (Jennifer Lopez), who begin to swindle money from their sleazy and wealthy male Wall Street clients after losing business due to the 2007-08 financial crisis.

Ramona, tired of being taken advantage of by people who face no consequences, compares the world to a strip club where “you got people tossing the money and people doing the dance.” She and the others turn the tables and take control of their lives, although it doesn’t last very long. Hustlers is an empowering revenge story that also highlights how the less fortunate are more likely to face the music rather than their rich perpetrators. It also features one of Lopez’s best acting performances, which received critical acclaim.

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13 ‘You’re Next’ (2013)

Directed by Adam Wingard

2013’s You’re Next is a highly underrated home invasion flick with a badass final girl and plenty of villainous rich folk. Aubrey (Barbara Crampton) and Paul Davidson (Rob Moran) invite their family to their lavish estate to celebrate their wedding anniversary, when the home comes under attack by killers wearing animal masks. Much to the surprise of criminals, one of the victims, Erin (Sharni Vinson), has the skills to fight back.

Throughout the film, the greedy and money-driven intentions of members of the family that caused the attack are revealed, showing their value of wealth over human life. It is made all the more satisfying when Erin, an outsider who grew up in a survivalist compound, comes out on top as a survivor in the end. You’re Next is the perfect blend of a straight-up thriller and satire of the rich.

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12 ‘The Killing of a Sacred Deer’ (2017)

Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos

Director Yorgos Lanthimos is known for his offbeat tone and ability to make audiences extremely uncomfortable, as seen in films like The Lobster, The Favourite, and Poor Things. This is also evident in The Killing of a Sacred Deer, one of the darkest eat-the-rich films to date. The story follows a wealthy surgeon (Colin Farrell), whose perfect family is turned upside down when a fatherless boy (Barry Keoghan) inserts himself into their lives.

Dr. Steven Murphy’s pristine home becomes plagued by the twisted teen who craves revenge for the death of his father on the operating table. Unsettling occurrences, including sudden illnesses and paralysis, start to occur as their suburban bliss is shattered. Barry Keoghan is superbly creepy as Martin, a role which most certainly prepared him to play another creepy individual who enters the lives of a rich family in 2023’s Saltburn.

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11 ‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery’ (2022)

Directed by Rian Johnson

Glass Onion is the sequel to Knives Out, and sees Detective Benoic Blanc (Daniel Craig) back on the case for another skewering of the rich. Billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton) invites a group of old friends to his Greek island, along with Blanc. What is supposed to be a murder mystery party turns real when somebody shows up dead. Every guest has a motive for killing Bron, so it’s up to Blanc to find out what happened.

Just like its predecessor, Glass Onion satirizes the eccentric personalities and excessive lifestyles of the rich. The ensemble is made up of a number of suspects, including canceled fashion designer Birdie Jay (Kate Hudson), YouTuber Duke Cody (Dave Bautista), Bron’s former business partner Andi (Janelle Monáe), and more. The film sees these egocentric characters pay for their wrongdoings at the hands of another working-class character.

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10 ‘Dumb Money’ (2023)

Directed by Craig Gillespe

Based on the GameStop short squeeze that occurred in 2021 and shook Wall Street, Dumb Money is a classic and unbelievable David vs. Goliath story that actually happened. Paul Dano plays everyman Keith Gill, who puts his life savings into stock for GameStop, a video game store. Along with others, and through viral social media posts, he turns GameStop into the world’s hottest company. As a result, hedge funds lose hundreds of millions of dollars, and angry billionaires fight to take back what they think is theirs.

Dumb Money sees regular people outsmart wealthy Wall Street types, becoming rich themselves in entertaining and outrageous fashion. As the working class struggles with financial strain due to COVID-19, they turn the situation in their favor. Dano is supported by a large ensemble including Shailene Woodley, Seth Rogen, Pete Davidson, and many more.

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9 ‘Saltburn’ (2023)

Directed by Emerald Fennell

Undoubtedly the buzziest movie of 2023, Saltburn‘s unique eat-the-rich story shocked viewers everywhere with its bold take on privilege and desire. Struggling to fit in at Oxford University, Oliver (Barry Keoghan) becomes infatuated with his aristocratic and handsome classmate Felix (Jacob Elordi). Feeling sorry for Oliver after the death of his father, Felix invites him to Saltburn, his wealthy family’s estate, over the summer.

Felix’s family is eccentric and abrupt, but Oliver has his own intentions and infiltrates the family, wrapping his fingers around each member one by one. Saltburn has had people talking thanks to its highly explicit and grotesque scenes, and is unlike any other movie about the rich and the poor. Plus, it has catapulted Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s 2000s banger “Murder on the Dancefloor” back on the music charts, thanks to one memorable (and graphic) dance scene.

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8 ‘Ready or Not’ (2019)

Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillen

In Ready or Not, Grace (Samara Weaving) is eager to fit into her new husband’s wealthy family, and on their wedding night is forced to play a seemingly innocent game of hide and seek. However, the twisted rituals of the family are revealed, and Grace learns that this is no ordinary game. She must survive the night as her new family hunts her down with the intent to kill.

Things turn brutal and bloody as this bride is forced to fight for her life in a darkly comedic film that pokes fun at the rich in the most extreme way. The black comedy in Ready or Not is brilliantly executed, making for a fun yet thematic flick. Weaving is fantastic in the lead, and the image of Grace in her blood-soaked wedding dress, smoking a cigarette, and sighing while saying “F*cking rich people” will forever be iconic.

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7 ‘Knives Out’ (2019)

Directed by Rian Johnson

Rian Johnson’s twisty whodunit Knives Out is the kind of good old-fashioned murder mystery audiences love, and rarely gets made anymore. Supported by a star-studded cast, Daniel Craig plays detective Benoit Blanc. Blanc investigates the eccentric and wealthy Thrombey family when their patriarch Harlan (Christopher Plummer) is murdered after his birthday. Everyone is a suspect, and frankly, any of the Thrombeys could have done it. They are all significantly terrible people.

Working-class nurse Marta (Ana de Armas) is forced to deal with the greedy and combative family, who see her as lesser than and can’t even name what country she’s from. However, Marta is much smarter than they think she is, and unravels the mystery all on her own. In another neat twist, the narrative sees Marta end up on top and deservedly hold power over the family, making this more than your Agatha Christie-inspired affair.

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6 ‘Us’ (2019)

Directed by Jordan Peele

While Get Out used horror to explore racism in the United States, Jordan Peele’s follow-up Us uses the genre to tackle themes surrounding classism. The film follows an upper-class family on vacation who are hunted down by their own doppelgängers. Academy-Award winner Lupita Nyongo gives a chilling dual performance as mother Adelaide and her unnerving other half, Red.

Although the lookalike family is more grotesque and monstrous in appearance, it is revealed that this is because they live in an underground community that has been discarded from society, with no home or resources. Peele’s film creatively and creepily alludes to the dangers of marginalization, and the repercussions for those who enforce it. Us further cements the director as one of the most interesting voices working in horror today, who can deliver smarts as well as scares.

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5 ‘Snowpiercer’ (2013)

Directed by Bong Joon-ho

It turns out the Oscar-winning film Parasite was not the first time director Bong Joon-ho had tackled class warfare. His 2013 post-apocalyptic thriller Snowpiercer also did so, but in an extremely different way and on a larger scale in terms of action. The movie is set on a class-divided train that circles a frozen and uninhabited earth, with the remaining survivors living on board.

The lower-class citizens reside in the back carriage under inhumane conditions, while the wealthy live indulgently near the front. Curtis (Chris Evans) leads his fellow passengers in the fight to the front of the locomotive in order to gain control of the engine and their lives. Snowpiercer’s unique setting makes for a spectacular visual and thematic metaphor, and quite literally takes viewers on a turbulent and thrilling ride. Snowpiercer would undoubtedly make a perfect double feature with Joon-ho’s other award-winning take on class.

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4 ‘Joker’ (2019)

Directed by Todd Phillips

Joker took the average comic book movie and flipped it on its head with its dark and disturbing analysis of societal issues. A grounded take on the famous Batman villain, Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) is mentally troubled and constantly shunned by society, until he decides to embrace a life of chaos and crime. This leads him into a downward spiral that makes for the origins of the deranged Joker.

Constantly laughed at, beaten, and down on his luck, the aspiring comedian becomes an accidental hero for the lower class in Gotham City, igniting riots and violence against the wealthy who look down on people like him. It’s a story where the Clown Prince of Crime ends up on top rather than the Waynes. Joker also has a pivotal message about the importance of helping those less fortunate than us, rather than rejecting them.

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3 ‘Triangle of Sadness’ (2022)

Directed by Ruben Östlund

Winner of the prestigious Palme d’Or award at the Cannes Film Festival and nominated for several Academy Awards, Triangle of Sadness is a wickedly bizarre romp that relishes in its absurdity and is definitely not for the faint of heart. When a cruise for the super-rich sinks, the survivors become stranded on a desert island, from high-class guests to working-class employees.

With one of the ship’s cleaners, Abigail (Dolly De Leon), being the only resourceful person in the group of survivors, the social hierarchy shifts and the wealthy are no longer in charge. On sea things were different, but on land, the rich are no longer in their element, and now ‘the help’ holds the power. Triangle of Sadness is a class comedy that holds back no punches with its bold satire, taking aim at the rich in stomach-churning, outrageous, and darkly satisfying fashion.

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Directed by Mark Mylod

Horror-comedy The Menu follows a young couple (Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult) who travel to a remote island to dine at an exclusive restaurant. The head chef (Ralph Fiennes) has an artistic and scientific approach to cuisine, but his offerings take a disturbing turn, much to the shock of his wealthy guests. The film is directed by Mark Mylod, who previously tackled the subject of horrible rich people by directing several episodes of the hit TV series Succession.

Seamlessly blending genuinely horrific moments with laugh-out-loud comedy, The Menu serves up an eat-the-rich tale unlike any other. Its biting satire doesn’t spare anyone – from phone-obsessed socialites to food documentary filmmakers – the film manages to critique in a self-aware and wholly original manner. The Menu is deliciously twisted and bitingly hilarious, taking the meaning of ‘eat-the-rich’ to a whole new level.

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1 ‘Parasite’ (2019)

Directed by Bong Joon-ho

Bong Joon-ho’s Academy Award-winning masterpiece takes the cake when it comes to eat-the-rich films, and is one of the greatest cinematic works of the twenty-first century. Set in South Korea, Parasite follows the poor and struggling Kim family, who slowly make their way into the lives of the wealthy Park family when their son (Choi Woo-shik) is employed by them.

Using smarts and deceit, the entire family becomes employed as they infiltrate the house and live off the wealth of the Parks in a parasitic fashion. Parasite is a scathing look at the ignorance of the rich, and a deep dive into class warfare as the relationship between both families takes dark twists and turns. Parasite resonated with audiences everywhere, famously sweeping the 2020 Academy Awards and becoming the first foreign-language film to win Best Picture.

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