Eat The Rich: Capitalism and Consequences on Film

Films and TV shows often deal with the effects of capitalism and financial success. There has been a rise in the popularity of stories about the affluent, their extravagant ways of living, and their difficulties. It’s a fascinating occurrence that makes me wonder about the function of entertainment in modern society, the current state of capitalism, and the people who are actually affected by its negative effects.

History of Eat The Rich films

The concept of eat the rich is centuries old and can be found throughout literature and film. A critique of capitalism and the excesses of the wealthy is offered in films and TV shows that deal with this topic. The stories here prompt us to consider how the accumulation of wealth and influence affects our culture.

Italian director Lina Wertmüller created a series of films in the ’70s titled Eat The Wealthy, which explored the Eat The Rich theme. For example, the working class man in The Seduction of Mimi is drawn into politics, only to be betrayed by the rich and powerful. The film serves as a critique of the working class’s exploitation in Italy.

Oliver Stone, an American director active in the 1980s, made several films that took aim at capitalism’s excesses. The protagonist of the 1987 film Wall Street (Brad Pitt) is a young stockbroker who falls in love with a wealthy investor and is enamoured by the glitz and glitter of Wall Street’s money and success. This film addressed the greed and corruption of the banking sector.

Recent Eat The Rich Films & TV shows

The White Lotus

The White Lotus, a satirical drama airing on HBO in 2021, is a prime example of the Eat The Rich theme. The series critiques the opulence of the rich and the power imbalance between the hotel’s employees and their affluent patrons. The show follows the guests of the White Lotus hotel in Hawaii as they deal with their problems and the consequences of their privilege. It shows the effects of wealth and the struggles of those who serve and those who are served through several interconnected storylines. This show is an example of Eat The Rich theme in modern television.

Triangle of Sadness

Triangle of Sadness was produced by Ruben Östlund and released in 2022. Both the excesses and the power dynamics of the fashion business are shown in the film. Narcissism and hedonism are criticised, as is the exploitation of the workforce, through several interconnected narratives in this film. Eating the Rich is a common theme in the modern film industry, and Triangle of Sadness is its prime example.

The Menu

Mark Toh directed the dark comedy The Menu in 2022, revealing the seedy underbelly of a fancy restaurant. The restaurant’s wealthy and influential customers dine on exotic and exclusive dishes, but the protagonists quickly learn that not everything is as it seems. The film is a scathing indictment of the luxury service industry’s power disparity with its clientele.

Squid Game

The plot of the South Korean thriller series Squid Game revolves around 456 low-income participants who enter a hidden survival game for the chance to win 45.6 billion won. Wealthy society elites create and run the game, which pits contestants against each other in lethal challenges for the chance to earn a fortune.

The Eat the Rich theme is emphasised throughout the show by contrasting the desperate poverty of the contestants with the opulence of the elites who run the show for their own amusement. The games are meant to demonstrate the disparity in wealth and power by taking advantage of the competitors’ weaknesses.

The Popularity of Eat The Rich theme in Films

The rising popularity of the Eat The Rich theme in films and TV shows is a response to the increasing amount of wealth and control in the hands of a few individuals and companies. It is also a reflection of a growing awareness of the inequities in our society.

Not only do these tales reveal the seedier side of capitalism, but they also cause us to question the morality of our economic system. They frequently show regular people’s struggles to make it in a world that largely benefits the rich and powerful. They often emphasise the role that structural variables like race, class, and gender play in maintaining these inequalities.

Eat The Rich can be a call to action and motivate audiences to question the status quo and advocate for positive change. They inspire us to picture a world where everyone, regardless of who they are or where they come from, has access to the same opportunities for growth and prosperity.

The use of The Eat The Rich theme in films and TV shows is a potent instrument for illuminating the ills of capitalism and the repercussions of wealth. They allow us to analyse and evaluate the world around us and the factors that influence it. As viewers, we have an obligation to consider the films we watch and how they might shape our worldviews. We can all do our part to create a more equitable and just community by paying attention to these narratives.

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Posted By

Shaquilla Alexander

Founder + Film Editor / Sharing her thoughts on all things film! When she's not writing about filmmaking for So Theory Goes, she is writing weekly posts for her new video editing platform, Working Womxn. workingwomxn.com