Emerald Fennell’s polarizing “Saltburn” has joined Letterboxd’s “one million watched” club. Only four other 2023 films have achieved this number — “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”, “Barbie”, “Oppenheimer”, and “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3.”
This is much more than just about the Letterboxd feat. It’s also more confirmation of how “Saltburn” has become a behemoth on streaming — it’s become the most talked about film online, despite only grossing $11 million domestically.
I’m sure you’ve heard of Sophie Ellis Bexter’s song, “Murder On the Dance Floor,” having a renaissance after 22 years. The catchy disco song has become a hit thanks to the film’s final scene, which sees Barry Keoghan’s Oliver dancing naked through the halls of a British mansion.
What got the ball rolling for “Saltburn” was its quick appearance on Prime Video. Amazon’s decision has turned into a very successful one. With tepid box office receipts and mixed reviews, Fennell’s film was about to get lost in the clutter of year-end releases. Streaming more than just saved it — it turned it into a phenomenon.
Yes, “Saltburn,” a film that features a young man slurping up bathtub cum water, is a TikTok sensation. What does that say about today’s culture? The “Saltburn” hashtag on TikTok has garnered almost 3 billion views with an abundance of video homages going viral.
It’s not just the bathwater scene. In another shocking moment, Barry Keoghan weeps over a friend’s grave then pulls down his pants and has sex with the burial ground. Keoghan told Variety the scene was improvised. What a sicko!
There’s been an inordinate amount of reaction videos, with fans recording their faces as they watched the burial and bathwater scenes for the first time. Some Gen Z’ers are even recording their parents’ reactions and those of older family members.
Of course, it’s not just reaction videos that are making waves. The story in “Saltburn” has been the topic of heated discussion, with plenty of analysis to be found online. I found the film to be immensely entertaining, but, also, absolutely ridiculous.
In the meantime, if you can’t get enough of this film, you can buy your very own Jacob Elordi bathwater-scented candle.
I should warn you: based on everything I’ve heard, this teaser is a total misdirection. The movie is not at all what it’s being portrayed as here. In fact, most of the footage in the teaser comes from the first few minutes of the film.