“Eat the Rich” From French Philosophy to Blood Soaked Satire in Ready or Not

Portrait of Jean Jacques Rousseau, an 18th-century philosopher known for his works on social contract theory and critiques of inequality.

The phrase “Eat the Rich” has become a rallying cry against the excesses of wealth and privilege, but its roots trace back to a chillingly literal origin. Coined by Enlightenment philosopher Jean Jacques Rousseau, the full quote is often paraphrased from “When the people shall have nothing more to eat, they will eat the rich.” It was a critique of economic inequality and the moral rot of the aristocracy, a sentiment born during the French Revolution that remains potent today.

Over time, “Eat the Rich” evolved into a modern day cultural and political slogan, especially popular during moments of economic downturn, corporate scandal, or social unrest. It serves as shorthand for the resentment many feel toward wealth hoarding, systemic inequality, and the perceived disconnect between the elite and everyday people. Unsurprisingly, this trope found fertile ground in film.

The Trope in Cinema

Filmmakers have long used “Eat the Rich” to satirize class divide and skewer the elite. Jordan Peele’s Get Out, Us, and The Menu exemplify this, as do Parasite, Knives Out, and Triangle of Sadness. These films often feature wealthy characters using tradition or decorum to mask monstrous behavior, only to be undone by the very systems they cling to.

But few modern films embrace the chaotic energy of this trope quite like Ready or Not (2019).

Ready or Not and Class Warfare in a Wedding Dress

In the horror satire Ready or Not, the newlywed Grace (Samara Weaving) is forced into a deadly game of hide and seek by her husband’s ultra wealthy family. What begins as a quirky family tradition escalates into a literal bloodbath, as each family member tries to murder her to satisfy a demonic pact. The Le Domas family represents everything “Eat the Rich” critiques: generational wealth, elitism, and blind loyalty to outdated power structures.

As explored in the Fandom Portals podcast episode, the film doesn’t shy away from symbolic detail. Grace’s wedding dress, for instance, becomes a visual metaphor for her transformation from hopeful bride to blood splattered survivor. As the hosts Aaron and Brad highlight, the deterioration of her dress mirrors her rejection of the wealthy patriarchy she marries into. They also note how the wealthy characters are ironically incompetent, reliant on the help to do their dirty work, who are in turn treated as expendable.

A bride in a wedding dress is crouching under a bed, looking tense, while a man in formal attire sits nearby, appearing anxious.

By the climax, when the curse proves real and the entire Le Domas family explodes in a gruesome eruption, the film leans fully into the catharsis promised by its themes. As Aaron points out on Fandom Portals, “For the first time in their lives, the rich are powerless.” It’s a delicious reversal, the elite destroyed not by rebellion or uprising, but by their own hubris.

A Sequel and a Legacy

The upcoming sequel, tentatively titled Ready or Not Here I Come, will see Samara Weaving return alongside new cast members like Sarah Michelle Gellar and Elijah Wood. As discussed on Fandom Portals, the sequel might explore other families who’ve made similar dark bargains, expanding the mythology and perhaps deepening the critique of inherited power and privilege.

Final Thoughts

“Eat the Rich” in Ready or Not is not just a slogan, it’s a full throttle metaphor. The film skewers the elite by placing them in a ridiculous but revealing horror game that peels back their justifications and rituals to show what they really are: scared, fragile, and desperate to keep their throne. And Grace? She’s not just a Final Girl, she’s the revolution wrapped in tulle and smeared in ash.

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