What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedSaltburn
Emerald Fennell · Film · 2023
If you loved Saltburn, start with Patrick Melrose (David Nicholls, 2018) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Saltburn across media.
If Saltburn hooked you, it is because you are drawn to the toxic allure of elite worlds concealing dark, obsessive secrets.
Books on the same thread
The Secret History
Donna Tartt · Book · 1993
Explores: Secrets, Guilt, Moral Ambiguity.
Like Saltburn, this novel explores the dangerous insulation of a privileged academic bubble, where intense obsession and moral ambiguity lead to a devastating unraveling of social boundaries.
Come and Get It
Kiley Reid · Book
Explores: class disparity, power dynamics, moral ambiguity.
You will recognize the sharp class critique found in Saltburn here, as the story navigates the uncomfortable power dynamics and moral gray areas inherent in university environments.
Atonement
Ian McEwan · Book · 2007
Shares a thread with Saltburn: Class Conflict.
Much like the obsession depicted in Saltburn, this narrative examines how childhood perceptions and rigid class structures can lead to irreversible consequences and a lifetime of hidden guilt.
Saltwater
Katy Hays · Book · 2026
Explores: buried secrets, generational trauma, class privilege.
This psychological drama mirrors the unsettling atmosphere of Saltburn, focusing on an opulent family forced to confront the dark, buried secrets that threaten their long-standing sense of privilege.
Series on the same thread
Succession
Jesse Armstrong · Series · 2018
Shares a thread with Saltburn: Dark Comedy.
Fans of the wealthy, dysfunctional dynamics in Saltburn will gravitate toward this series for its masterful exploration of how extreme power and corporate intrigue corrupt human relationships.
The White Lotus
Mike White · Series · 2021
Shares 3 threads with Saltburn: Privilege, Class Conflict, Dark Comedy.
This series captures the same biting social satire seen in Saltburn, exposing the dark, complex underbelly of the elite as they clash with those outside their privileged circle.
Patrick Melrose
David Nicholls · Series · 2018
Explores: Trauma, Addiction, Upper-class dysfunction.
If the upper-class dysfunction in Saltburn intrigued you, this series offers a similarly harrowing, dark look at the trauma and decay hidden behind the facade of aristocratic wealth.
Killing Eve
Phoebe Waller-Bridge · Series · 2018
Shares a thread with Saltburn: Psychological Thriller.
The intense, consuming obsession that drives the characters in Saltburn is mirrored here, creating a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game defined by psychological complexity and blurred moral lines.
Podcasts on the same thread
S-Town
Serial Productions · Podcast · 2024
Explores: small-town isolation, eccentricity, social decay.
This investigation into the eccentricity of a wealthy family echoes the voyeuristic fascination with social decay and hidden privilege that makes Saltburn so compelling to watch.
Slow Burn
Slate Podcasts · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Political scandal, Archival research, Cultural impact.
Just as Saltburn peels back the layers of a seemingly perfect life, this series uncovers the surprising, dark truths hidden within influential circles and significant historical moments.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Saltburn set at Oxford University?
The film begins at Oxford University, where student Oliver Quick struggles to find his place. He eventually meets the aristocratic Felix Catton, who invites him to spend the summer at his family's sprawling estate, Saltburn.
Who invites Oliver Quick to the Saltburn estate?
Oliver Quick is invited to the Saltburn estate by Felix Catton. Felix is a charming and aristocratic student who draws Oliver into his eccentric family life for a summer that becomes unforgettable.
What is the premise of the movie Saltburn?
Saltburn follows Oliver Quick, a student struggling to fit in at Oxford University. He becomes fascinated by the wealthy Felix Catton, who brings him to his family's eccentric estate for a summer stay that changes everything.
Where does the story of Saltburn take place?
The narrative of Saltburn takes place across two primary locations. It begins at Oxford University, where the protagonist Oliver Quick is a student, and later moves to the sprawling, eccentric estate owned by the Catton family.