Before Saltburn, There Was Ripley

Amazon Prime Video has recently added a psychological thriller that has reignited debates about cinematic influence. The Talented Mr. Ripley, the 1999 classic starring Matt Damon, Jude Law, and Gwyneth Paltrow, is being hailed by some as the original Saltburn, given their strikingly similar themes of deception, obsession, and social climbing.

Both films follow outsiders who become infatuated with the lavish lifestyles of the wealthy, going to extreme lengths to insert themselves into an elite world. However, while Saltburn unfolds in the eerie, aristocratic countryside of Britain, The Talented Mr. Ripley, based on Patricia Highsmith’s 1955 novel, is set against the sun-drenched glamour of Italy.

Damon’s Tom Ripley is a gifted con artist who is sent to retrieve Dickie Greenleaf (Jude Law), a wealthy playboy enjoying an extended European vacation. But Tom, captivated by Dickie’s effortless charm and luxurious existence, soon develops a dangerous obsession that leads him down a dark, irreversible path.

Since Saltburn’s release, social media has been buzzing with comparisons. One X user simply declared: “The Talented Mr. Ripley…original Saltburn.” Meanwhile, Reddit users have debated the similarities, with some calling Saltburn a “blatant rip-off” and others defending its originality.

Director Emerald Fennell has since addressed these claims, acknowledging Highsmith’s influence but distancing her film from Ripley. Speaking to Radio Times, she clarified:

“I mean, obviously [Patricia] Highsmith is one of my absolute favourites, but I think that I was sort of looking more at that British Country House tradition of The Go-Between and that sort of very specific British... sort of Joseph Losey world, where class and power and sex all kind of collide in one specific place.”

Despite the debate, both films have carved out their own legacies, with The Talented Mr. Ripley continuing to be celebrated as a masterclass in psychological suspense. One Rotten Tomatoes reviewer described it as “a deep character study about sociopathy, identity, and what we'll do for material and social wealth—all while being upheld by an all-star cast.”

While the question of influence remains open-ended, one thing is clear: both films offer a chilling exploration of ambition, privilege, and the lengths some will go to in pursuit of a life that isn’t theirs.