15 Best Quotes From Saltburn

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for SaltburnWritten and directed by Emerald Fennell, Saltburn is a wickedly sharp black comedy, boasting one of 2023's wittiest scripts and providing plenty of delicious quotes for audiences to enjoy. A play on the likes of Evelyn Waugh's Brideshead Revisited, as well as a satire on England's relationship with class, the movie is full of colorful characters delivering killer lines. As such, many of the movie's best quotes are not just hilarious but also help to illuminate the rest of the action and themes.

Saltburn stars Barry Keoghan as Oliver Quick, a student at Oxford University who finds himself drawn towards the charismatic and aristocratic Felix Catton. After revealing his difficult family circumstances, Oliver is invited by Felix to stay at his family's titular Saltburn estate. However, it soon becomes clear that all is not as it seems, sparking a riotous story of lust, love, and violence. Populating the background are members of Felix's eccentric family, who not only help shape the plot but also provide some of Saltburn's best quotes, from the subtly revealing to just laugh-out-loud funny.

15 "I Wasn't In Love With Him..."

Oliver Quick

Oliver's complicated relationship with Felix is a driving force in Saltburn. At times, he seems simultaneously besotted, revolted, and enamored with him – a dynamic that leads to several of Saltburn's most shocking moments. Oliver's opening monologue, in which he outlines several contradictory aspects of their relationship, is therefore crucial in understanding his behavior throughout the rest of the film.

Not only does it establish Oliver as a potentially unreliable narrator, but establishes that Saltburn itself is a movie full of deception and dishonesty. It might be less immediately memorable than other quotes, but it offers great insight into the film's themes. It is also a fascinating monologue to look back on when the movie is over and all the secrets have come out. Suddenly, Oliver's words take on new context and his views towards Felix become a little clearer.

14 "Ask Me A Sum."

Michael Gavey

Oliver's outsider status at Oxford is established early on. One of the funniest ways the film does this is to juxtapose him against the socially inept and often combustible Michael Gavey. A maths prodigy, Gavey attempts to bond with Oliver by displaying his numerical prowess – daring him to "A sk me a sum." This memorably devolves into a screaming match in front of the whole college, with Gavey bellowing at Oliver to "A sk me a f***ing sum, then!"

It may not be the most illuminating Saltburn quote, but Gavey's outburst is shocking and hilarious in equal measure. It also speaks to one of the interesting themes of the movie. While there are aspects of Saltburn that feel like one of the "eat the rich" movies that have become popular, it also comments on people on the outside of high society who, while not as spoiled and self-important, are far from perfect themselves.

13 "Oh, But, Darling, You’re Kind About Everyone. You Can’t Be Trusted."

Elspeth Catton

When Oliver arrives at Saltburn, he is greeted as a welcomed guest but is also viewed like some wounded animal with Elspeth in particular looking at him with fascination rather than as another human being. Her first scene is a perfect testament to her personality, which can be kind and warm on the outside with an underlying coldness that she is not even aware of.

Upon looking at Oliver for the first time, she is immediately taken by his eyes and compliments him on them. Felix points out that he already told his mother that Oliver wasn't unattractive but Elspeth responds by suggesting that Felix can't be trusted because he is always kind about everyone. It is a hilariously subtle line that shows Elspeth doesn't see the value in being kind to everyone and is actually annoyed by the idea.

12 "Hi, Granny!"

Felix Catton

Oliver's arrival at Saltburn is a moment of wonder for both him and the audience. The estate's history, size, and splendor are awe-inspiring from an outside perspective, and clearly captivate Oliver from the outset. However, the movie hilariously contrasts this with the ostentatiously casual attitude displayed by Felix when he gives his guest the grand tour. Pointing out a succession of "ghastly" paintings by the Dutch painter Vermeer, he then waves his hand at some portraits of "dead rellies" before finally mentioning the ghost of his grandmother who inhabits one of the bedrooms.

Greeting her with a supplicatory "Hi, Granny!" instantly established Saltburn as a house unlike any other in the funniest way possible. It is a quirky little moment that helps to establish the long and storied history that the family has had on these grounds. That makes it all the more impactful with what becomes of the estate in the end.

11 "We're All About To Lose Our Minds."

Venetia Catton

Felix's younger sister, Venetia, is secretly one of the most observant and prescient characters in the movie. This is typified by her remarks about the upcoming full moon. Made before the full extent of Saltburn's madness is made clear, her prediction that "We're all about to lose our minds" is not only a great piece of foreshadowing but also alerts the viewer to the fact that this house and these characters are a potentially explosive combination. It may seem off the cuff, but this comment sets the tone for the rest of the movie.

Truly, Saltburn does veer into some wild areas as it goes along with Venetia's words certainly ringing true in retrospect. However, the line also speaks to the idea that few characters in the movie are without blame. The audience's alliance or tolerance for certain characters can shift throughout the movie, and at various times it does feel as though each of them "loses their mind".

10 "Lots Of People Get Lost In Saltburn."

Duncan

Another incredibly perceptive comment is made by the valet, Duncan, as both an observation and a warning. Said to Oliver as he examined some of the house's collection of artifacts, the remark suggests that Duncan is all too aware of the intoxicating effect that the house and the Cattons' lifestyle can have on anyone not already inoculated. Considering what is later revealed about Oliver's plan to murder the house's inhabitants and claim Saltburn for himself, these words only become more significant as the film progresses.

It is also interesting that Duncan would be the one to deliver this line. While most of the estate takes a liking to Oliver early on, Duncan seems to be immediately dismissive of the newcomer and remains that way for his entire stay. This early line could be interpreted as Duncan seeing what everyone else fails to see and suggesting that Oliver does not belong.

9 "They Keep Getting Lost In The Maze."

Duncan

Saltburn has moments of laugh-out-loud hilarity as well as moments of some truly disturbing dark scenes. However, it is also able to meld the two tones in some memorable moments of dark comedy. Following the climactic party, Felix is discovered to have died of an apparent overdose in the middle of the estate's massive maze. The family attempts to carry on as normal in the wake of the tragedy, sitting down to lunch.

It is already a grim yet absurd scene as everyone takes their own approach to dealing with the loss. The false reality the family is trying to maintain is momentarily shattered in a hilarious way as Duncan interrupts the meal to inform them that the police are having an issue removing the body as they keep getting lost in the maze. Even in the shock of Felix's death, it is hard not to laugh at this moment.

8 "It Couldn't Have Been About Me. I've Never Wanted To Know Anything."

Elspeth Catton

Elspeth Catton, Felix's gloriously arch mother, is probably the funniest character in the movie. Equal parts malicious, vulnerable, dry, and pompous, she embodies the Cattons' casual privilege, dropping extraordinary anecdotes with a triviality that only makes them more impactful. Her remarks about the Pulp song "Common People" are a perfect example.

Discussing a rumor that she was the real inspiration for Jarvis Cocker's lyrics about a young woman who "Came from Greece and had a thirst for knowledge," Elspeth coquettishly explains how it couldn't possibly have been about her as she's "never wanted to know anything," despite her connection to the band. The mere suggestion that she could have inspired one of the greatest indie rock songs ever instantly reveals just how significant a figure Elspeth is, with her blasé attitude to this status providing a witty insight into her character.

7 "So You’re A Norman No-mates Too, Then, Oliver Quick?"

Michael Gavey

The social hierarchy as explored in Saltburn is very insightful. When Oliver arrives at the university, Michael is the only one to welcome him as a potential friend. When Michael points out that, like himself, Oliver doesn't have any friends, Oliver is confused as he assumes all of the new students would be in the same situation. It is a moment of showing how new Oliver is to this world that he doesn't even realize that he is an outsider.

However, this can also be seen as a moment of learning for Oliver. Understanding that the more privileged kids have their own social circles already established, Oliver sees that people like Michael are who he is expected to become friends with. It feels like Oliver makes a decision at that moment to avoid such a social fate and find his way into the more prestigious inner circle.

6 "Ah, It Can’t Have Been Easy For Venetia. With You Being Her Mother."

Oliver Quick

When Oliver first arrives in Saltburn, he does seem out of place and is viewed as an oddity. However, any sense of intimidation drifts away as it becomes clear that Oliver knows how to endear himself with the various family members. In the case of Elspeth, Oliver plays into her vanity, and her desires to both be envied and hold onto her youth. When Oliver suggests Venitia had a difficult childhood with Elspeth as her mother, she asks why that would be and Oliver responds, "Because you're so f**king beautiful."

It is a moment that shows the boldness of Oliver but also his cunning in recognizing the importance of connecting with Elspeth. While it is Felix who he first forms a connection with, Elspeth proves to be the most important pawn in Oliver's plan as she is the one who truly sees him as part of the family in the end, failing to recognize the monster the rest of her family came to know him as.

5 "You Won't Go?"

James Catton

Though Oliver's lies about his own family life shatter the image he had over much of the movie, it is still possible to see him as a sympathetic character who simply got caught up in the intoxicating life of luxury and wealth. However, in the aftermath of Felix's death, the audience and the other characters begin to see Oliver's more sinister side and the control he has over the Cattons.

While the family patriarch, James Catton, is somewhat aloof and spacey for much of the movie, after losing two children, he attempts to seize back some control. He meets with Oliver and, despite Elspeth wanting him to stay, James suggests it would be best that Oliver leaves so the family can grieve in peace. When Oliver suggests that would, in fact, not be best for Elspeth, James comes to the chilling realization that Oliver has become a leech on the family who won't be easily removed.

4 "I Don't Think You're A Spider. I Think You're A Moth."

Venetia Catton

Venetia and Oliver's complex dynamic is one of the most compelling storylines in Saltburn. While it initially seems that Venetia has the upper hand, Oliver is soon able to turn the tables – as he is on all the Cattons. One quote from Venetia simultaneously reveals how perceptive she is, while also revealing the extent to which she underestimates Oliver.

Immediately, she can recognize that Oliver wants something more than a memorable summer in the country, likening him to a "moth" drawn towards Saltburn's flame. However, she mistakenly believes him to be, "Quiet, harmless, drawn to shiny things, batting up against the window, just desperate to get in." It is a stinging assessment, but "harmless" proves to be quite incorrect. This is an early warning sign that there's much more to Oliver than meets the eye – a precursor to Saltburn's dramatic twist ending.

3 "Only Rich People Can Afford To Be This Filthy."

Oliver Quick

The extreme hedonism of the wealthy is on full display throughout Saltburn, and the movie's attitude towards it is neatly summed up by this quote from Oliver. Made as a comment about the state of Felix's room at university, it draws a stark contrast between the two characters, while also providing a window into Oliver's true feelings about his new friend. Even though Oliver is clearly infatuated with Felix, this moment makes it clear that his attitude is more complex than straightforward devotion – explaining how he can behave so coldly as the movie continues.

Oliver has a certain seething contempt for these people as he cannot get away with the easy passes that they can based on their wealth. However, the line also speaks to his own jealousy, indicating that he certainly would act the way they would if he were in their privileged position.

2 "Bring On The Slutty Faeries."

Farleigh Start

The contrast between high and low culture is a key theme in Saltburn. Throughout the film, the Cattons are seen watching films like The Ring and enjoying karaoke, in contrast to the austere surroundings of the estate. The family's complicated relationship with notions of class is on full display in this hilarious one-liner from adopted family member Farleigh Start.

A reference to Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, the quote lays bare how the Cattons represent the confluence of two worlds – one of low-brow smuttiness and indulgence, and another of more stereotypically impenetrable high culture. This combination makes them simultaneously beguiling and appalling – the attitude Oliver is continually wrestling with. However, the line also speaks to the way they see such art as disposable fun, not looking any deeper and using it as decoration.

1 "She'd Do Anything For Attention."

Elspeth Catton

Perhaps the funniest and darkest line in the entire film, Elspeth's off-hand remark about her friend Poor Dear Pamela's death reveals just how detached the Cattons really are. Even though the family all but condemned her to her fate, kicking her out and leaving her at the mercy of her Russian lover, they are all remarkably unconcerned with what happened and their responsibility – especially Elspeth.

This moment reveals how the family really feels about those they consider beneath them, which undoubtedly includes Oliver. While not justifying his later actions, it does suggest that the Cattons are much more than simple victims in Saltburn. The movie makes it clear that there are no characters who escape unblemished in the story as this is a world of flawed individuals from different stations in life clashing without regard for each other's humanity.