Well, in the world of finance and the stock market, you can learn many new things and movies are a great way to learn. There are various Hollywood movies out there based on the stock market and finance and you will learn something new from each and every movie.
In this article, I am going to mention the 10 best stock market and finance related movies that are must-watch for every investor. Most of the movies are based on the 2008 financial crisis and some of them are just normal crime-drama and black comedy.
Especially if you are not a book reader, just try to watch these movies or documentaries based on the stock market and it will help you understand may things about the financial markets.
10 Best Stock Market Movies
Table of Contents
1. Margin Call (2011)
Margin Call, written and directed by J. C. Chandor is one of the most financially accurate movies set during the 2008 financial crisis. The movie was released on 25th Jan 2011. The main story takes place over 24 hours at a big Wall Street investment bank through the initial stages of the financial crisis.
The movie specifically focuses on the bailout of investment bank Bear Stearns, the collapse of its rival Lehman Brothers, and how defaults on mortgage-backed underlying assets extend the crisis from wall street to the main street. The Margin Call also explores investment fraud, capitalism, and greed. Good writing, relatable story, and factual accuracy makes it one of the best movies on the stock market and finance.
2. The Big Short (2015)
The Big Short is an American biographical drama movie directed by Adam McKay based on the 2007-2008 financial crisis. The movie is based on a book named The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by author Michael Lewis showing how the financial crisis was triggered by the United States housing bubble in 2007-2008.
The movie consists of three different but parallel stories, loosely correlated by their activities in the years leading up to the 2007 housing market crash. The movie is also praised for some unconventional techniques it uses to explain the financial instruments, making it one of the best movies on the stock market and finance.
3. Inside Job (2010)
Inside Job is a documentary movie about the financial crisis, directed by Charles Ferguson. According to its director, the movie is about “the systemic corruption of the United States by the financial services industry and the consequences of that systemic corruption”. In five different parts, the movie explores how changes in the policy conditions and banking systems helped shape the financial crisis.
Inside Job was praised by movie critics, especially for its research, and exposition of complex material and pacing. It is probably the best documentary movie ever produced on the stock market and finance and making it a must-watch movie.
4. Wall Street (1987)
Wall Street is a Hollywood drama movie, directed by Oliver Stone. The movie narrates the story of a young stockbroker Bud Fox, who becomes involved with Gordon Gekko, a wealthy, immoral corporate predator. The movie became successful and well-received among major film critics. Michal Douglas also won the Academy Award for Best Actor, who played Gordon Gekko.
Wall Street represents itself within a number of morality conflicts fixing wealth and power against integrity and honesty and makes it one of the best movies on the stock market and finance.
5. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
Released in 2013, The Wolf of Wall Street is a Hollywood comedy movie written by Terence Winter and directed by Martin Scorsese, based on the 2007 biography of the same name by author Jordan Belfort. It describes Belfort’s view on his profession as a stockbroker in New York City and how his firm, Stratton Oakmont, involved in corruption and scam on Wall Street, which eventually led to his fall.
The movie’s story focuses on Stratton Oakmont, an OTC brokerage firm, and a pump and dump strategy that supported the IPO of many large public companies in the late 80s and 90s. It is considered as one of the best movies in Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill’s careers and one of the best movies on the stock market.
6. Rogue Trader (1999)
Rogue Trader is an English biographical movie written and directed by James Dearden, starring Ewan McGregor. The film focuses on the life of former stockbroker Nick Leeson and the fall of Barings Bank in 1995. The movie was based on the book Rogue Trader: How I Brought Down Barings Bank and Shook the Financial World by author Nick Leeson, published in 1996.
The movie is quite entertaining, but the story makes for a fabulous lesson in risk management and financial mistakes. Overall, it is a must-watch and one of the best movies on the stock market and finance.
7. Trading Places (1983)
Directed by John Landis and starring Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy, Trading Places is a Hollywood comedy movie. The movie narrates the tale of an upper-class commodities broker and a homeless street fanatic whose lives cross paths when they are unknowingly made part of an extensive bet.
The movie’s storyline is frequently called as the modern take on author Mark Twain’s famous novel The Prince and the Pauper. Amazing performance from the main cast and interesting storyline makes it one of the best movies on the stock market and finance.
8. Limitless (2011)
Released in 2011, Limitless is a science fiction thriller movie written by Leslie Dixon and directed by Neil Burger. The movie is based on the 2001 novel The Dark Fields by author Alan Glynn. Although this movie is about a certain drug, there are many elements of the stock market and finance and a must-watch movie.
The movie is praised by critics and fans as well and it is easily one of the best stock market and finance related movies.
9. Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
Directed by James Foley, Glengarry Glen Ross is a 1992 Hollywood drama film from his 1984 Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name. The film represents two days in the lives of four real estate agents and how desirous they become when their corporate trainer tells them that, in a week’s time, all except the top two salespeople will be fired.
The movie has had an abiding legacy for its remarkable dialogue and performances, especially that of Alec Baldwin, whose role was created just for the film adaptation. It is easily one of the best and must-watch movies on finance.
10. Too Big to Fail (2011)
Too Big to Fail is a biographical drama TV film first broadcasted on HBO on May 23, 2011, based on a non-fiction book Too Big to Fail: The Inside Story of How Wall Street and Washington Fought to Save the Financial System—and Themselves by Andrew Ross Sorkin. The movie was directed by Curtis Hanson and is a critically acclaimed movie based on the 2008 financial crisis.
Too Big to Fail records 2008 financial crisis, centering on the actions of U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson played by William Hurt and Ben Bernanke played by Paul Giamatti, Chairman of the Federal Reserve System (FED), to limit the problems during the period of August 2008 to October 13, 2008.
The Bottom Line
For traders and investors, it is always good to be knowledgeable about the world of finance and the stock market in order to make sensible investment decisions and understand the economy and environment that influence your investments.
If you’re not a moviegoer or do not like the exaggerated movies and twisted facts, you can always read the books. Here is the list of best books on the stock market that every investor should read.
