When it comes to entertainment, movies are one of the most universally treasured platforms, serving as an escape into alternate realities across space, time and perspective. They can provide comic relief, emotional support, dark skepticism and every emotion on the human spectrum. Like the best forms of entertainment, they are also used to protest convention, and encourage us to think differently about our past, present and future. If you want to get into the specifics of finance, a good place to start that’s both educational and entertaining is the movie industry. According to the internet movie database, these are the top 10 movies about finance (banks, stock market and Wall street)
1. Wall Street (1987)
A young and impatient stockbroker is willing to do anything to get to the top, including trading on illegal inside information taken through a ruthless and greedy corporate raider who takes the youth under his wing. (126 mins.)
Director: Oliver Stone
Stars: Charlie Sheen, Michael Douglas, Tamara Tunie, Franklin Cover
2. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stock-broker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government. (180 mins.)
Director: Martin Scorsese
Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie, Matthew McConaughey
3.Inside Job (2010 Documentary)
Takes a closer look at what brought about the 2008 financial meltdown. (105 mins.)
Director: Charles Ferguson
Stars: Matt Damon, Gylfi Zoega, Andri Snær Magnason, Sigridur Benediktsdottir
4.Boiler Room (2000)
A college dropout gets a job as a broker for a suburban investment firm, which puts him on the fast track to success, but the job might not be as legitimate as it sounds. (120 mins.)
Director: Ben Younger
Stars: Giovanni Ribisi, Vin Diesel, Nia Long, Nicky Katt
5.The Big Short (2015)
Four denizens in the world of high-finance predict the credit and housing bubble collapse of the mid-2000s, and decide to take on the big banks for their greed and lack of foresight. (130 mins.)
Director: Adam McKay
Stars: Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt
6.Trading Places (1983)
A snobbish investor and a wily street con artist find their positions reversed as part of a bet by two callous millionaires. (116 mins.)
Director: John Landis
Stars: Eddie Murphy, Dan Aykroyd, Ralph Bellamy, Don Ameche
7. Margin Call (2011)
Follows the key people at an investment bank, over a 24-hour period, during the early stages of the 2008 financial crisis. (107 mins.)
Director: J.C. Chandor
Stars: Zachary Quinto, Stanley Tucci, Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany
8.Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010)
Now out of prison but still disgraced by his peers, Gordon Gekko works his future son-in-law, an idealistic stock broker, when he sees an opportunity to take down a Wall Street enemy and rebuild his empire. (133 mins.)
Director: Oliver Stone
Stars: Shia LaBeouf, Michael Douglas, Carey Mulligan, Josh Brolin
9.Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005 Documentary)
A documentary about the Enron corporation, its faulty and corrupt business practices, and how they led to its fall. (110 mins.)
Director: Alex Gibney
Stars: John Beard, Tim Belden, Barbara Boxer, George W. Bush
10.Too Big to Fail (2011 TV Movie)
Chronicles the financial meltdown of 2008 and centers on Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson. (99 mins.)
Director: Curtis Hanson
Stars: James Woods, John Heard, William Hurt, Erin Dilly
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