The Best Financial Movies to Watch for Market Insights and Drama

May 09, 2025

Here is a list of films about stocks and financial markets, complete with brief synopses:

🎬 1. The Big Short (2015)

Synopsis: This film portrays the 2008 financial crisis, telling the story of a few investors who predicted the housing market collapse and capitalized on it, despite skepticism and rejection from most of the industry.
Why Watch: It provides a clever and entertaining explanation of the complexities of financial markets and the risks involved.

🎬 2. Wall Street (1987)

Synopsis: The film follows Bud Fox, an ambitious young man working on Wall Street, who connects with Gordon Gekko, a billionaire known for his principle "Greed is good," leading Bud into the world of stock manipulation.
Why Watch: It gives a view of questionable business ethics in the stock market.

🎬 3. Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010)

Synopsis: A sequel to Wall Street, this film highlights Gordon Gekko's life after his release from prison, set against the backdrop of the 2008 financial crisis. The main character, Jacob Moore, seeks to uncover the truth behind Wall Street's collapse.
Why Watch: It shows the impact of the financial crisis on both the stock market and personal lives.

🎬 4. Boiler Room (2000)

Synopsis: A young, ambitious man enters the world of illegal stock trading, working at a brokerage firm involved in fraud. The film portrays market manipulation and its impact on personal morality.
Why Watch: It illustrates fraud and the risks in the world of brokerage firms.

🎬 5. Margin Call (2011)

Synopsis: Set during the 2008 financial crisis, executives at an investment bank face difficult decisions when they discover shocking truths about the risks they are carrying. Over 24 hours, they try to minimize the damage that could shake the financial market.
Why Watch: It highlights the dynamics of quick decisions during a financial crisis.

🎬 6. Inside Job (2010) – Documentary

Synopsis: This documentary delves into the causes of the 2008 global financial crisis, featuring interviews with key figures and an analysis of the policies that led to the collapse.
Why Watch: It provides an in-depth understanding of the root causes of the financial crisis.

🎬 7. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

Synopsis: Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, a stockbroker who built his business empire through fraud and market manipulation. The film depicts his life filled with wealth, lies, and excessive behavior.
Why Watch: It offers a cynical view of greed and the world of stocks filled with temptations.

🎬 8. Rogue Trader (1999)

Synopsis: Based on the true story of Nick Leeson, who caused the collapse of Barings Bank through risky derivative trading. The film shows how one individual’s actions can destroy a major financial institution.
Why Watch: It demonstrates the huge risks involved in stock and derivative trading.

🎬 9. Too Big to Fail (2011)

Synopsis: The film follows the actions of U.S. government officials, including Henry Paulson, in their efforts to bail out major banks caught in the 2008 global financial crisis.
Why Watch: It presents the policy side of saving major financial institutions deemed "too big to fail."

🎬 10. Betting on Zero (2016) – Documentary

Synopsis: This documentary follows Bill Ackman, an investor who attempts to expose Herbalife as a global pyramid scheme and shorts the company, while other investors fight to keep it alive.
Why Watch: It explores short selling tactics and the dynamics of competition in the stock market.

Each of these films and documentaries provides deep insights into the world of stocks, trading, and financial crises. If you're interested in understanding the stock market better, these are the perfect films to watch!