Top 10 best finance movies to binge on your long weekend

 

Every cinema enthusiast has a genre of choice. For some it’s action, for others it may be romance, comedy, thriller or even sci-fi. That said, in recent times a new genre of cinema has emerged– one that has all the makings of multi-faceted, tear-jerking potboilers– it’s finance, or financial, white-collar crime to be precise.

Each one of us has different learning styles. While some like to do a thorough reading, others like to watch documentaries and movies to learn about the common money mistakes to avoid. This genre is excellent and exciting enough to motivate a majority of viewers to get their finances together. For the rest of us- it’s just pure entertainment.

1.   The Big Short (2015)

This movie adaptation of the non-fiction book, ‘The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine’ by Michael Lewis tells the true story of the financial crisis of the U.S. housing market that occurred in 2007-2008 due to subprime mortgages. You don’t know what that is? Well, thanks to the incredibly talented director, Adam Mckay, the concept of subprime mortgages is brilliantly explained along with other key financial concepts of banking in this movie.

2.   The Wall Street (1987)

The immortal phrase ‘greed is good’ is synonymous with the film ‘The Wall Street’, made famous by Gordon Gekko (played by Micheal Douglas). Even after 35 years of its release, several analysts, bankers, brokers, and traders use this Oliver Stone classic as a handbook for recruitment.

3.   Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005)

This documentary describes the rise and fall of Enron—one of the largest and most scandalous corporations in the U.S. The film is based on the bestseller with the same name and explores the dubious ways in which Enron underhanded its business dealings, as its executives misappropriated billions of funds, hurting the investment of thousands of employees.

4.   Margin Call (2011)

This is a must-watch money movie if you want to understand the nitty-gritty of the 2008 crisis. The film’s plot takes place within the span of 24 hours at one of the largest Wall Street investment banks that is on the brink of collapse amid the 2007-2008 crisis. The film is an upfront portrayal of the greediness, fraud, and rash risk-taking actions of many reckless Wall Street companies.

5.   The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

The next one on our list is the true, inspirational story of Chris Gardner and his metamorphosis from a struggling, homeless single father to a successful, millionaire entrepreneur. The movie beautifully captures how Gardner uses his knowledge, charm, and tenacity to build his wealth and lands the most prestigious job in San Francisco’s brokerage firm. The film especially strikes a chord with the masses with its focus on a poor man who only wants a better life for his son.

6.   Moneyball (2011)

This movie is a masterclass in budgeting. Billy Beane, played by Brad Pritt, must reinvent one of Major League Baseball’s teams within a tight budget. He cannot afford star players but analyzes statistical data to build a professional sports team.

7.   Rogue Trader (1999)

Based on a true story, Rogue Trader tells the story of an ambitious Nick Leeson who single-handedly bankrupts Britain’s most prominent and oldest Merchant bank—Barings Bank. Read more about the best finance movies