“Greed is…Good.” Or so says Gordon Gekko, the iconic and ruthless investor in the movie “Wall Street”. His mantra is both fascinating and repulsive. So are his cutthroat actions and tactics in pursuit of money, power and greed. But that is exactly what makes finance films so interesting!
Yes, there are hundreds of money-making movies out there that talk about the complex world of finance, trade, and investment. But most of them are boring and likely to make you sleep! However, not this list. We have the ultimate list of the best finance movies of all time. Get ready for a thrilling ride because while some will inspire you, others will horrify you!
Best Movies about Stock Market (Trading) for Wealth Seekers
For thrill-seekers who crave fast-paced action and high-stakes drama, these movies about the stock market are perfect for keeping you on the edge of your seat!
1. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
This film is the best movie on money and scam! It follows the real-life story of Jordan Belfort – a Wall Street stockbroker, as he frauds his way to the top. It is among the top-rated movies about Wall Street.
| Starring | Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie, Kyle Chandler, Matthew McConaughey |
| Director | Martin Scorsese |
| Ratings | 75% on Rotten Tomatoes and 8.2/10 on IMDb |
| Best Quote | “The only thing standing between you and your goal is the bullshit story you keep telling yourself about why you can’t achieve it.” – Jordan Belfort |
2. Boiler Room (2000)
Boiler Room exposes the dark side of the financial industry and its unethical practices through a college dropout who gets scammed into working for a high-pressure brokerage firm in hopes of making easy money.
| Starring | Giovanni Ribisi, Vin Diesel, Nia Long, Nicky Katt, Scott Caan |
| Director | Ben Younger |
| Ratings | 69% on Rotten Tomatoes and 7/10 on IMDb |
| Interesting Fact | The director Ben Younger was inspired by his personal experience of working at a high-pressure stock brokerage firm. However, he realized the unethical practices that are common in the financial world and decided to turn it into a movie! |
3. Margin Call (2011)
Films about finance and investments are often dark. However, this movie is thought-provoking and explores the implications of economic decisions. In this, a group of risk analysts discover a major error in their bank’s investment system, which could trigger a major financial crisis. Now, they must decide how to handle it.
| Starring | Stanley Tucci, Kevin Spacey, Zachary Quinto, Demi Moore, Paul Bettany |
| Director | J.C. Chandor |
| Ratings | 87% on Rotten Tomatoes and 7.1/10 on IMDb |
| Best Quote | “Risk only feels good when it’s working.” – Eric Dale |
Movies about Real Estate, Financial Crisis and Risks for Investors
These are movies based on real events, especially the 2008 financial recession, the consequent real estate crash, and its impact on the people.
4. The Big Short (2015)
An informative and entertaining watch about a group of typical investors who predicted the 2008 financial crisis and took advantage of it.
| Starring | Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt |
| Director | Adam McKay |
| Ratings | 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and 7.8/10 on IMDb |
| Interesting Fact | The film is based on a finance book of the same name, written by Micheal Lewis! |
5. Inside Job (2010)
This is a fascinating documentary that provides an in-depth analysis of the 2008 housing market crash, exposing the greed and corruption of the system.
| Starring | Charles Ferguson, Nomi Prins, Richard Fuld Jr., Lloyd Blankfein, and others. |
| Director | Charles Ferguson |
| Ratings | 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and 8.2/10 on IMDb |
| Best Quote | “We were lied to. We were defrauded.” – Homeowner interviewee |
6. Too Big to Fail (2011)
In this film, we see how the Great Recession unfolded from the point of view of Henry Paulson, then-Secretary of the Treasury. Think it’s boring? Not one bit! You’ll be on the edge of your seat watching the gripping scenes of high-tension, high-stakes negotiations that could change the entire course of the country.
| Starring | Paul Giamatti, William Hurt, Ed Harris, James Woods, Elizabeth Banks |
| Director | Curtis Hanson |
| Ratings | 83% on Rotten Tomatoes and 7.3/10 on IMDb |
| Interesting Fact | This movie is a biographical drama based on one of the best real estate books of all time – “Too Big to Fail” by Andrew Ross Sorkin! |
Best Finance Movies on Morality
We often hear that the richest people in the world are evil. Needless to say, money and morality go hand in hand. These movies about finance focus on just that.
7. Wall Street (1987)
This movie follows the story of Bud Fox, a young and ambitious stockbroker who gets trapped in the brutal world of Wall Street in hopes of becoming a millionaire. He attracts the attention of Gordon Gekko, a greedy corporate raider and one of the most iconic characters in film history.
| Starring | Michael Douglas, Charlie Sheen, Daryl Hannah, Martin Sheen |
| Director | Oliver Stone |
| Ratings | 74% on Rotten Tomatoes and 7.3/10 on IMDb |
| Best Quote | “Greed…is good.” – Gordon Gekko |
8. Barbarians at the Gate (1993)
This movie is based on a true story – the battle for the takeover of a major tobacco and food company in the late 80s, RJR Nabisco. Expect to see power struggles, corporate greed, and some stellar acting!
| Starring | James Garner, Jonathan Pryce, Joanna Cassidy, Peter Riegert |
| Director | Glenn Jordan |
| Ratings | 88% Rotten Tomatoes and 7.2/10 on IMDb |
| Interesting Fact | The directors had to remove F. Ross Johnson’s Mustache because it was too distracting! Therefore, the film representation of the CEO of RJR Nabisco is different from reality. |
9. The Founder (2016)
We all know this one! You’ll recognize this as the story of an unimpressive man who opened a small hamburger restaurant and turned it into a global empire that is still thriving today. Yup, you guessed it! It’s the story of McDonald’s.
| Starring | Michael Keaton, Nick Offerman, John Carroll Lynch, Laura Dern |
| Director | John Lee Hancock |
| Ratings | 74% on Rotten Tomatoes and 7.2/10 on IMDb |
| Best Quote | “Persistence and determination alone are all powerful.” – Ray Kroc |
Inspiring Underdog (Rags-to-Riches) Financial Movies
This section includes films that focus on whistle-blowers and underdogs that challenge the status quo and fight for justice in the cutthroat world of finance.
10. The Informant! (2009)
This movie explores the conflicting and dangerous themes that come with being a whistle-blower and exposing corporate greed.
| Starring | Matt Damon, Scott Bakula, Amanda Peet, Melanie Lynskey |
| Director | Steven Soderbergh |
| Ratings | 79% on Rotten Tomatoes and 6.5/10 on IMDb |
| Interesting Fact | This movie is based on the real-life controversy of Mark Whitacre, a chief executive and whistle-blower of the company ADM. |
11. Rogue Trader (1999)
Rogue Trader depicts the true story of Leeson who made too many risky financial decisions in hopes of hitting it big but ended up with complete financial collapse. This film is a good resource for people wanting to learn more about personal finances.
| Starring | Ewan McGregor, Alastair Galbraith, Anna Friel, Jamie Foreman |
| Director | James Dearden |
| Ratings | 73% on Rotten Tomatoes and 6.4/10 on IMDb |
| Best Quote | “You can’t make a profit without taking a risk.” – Nick Leeson |
12. Money Monster (2016)
In this movie, George Clooney portrays a charismatic but disturbed TV host who takes a hostage on air after a stock tip resulting in massive losses for investors. It is a thought-provoking finance film about the role of media on the economy.
| Starring | George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Jack O’Connell, Dominic West |
| Director | Jodie Foster |
| Ratings | 59% on Rotten Tomatoes and 6.5/10 on IMDb |
| Interesting Fact | This movie actually had a different ending that the audience found too dark and pessimistic! That’s why, the directors chose a more hopeful ending in the final version of the film. |
Funniest Scenes in Finance Movies
Not all finance movies are just about greed and cutthroat tactics! The following films explore the same themes but from a humorous point of view. So, if you’re in the mood for some money memes and light-hearted education, these are for you!
13. Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
A dark satirical comedy set in a real estate office. It focuses on an ordinary salesman desperate to close deals and the human cost of achieving success at any cost.
| Starring | Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Alec Baldwin, Ed Harris, Kevin Spacey |
| Director | James Foley |
| Ratings | 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and 7.7/10 on IMDb |
| Best Quote | “First prize is a Cadillac El Dorado. Anyone wanna see second prize? Second prize is a set of steak knives. Third prize is you’re fired.” – Blake |
14. Trading Places (1983)
Two bored millionaires switch the lives of a rich broker and a street hustler for fun. A classic financial comedy you must watch!
| Starring | Eddie Murphy, Dan Aykroyd, Ralph Bellamy, Jamie Lee Curtis |
| Director | John Landis |
| Ratings | 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and 7.5/10 on IMDb |
| Interesting Fact | The Duke Brothers were originally supposed to be British! But the director was so impressed with Eddie Murphy’s performance that he decided to make the iconic comedy duo American. |
15. American Psycho (2000)
As the name suggests, this film is full of moments of dark comedy as it explores the themes of materialism, yuppie culture, social status, and success.
| Starring | Christian Bale, Willem Dafoe, Reese Witherspoon, Josh Lucas |
| Director | Mary Harron |
| Ratings | 67% on Rotten Tomatoes and 7.6/10 on IMDb |
| Interesting Fact | Christian Bale’s iconic character, Patrick Bateman, was inspired by Tom Cruise and his “intense friendly friendliness with nothing behind the eyes.” |
The Bottom Line
So, there you have it! These are some of the best finance movies of all time that are watchable on Youtube and Netflix! You won’t find a more comprehensive list anywhere. So, grab those popcorn, and your notebooks for some serious note-taking, and happy watching! How many movies have you watched on this list? Let us know in the comments below!
