Based on a true story, this film follows Nick Leeson (Ewan McGregor), a young, ambitious derivatives trader who single-handedly brought down Barings Bank, Britain's oldest investment bank. Leeson's unauthorized trading and attempts to cover up massive losses in Singapore ultimately led to the bank's collapse in 1995. It's a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked power, lack of oversight, and the devastating consequences of a single trader's actions on the global market.

This classic 80s comedy starring Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd uses the world of commodities trading for a hilarious social experiment. Two wealthy brokers make a bet to swap the lives of a privileged executive and a street hustler. While primarily a comedy, the climax involves a complex scheme on the orange juice futures market that is surprisingly detailed and central to the plot. It's a fun, lighthearted take on wealth, poverty, and market manipulation.

Based on Andrew Ross Sorkin's book, this HBO film offers a docu-drama perspective on the frantic efforts by U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson (played by William Hurt) and other key figures to contain the 2008 financial crisis. It provides a behind-the-scenes look at the high-stakes negotiations and decisions made by government officials and Wall Street titans trying to prevent a total economic collapse. The film captures the tension and uncertainty of those critical weeks.

Narrated by Matt Damon, this Oscar-winning documentary provides a comprehensive and scathing analysis of the 2008 financial crisis. It meticulously examines the deregulation of the financial sector, the incentives for reckless behavior, and the conflicts of interest that led to the global meltdown. Featuring interviews with economists, politicians, journalists, and financial insiders, it's a powerful and essential watch for anyone wanting to understand the systemic failures behind the crisis.

Step into the frenetic, high-pressure world of a Long Island 'boiler room' brokerage firm where young, hungry brokers push worthless penny stocks on unsuspecting investors. Giovanni Ribisi plays a college dropout drawn into this seemingly glamorous but ultimately corrupt world. The film offers a raw and unflinching look at the aggressive sales tactics and moral compromises required to succeed in this environment. Vin Diesel has a notable early role here, showcasing his intense screen presence.

This tense drama unfolds over just 24 hours at a fictional investment bank on the eve of the 2008 financial crisis. Featuring a stellar cast including Kevin Spacey, Jeremy Irons, Zachary Quinto, and Stanley Tucci, the film focuses on the ethical dilemmas and frantic decisions made by the firm's employees as they realize the catastrophic nature of their assets. It's a claustrophobic and intelligent look at the human element within a financial meltdown, exploring the cold calculations made at the highest levels.

Trying to understand the 2008 financial crisis? This film makes it surprisingly engaging! Adam McKay uses clever, fourth-wall-breaking techniques (hello, Margot Robbie in a bathtub!) to explain complex financial instruments like subprime mortgages and CDOs. Based on Michael Lewis's book, it follows a group of outsiders who foresaw the impending collapse and bet against the market. The ensemble cast, including Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, and Brad Pitt, is fantastic in this insightful and darkly humorous look at how the system failed.

Oliver Stone's definitive classic introduced the world to the iconic Gordon Gekko, played with chilling charisma by Michael Douglas in an Oscar-winning role. This film perfectly captures the high-stakes, cutthroat world of 1980s finance, where insider trading and corporate raiding were the order of the day. Charlie Sheen plays the ambitious young broker Bud Fox, torn between his ideals and the seductive power of Gekko's philosophy that 'Greed, for lack of a better word, is good.' A true benchmark for financial thrillers that still resonates today.

Strap in for a wild ride with Leonardo DiCaprio's electrifying portrayal of Jordan Belfort. This Martin Scorsese masterpiece isn't just about stocks; it's a blistering, darkly comedic epic of excess, fraud, and the sheer unadulterated greed that fueled a notorious 90s brokerage firm. You'll witness the pump-and-dump schemes, the lavish parties, and the eventual downfall, all depicted with Scorsese's signature kinetic energy. Fun fact: The film holds the Guinness World Record for the most instances of the f-word in a movie!