Top 10 Investment Movies & Documentaries

MARGIN CALL (2011) - Editors #1 Pick

Staring: Kevin Spacey, Simon Baker, Demi Moore.
Duration: 109 minutes

The story takes place over 36 hours at a large investment bank at the beginning of the 2007/08 financial crisis. A junior analyst discovers that the banks holdings in worthless mortgage backed securities will soon bankrupt the bank, leading to all traders at the firm to knowingly sell worthless investments to clients. Thought provoking and eerily similar to the situation that occurred with Goldman Sachs in 2007.

INSIDE JOB (2010) - Editors #2 Pick

Documentary
Duration: 108 minutes

An easy to follow documentary on the Global Financial Crisis from its origins in the early 2000s through to the 2007/08 crash. Narrated by Matt Damon, it's well researched and leaves the viewer angry at the amount of greed and corruption in the financial system.

THE BIG SHORT (2015) - Editors #3 Pick

Staring: Brad Pitt, Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling & Steve Carell
Duration: 130 minutes

A comedy/drama that’s loosely based on a true story and follows three groups of people who predict the collapse of the US credit and housing bubble prior to the 2008 collapse.

Expecting a massive 2Q 2007 collapse in the financial system, they bet against the market and make huge profits.

THE WIZARD OF LIES (2017) - Editors #4 Pick

Staring: Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer
Duration: 132 minutes

The film stars Robert De Niro as Bernad Madoff and chronicles the unraveling of his $65 billion Ponzi scheme during the 2008 financial crisis.

Excellent acting and a great watch.

 

 

The following videos are in no particular order...


THE WOLF OF WALL STREET (2013)

Staring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie, Matthew McConaughey.
Duration: 179 minutes

Based on the life of Jordan Belfort, The Wolf of Wall Street chronicles the rise and fall of a charismatic and unscrupulous stockbroker who ends up in prison for securities fraud. Holding the world record for the most number of "f*cks" in any movie, some complain it was too long and boring, others (men in particular) find it highly amusing and thoroughly enjoyable.

BOILER ROOM (2000)

Staring: Giovanni Ribisi, Vin Diesel, Ben Affleck.
Duration: 120 minutes

A 19 year old college dropout becomes a highly successful stockbroker at a boiler room (a company that sells worthless investments through high pressure sales calls). Contains excellent sales scenes (similar to those in the Wolf of Wall Street) and portrays every negative stockbroker stereotype. It’s Wall Street for a younger and more aggressive audience.

WALL STREET (1987)

Staring: Michael Douglas, Charlie Sheen, Daryl Hannah.
Duration: 126 minutes

A young and ambitious stockbroker becomes involved with a wealthy corporate raider. The movie is a mature look at the conflict between greed and ethics in the financial world. While not as fast paced or in your face as Boiler Room, it’s a must watch classic.

ROGUE TRADER (1999)

Staring: Ewan McGregor
Duration: 101 minutes

A true story about a 28 year old Singapore based derivatives trader, Nick Leeson, who single handedly brought down Barings Bank through high-risk trading, lies and deception. Nick generated a £800m loss that forced one of the world’s oldest merchant banks into insolvency and sent him to jail. Despite poor reviews, any one with a basic knowledge of futures and derivatives should find it very interesting.

THE INVENTOR: OUT FOR BLOOD IN SILICON VALLEY (2019)

Documentary
Duration: 119 minutes

Documents the rise and fall of Elizabeth Holmes and her company Theranos, one of the largest frauds in history. In 2014, Holmes was names the world's youngest self-made billionaire. Her company, Theranos, claimed to have technology that could run hundreds of blood tests from a single drop of blood, but the technology didn't exist.

THE BANK (2001)

Staring: Anthony LaPaglia
Duration: 106 minutes

An Australian drama about a mathematician who devises a formula to predict future movements in the stock market. Although it's little slow at times, it finishes with a twist. People with an interest in algorithmic trading will find it interesting.