Despite its lackluster box office revenue,Dumb Moneyhas garnered critical acclaim,notably for its depiction of the 2021 GameStop stock scandal. Paul Dano gives the performance of a lifetime as Keith GIll, the financial analyst who shares his insight on the stock market, notably GameStop.Dumb Moneydelivers a riveting, funny, and critical adaptation of Ben Mezrich’s 2021 book,The Antisocial Network, prompting audiences to revisit similar biopics. Here are ten movies to watch if you lovedDumb Money.
Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010)
In thissequel to 1987’sWall Street, Douglas reprises his role as Gekko, getting released after serving more than a two-decade sentence. Fast-forward to 2008, and Gekko has a new apprentice, his daughter, Winnie’s, boyfriend and pop trader, Jacob Moore (portrayed by Shia LaBeouf), who is eager to succeed on Wall Street, the right way. As Gekko and Jacob grow closer, though, Jacob learns that Gekko is very much still clinging to his corrupt business strategies, as a result, jeopardizing Jacob’s relationship with Winnie. A decent followup toWall Street,Wall Street: Money Never Sleepsshows that old habits die hard for some, and redemption itself is a long, winding road.
Money Monster (2016)
A tale of measuring one’s words and actions when dealing with the media,Money Monsterfollows Lee Gates (portrayed by George Clooney), a financial expert who has made a fortune off his hot stock predictions on his TV show,Money Monster. One day, Lee is abducted by a delivery person who reveals himself as Kyle Budwell, a man who invested his entire life savings into IBIS per Lee’s advice on the air. As Lee communicates with his producer, Patty, to find a way out of his predicament, he discovers the corruption surrounding IBIS and that his captor is just a victim of circumstance. This gripping tale ends on a bittersweet note as Lee is freed, but Kyle loses his life in the process.
The Big Short (2015)
This star-studded biopic covers the housing market crisis of 2008 and the banks that both went bankrupt and were saved by their affluent connections. Told through three separate stories that all interconnect in the film’s third act, Christian Bale portrays Michael Burry, owner of the hedge fund, Scion Capitol, who first notices the stock market discrepancy. As Burry takes advantage of the impending housing crash by creating a credit default swap market, his colleagues and investors begin to see the detriments of the housing market crash, with some coming out ahead, and others losing everything, including their freedom.The Big Shortshows the effects greed and insider knowledge can have on the public, reiterating the tragedy that befell millions of homeowners who lost their homes due to the housing market crash.
The Social Network (2010)
The Social Networkdetails the rise of Facebook and the legal trouble CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his associates faced early in the company’s rise. As Zuckerberg (portrayed by Jesse Eisenberg) finds himself at the peak of Facebook’s success, he finds himself at the forefront of two lawsuits, with his integrity and the future of his social media emporium on the line.The Social Networkreceived critical acclaim, with Academy Award nominations for Eisenberg and Best Director for David Fincher.
The Social Network: Why It Deserves a Sequel (And Where Could It Go From Here)
With 20/20 hindsight, The Social Network serves as a forewarning for the future and deserves a sequel simply because the saga has yet to finish.
BlackBerry (2023)
Based on the rise and fall of theBlackBerryphone company,BlackBerryhas Jay Baruchel and Glenn Howerton leading the action, and proving their ability to take on dramatic roles effectively. Baruchel portrays Mike Lazaridis, who starts off as a humble tech guy with a profitable phone design, only to be corrupted by success business partner Jim Basillie’s thirst for power. A cautionary tale of bad influences,BlackBerryis a treat for fans of Baruchel and Howerton’s past work.
Boiler Room (2000)
With Gen X as its focal point,Boiler Roomfollows the story of ruthless, immoral brokers who indulge in excess as they exploit unsuspecting buyers. Though their overnight millions seem untouchable, these brokers soon find themselves the victims of their own greed, and the repercussions of the law, as their fraudulent system is exposed. This crime drama drives home the universal message that no bad deed goes unpunished, with Vin Diesel giving a riveting performance as Chris Varick.
Another biopic on the list,Jobscovers the beginnings of Apple CEO, Steve Jobs. Kutcher does an excellent job embodying Jobs’ every nuance, from his tenacity in getting Apple on its feet, his brilliance in continuously improving his company’s technology, and the emotional toll of seeing his life’s work slip from his fingers as those he worked with and trusted most abandon him due to his self-serving behavior.
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
The Wolf of Wall StreethasLeonardo DiCaprio on top of his gameas Jordan Belfort, detailing his Wall Street journey from the late ’80s to the early ’90s. A brilliant man who soon loses his way, Belfort finds himself consumed by drugs, sex, and corrupt practices as he steals from the rich he swore against, becoming no better than them. Arguably the roleDiCaprio should have won an Academy Awardfor,The Wolf of Wall Streetkeeps audiences on the edge of their seats as they witness Belfort’s downward spiral.
Wall Street (1987)
Starring Michael Douglas and Charlie Sheen, this Oliver Stone film is the first in its class to cover the unforgiving world of Wall Street. Douglas portrays Gordon Gekko, a successful, unethical, and ruthless tycoon who takes the inexperienced but brilliant stockbroker, Bud Fox (portrayed by Sheen) under his wing.As Fox succeeds on Wall Street, he soon proves himself even more adept in the stock world than Fox, leading to a series of catastrophic events for both men. A tale of corruption, ambition, and redemption,Wall Streetcuts deep for anyone familiar with the provocative, and volatile, nature of the stock market.
17 Best Films Set in New York, Ranked
Here’s a list of films that capture all that New York City has to offer.
Office Space (1999)
20th Century Fox
This quintessential late -90s comedy has Ron Livingston, Gary Cole, and Jennifer Aniston leading the action. Livingston’s Peter Gibbons hates his job at Initech, but after a hypnotherapy session gives Peter a new sense of purpose and confidence, he manages to finally be noticed at Initech by his superiors, getting a promotion and learning the insider secrets of the company. Peter’s first plan of action is revenge, which goes horribly wrong when he accidentally wires himself a huge sum from Initech’s capital. Satirical, relevant, and contrived,Office Spaceremainsa timeless classic.
