As a retail investor, you must be well-versed with what is happening in the stock market. But how familiar are you with the behind-the-scenes action in the stock market? Beyond technicalities, complex human emotions play out in the world of investments, deftly captured in some of the iconic web series and movies based on the stock market. If you are interested in exploring some really good stock market movies, keep reading. In this blog post, we will unveil some interesting and top-rated share market movies.
The Big Short
The Big Short is one of the iconic stock market movies that you can watch on Amazon Prime. You can also watch it on Paramount Plus, Disney+ Hotstar, and Netflix. The movie, released in 2015, features a star cast, including Ryne Gosling, Christian Bale, and Steve Carrell, and more. The theme of the movie is the US mortgage housing crisis.
It’s about the financial professionals who were able to rightly predict the collapse of the housing bubble in 2007 and also profited from the event while a majority of investors lost their money during the collapse.
Billions
Billions is a must-watch stock market web series that you can check out on Netflix. It features Damian Lewis and Chuck Rhoades. The story is about the conflict between an idealistic attorney and a win-at-all-costs hedge fund manager.
Billions is currently on Netflix in its fifth season. Also, this web series has been renewed for season 6. So, if you haven’t watched Billions, you have all five seasons to binge-watch until the season airs. And if you have seen them all and are waiting for the upcoming season, a re-watch won’t be a bad idea anyway.
Scam 1992
Another iconic stock market web series that is worth watching if you are looking for some good stock market entertainment is Scam 1992. It is a popular series both among stock market enthusiasts and non-stock market enthusiasts thanks to its dynamic and complex storyline. This web series is on the Indian stock market and is the only stock market web series in Hindi that is hugely popular.
It is based on a book written by Debasish Basu and Sucheta Dalal. This web series focuses on infamous 1992 security scam involving Harshad Mehta. It shows how Mehta manipulated the Indian stock market in cahoots with bankers and politicians, leading to one of the biggest stock market crashes.
Wall Street
Another notable and critically acclaimed movie based on the stock market is Wall Street. The 1987 movie was directed by Oliver Stone and featured Michael Douglas. The movie revolves around a greedy Wall Street professional Gordon Gekko (played by Michael Douglas). He lures new stockbrokers into insider trading but gets beaten at his own game.
Bud Fox, played by Charlie Sheen, plans a trap to catch Gekko and put an end to his career. The movie is worth watching as it portrays a realistic image of the stock market and the things that happen behind the scenes.
Inside Job
Inside Job is an award-winning documentary film on the stock market. The movie, which was released in 2010, is based on the 2008 financial crisis and highlights what actually led to it. Insightful conversations with politicians, key players, and the industry reveal the complex dynamics of the stock market.
It portrays the conflicts of interest, complex web of greed, and regulatory failures and how they allowed practices such as excessive risk-taking to go unpunished.
Boiler Room
Another top-rated stock market-based movie that you can watch is Boiler Room. This 2000 movie tells the story of college dropout Seth Davis, who got involved in a call center selling questionable investments. Boiler Room was directed by Ben Younger, featuring Giovanni Rebisi and Nia Long as leading cast. Also, Ben Affleck and Vin Diesel played important roles in this movie.
Seth was a disappointment to his father. Boiler Room displays Seth’s moral turbulence about getting rich and how unethical brokerage agencies can scam investors. If you are looking for some good stock market movies to watch, you should check out Boiler Room on Netflix or Disney+ Hotstar.
The Wolf of Wall Street
Leonardo DiCaprio starred in The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), a massive hit of the year. DiCaprio played the role of Jordan Belfort. The story revolves around the quick rise and fall of Belfort as a wicked stockbroker. This Martin Scorsese-directed drama reveals the dark side of the investment world along with moral rot and unethical practices that harm budding investors the most.
The movie tells the story of Belfort’s bohemian lifestyle that involves sex, drugs, and debauchery that helps Belfort and his friends make illegal gains from the stock market. Martin’s excellent direction and DiCaprio’s outstanding performance as Belfort offer an immersive and highly intriguing experience that warns the audience about risky and unethical investment and its consequences.
Rogue Trader
Rogue Trader is also a popular and all-time watch in the stock market movies segment. This 1999 movie features Anna Friel and Ewan McGregor as leads. Rogue Trader is directed by James Dearden. The movie tells the story of Nick Leeson, who was a rogue trader known for making fraudulent and speculative trades. It also explores Nick’s irresponsible actions and how they eventually led to the bankruptcy of Barings Bank, a UK bank that lost $1.3 billion.
The movie can provide great insights to newbie investors that warns them about the negative consequences of extreme greed and what they must avoid in the trading landscape.
The Wizard of Lies
The Wizard of Lies also figures in the list of stock market movies that you can watch on platforms like Amazon Prime, Netflix, and Disney+ Hotstar. The movie starred Robert De Niro, where Niro plays the role of Bernie Madoff. This 2007 movie unveils different layers of Madoff’s professional and personal life. It reveals his family, the global financial community, and the disastrous consequences of his actions as an investor.
The movie shows a realistic picture of the most recent and largest scam in investment history. The Wizards of Lies throws light on one of the biggest scams in history. The movie has a gripping plot and an excellent supporting cast that makes it an excellent and thrilling treat to watch.
Boom Bust Boom
Boom Bust Boom is another documentary movie on the stock market that you can watch. This 2015 movie directed by Terry Jones talks about the history of economic cycles. The movie is quite different from the mainstream stock market movies as it employs puppetry and animation. The movie also includes helpful insights from renowned, Nobel prize-winning economists such as Paul Krugman, Daniel Kahneman, and Robert J. Shiller.
Margin Call
Margin Call is also one of the top-rated stock market movies that was quite successful. The movie was directed by J.C. Chandler and released in the year 2017. The movie features Demi Moore and Kevin Spacey as main leads.
It is a financial thriller genre movie that explores events in a large Wall Street bank during the early phase of the 2007-2008 financial crisis.
Gafla
Gafla is also a must-watch stock market movie that become quite popular among Indian investors and stock market enthusiasts. This 2006 movie is an Indian crime drama inspired by the 1992 stock market scam. Gafla, directed by Sameer Hanchate, tells the story of a young and ambitious man (played by Vinod Sharawat) who gets caught in the web of greed and crime to make money from the share market. This movie has Vikram Gokhale and Shruti Ulfat in important roles.
IMDb ratings of bеst stock markеt moviеs and wеb sеriеs
| Title | Year | IMDb Rating |
| Scam 1992 | 2020 | 9.6/10 |
| Billions | 2016-present | 8.4/10 |
| The Wolf of Wall Street | 2013 | 8.2/10 |
| Inside Job | 2010 | 8.1/10 |
| Gafla | 2022 | 8.1/10 |
| The Big Short | 2015 | 7.8/10 |
| Wall Street | 1987 | 7.2/10 |
| Boom Bust Boom | 2015 | 7.2/10 |
| The Wizard of Lies | 2017 | 7.2/10 |
| Margin Call | 2011 | 7.1/10 |
| Boiler Room | 2000 | 7.0/10 |
| Rogue Trader | 1999 | 6.6/10 |
Conclusion
Share market movies are proof that the unsettling, thrilling, and ever-changing world of stock market offers fodder for movie makers as it involves a myriad of human emotions spanning fear, greed, and manipulations. We have recommended some top-rated and highly acclaimed stock market web series and movies that are not only entertaining, but also educative.
