15 best films about money, millionaires and financial success

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Some pictures will tell about the other side of a beautiful life, while others will energize and inspire.

1. Swap places

• USA, 1983.
• Comedy.
• Duration: 116 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 5.

The life of a successful broker Louis Winthorpe III changes dramatically when his eccentric bosses wonder: What happens if you swap the places of the rich man and the street bum? As a result, Louis finds himself on the street, and a homeless crook Billy Ray Valentine settles in his luxurious apartment.

The film by director John Landis "Trading Places" partly echoes the novel "The Prince and the Pauper" by Mark Twain and even Mozart's opera "The Marriage of Figaro". In addition, there are many terribly funny situations, thanks to which Eddie Murphy (at that time an aspiring actor) got the opportunity to show his talents. He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Comedy.

2. Wall Street

• USA, 1987.
• Crime drama.
• Duration: 120 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 4.

A young broker, Bud Fox, has long dreamed of finding a powerful bank businessman Gordon Gekko, who made himself a huge fortune on dirty machinations. When the hero succeeds, he, on the advice of Gekko, joins in a dangerous game, but at some point he himself becomes a means to an end for his partner.

The film directed by Oliver Stone is based on real events that took place on the New York Stock Exchange in 1986. Actor Michael Douglas, who plays Gordon Gekko, has won numerous accolades and prestigious awards, including an Oscar.

3. Boiler room

• USA, 2000.
• Crime drama, thriller.
• Duration: 120 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 0.

Young cheater Seth Davis is growing from organizing an underground casino in an apartment to a stockbroker in a prosperous company, where the monthly salary is higher than his previous annual income. But soon the guy realizes that something is unclean in the company's activities, and he faces a difficult choice.

A light film with an instructive plot and good acting (one cannot but mention the charming Vin Diesel) is worth watching for those who want to learn more about the work of brokers and the exchange device in general.

4. Catch me if you can

• USA, 2002.
• Tragicomedy, crime.
• Duration: 141 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 1.

Even in his youth, Frank Abagnale became famous for forging checks and documents. He pretended to be a pilot, doctor and assistant prosecutor while FBI agent Carl Hanratty chased him for years.

Steven Spielberg readily took on a new genre for himself to tell the story of the youngest con man in US history, who turned theft into a real art. High-quality directing and camera work, an exciting plot, Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks in the lead roles - these are at least a few reasons to urgently watch a picture about the adventures of a talented swindler.

5. In pursuit of happiness

• USA, 2006.
• Biographical drama.
• Duration: 117 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 0.

Jobless single father Chris Garner takes a job as an intern at a brokerage company. The six-month probationary period is not paid, and only one out of 20 interns will be hired.

A very inspiring and sentimental film made by Italian Gabriele Muccino based on real events, it teaches us not to give up, no matter how hard it is. Chris Garner's recipe for happiness may not be suitable for everyone, but for many viewers, this story will at least inspire.

6. Counterfeiters

• Austria, Germany, 2007.
• Historical drama.
• Duration: 95 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 6.

Concentration camp prisoner Solomon Sorovitz is tasked with forging British pounds and US dollars to undermine the economies of enemy states. The hero and his accomplices live much better than the rest of the prisoners. But men are well aware that as soon as they become unnecessary, they will be destroyed to hide the traces of the operation.

The film, directed by Stefan Ruzovicki, won an Oscar as the best foreign film of 2007 for a reason. This is an uncompromising, honest and beautifully filmed movie with flamboyant actors. But most of all, it is captivating that the tape tells not about the heroes, but about the most ordinary people who, by the will of fate, found themselves in difficult conditions.

7. In the company of men

• USA, 2010.
• Drama.
• Duration 104 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 7.

A large corporation with a multi-billion dollar turnover is losing profit because of the crisis, so the board of directors decides to cut staff. One of the fired turns out to be a senior manager, Bobby Walker, who is accustomed to living on a grand scale. Moreover, even in conditions of decline, he is not going to give up luxury.

Director John Wells has filmed an interesting, well-staged drama from the life of the upper middle class. The life of the characters changes in a short time, and everyone chooses their own path. While one believes that everything is pointless, others are ready to take decisive action to get out of trouble.

8. Wall Street: Money Doesn't Sleep

• USA, 2010.
• Drama.
• Duration: 127 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 2.

In the midst of the global financial crisis, Gordon Gekko, once the best broker on Wall Street, is released. The man is going to regain his fortune. But for this you need to improve relations with the daughter of Vinnie. The problem is that the girl categorically does not want to communicate with her father. Therefore, Gordon decides to start rubbing into the credibility of his potential son-in-law Jacob.

In the sequel to his own 1987 film, director Oliver Stone returned to the topic of human greed, but paid more attention to family values. So in the second half, the movie turns almost into a melodrama. But it is still worth seeing the picture, if only because Michael Douglas returned to his role, and Shia LaBeouf was his company instead of Charlie Sheen.

9. Risk limit

• USA, 2011.
• Drama, thriller.
• Duration: 107 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 1.

A recently fired financial analyst hands a flash drive to his young colleague. On it there are calculations, from which it follows that in the coming days or even hours, a large American bank with a hundred-year history will come to an end. Several specialists, dedicated to the problem, spend one night trying to decide what to do next.

The creators made an attempt to show the financial corporation from the inside as accurately as possible. They succeeded, but ordinary viewers will probably find it difficult to listen to dialogues consisting mainly of terms. Nevertheless, a more honest cinema that captured the very essence of the outbreak of the crisis, perhaps, simply cannot be found.

10. Areas of darkness

• USA, 2011.
• Science fiction, thriller, detective.
• Duration: 105 minutes
• IMDb: 7, 4.

The life of the New York writer Eddie Morr cannot be called pleasant: the hero suffers from a prolonged creative crisis, and parting with his beloved further aggravates his condition. Everything changes after a guy tries an experimental pill for depression. The medicine turns Eddie first into a genius writer, and then into a virtuoso stock gambler. The problem is one: the supply of the drug is gradually depleted, and the hero himself begins to have strange memory lapses.

For each state of the hero, director Neil Burger has developed a special color scheme. Moments of depression are filmed in sullen and dull colors, which become significantly warmer as soon as the character takes the pills.

11. Vicious passion

• USA, 2012.
• Thriller, drama.
• Duration: 107 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 6.

The wealthy financier Robert Miller cheats makes millions, but his world collapses overnight after the death of his mistress in a terrible accident. The hero takes more and more desperate steps to cover his tracks, attracting the attention of detectives.

The film will appeal not only to fans of Richard Gere, who here tries on the image of an irresistible swindler and fatal lover, but also to those who appreciate the talent of Susan Sarandon, Laetitia Casta and Tim Roth.

12. The Wolf of Wall Street

• USA, 2013.
• Drama, comedy, biography, crime.
• Duration: 180 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 2.

Jordan Belfort, a young New York stock trader, finds himself on the streets due to the global financial crisis, but soon opens his own financial firm. A few years later, the hero becomes a millionaire and does not know what to do with the money that is obtained by not the most legal methods.

Martin Scorsese told the real story of the former broker so brilliantly that the euphoria after watching the film is guaranteed. And the only thing that speaks about the quality of the acting work is that after "The Wolf of Wall Street" DiCaprio took a two-year break from filming due to nervous exhaustion - so emotionally he invested in this role.

13. Selling for a fall

• USA, 2015.
• Biographical drama.
• Duration: 130 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

Back in 2005, several businessmen and analysts who did not know each other noticed that the US mortgage market was on the verge of collapse. They managed to profitably play on this and even made money on the collapsed economy.

Spectators who are savvy in financial terminology will definitely get full pleasure. But even if the economy is not your strong point, it is worth watching the picture for the sake of a bright cast. The roles are played by Christian Bale, Brad Pitt, Ryan Gosling and Steve Carell, who is particularly good in this film as a dramatic artist.

14. All the money in the world

• USA, 2017.
• Thriller, crime.
• Duration: 132 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 8.

The 16-year-old grandson of the oil tycoon ends up in the hands of Italian bandits who demand big money for the young man. However, the pathologically stingy billionaire refuses to pay the extortionists, even for the sake of a close relative. Instead, he sends his security expert to Rome. The latter is trying to find the kidnapped and provide moral support to his mother.

Ridley Scott managed to combine family drama, thriller and biopic in one bottle, in addition, the plot itself is very textured and exciting.

"All the money in the world" was remembered by the public as a film from which, after the scandal, all scenes with Kevin Spacey were cut out. Instead, Christopher Plummer played the role of Paul Getty Sr. True, in the end this even played into the hands: Plummer did not have to be artificially aged with the help of makeup, the actor looked more natural in the frame.

15. Big game

• USA, 2017.
• Biographical drama.
• Duration: 140 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 4.

After an unfortunate injury, skier Molly Bloom is forced to abandon her sports career. The desire for self-realization leads the girl to the poker business, where she makes great strides. But one day the FBI and the mafia begin to take an interest in her activities.

For his directorial debut, Aaron Sorkin, one of the best screenwriters in Hollywood, chose the memoir of the real "princess of poker" Molly Bloom. The result is great: the story does not let you get bored, and Jessica Chastain's charisma makes you fall in love at first sight.