8 Must Watch Movies On Stock Market For Investors & Traders

These three words – Lights, Camera, Action, are not only associated with the entertainment industry, but also with finance, stock market, and trading too. Do you know that there are various entertaining and engaging content associated with the stock market available on the silver screen? Yeah, it’s true. In this article, you’ll get to know about the 8 Must Watch Movies on  Stock Market.

We have listed some of The Must Watch Movies On Stock Market And Trading according to their Imdb ratings!

This curated list promises something special for every individual interested in stock market and trading. You will get to know the insights of stocks and trading presented in a visual manner.

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(A) Inside Job

Inside Job is a  documentary film directed by Charles Ferguson. It was released in 2010. The film provides a detailed and comprehensive examination of the factors that led to the 2008 financial crisis. One of the most notable economic events to remember. It breaks down complex financial concepts and structures, making them understandable to the audience. 

Why Should Traders and Investors watch it – 

• Traders and investors can gain a deeper and better understanding of the underlying issues and reasons that contributed to the crisis.
• The experts’ perspective shown in the documentary offers shedding light on its causes and consequences. These perspectives can benefit traders and investors in the market.
• By watching it traders and investors can learn to navigate the industry by following the warning signs.
• Movie also sheds light on the importance of ethical conduct in the practices. 
• Can seek lessons to back up their risk strategies and decision-making process.

B) The Wolf Of The Wall Street 

A must watch for the trading enthusiasts. A masterpiece directed by acclaimed director Martin Scorsese, and released in the year 2013. The movie is based on the real life story of Jordan Belfort, a charismatic stock broker, who founded the brokerage firm Stratton Oakment and earned millions. 

The film shows the journey of Jordan Belfort’s meteoric rise and spectacular fall on Wall Street during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Belfort, played by the exceptionally great actor Leonardo DiCaprio, starts as a young and dedicated stockbroker. Soon he becomes entangled in a world of financial excess, illegal activities, and unethical practices.

Why to watch it –

• It offers a cautionary tale about the unchecked risks, greed, and excessive ways to make quick profits, without considering the long-term consequences. 
• It reflects the need for stringent oversight and reforms to maintain the integrity of the financial market. 
• Understanding the roots of excessive risk-taking, which can help investors and traders to make better and informed decisions.

(C) The Big Short

Not just another stock market movie, it’s rather a tale of financial drama that unfolds the events leading to the 2008 financial crisis. Released in 2015, directed by Adam McKay. Based on the non-fiction book that goes by the same name – The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine. 

The movie tells a story of a group of investors Michael Burry’s, Jared Vennet’s, Geller and Shipley, who saw the impending collapse of the housing market and the subsequent financial crisis.

Movie explains terms like subprime mortgages, collateralized debt obligations (CDOs), and credit default swaps in a way that’s understandable by the audience. 

Why to watch it – 

• The film provides a realistic approach based on true events. Traders and investors can take notes on the importance of due diligence, risk assessment, and the consequences.
• Also offers valuable insights for the risk management and diversification, a true requirement for the investors and traders.
• Can learn how to identify unethical practices.
• Provides all the information and knowledgeable content in a highly engaging and entertaining narrative.

(D) Trading Places 

A stock market movie that was pretend in a comic manner. Released in 1983, directed by John Landis, starring Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd. While focusing primarily on entertainment content, the movie caters and offers valuable insights that traders and investors can learn from. 

The movie centers around two characters, Billy Ray (played by Eddie Murphy) a street hustler, and Louis Winthorpe III (played by Dan Aykroyd), a successful commodities trader.

The lives of these two characters dramatically change when the two brothers working at Dukes make a bet to see if they can switch the lives of a successful trader and a homeless man.

Why to watch it – 

• Traders and investors can get insights on market manipulation and insider trading. 
• The movie highlights the nature of trading, and the impact of supply and demand on prices. 
• Provides introduction to commodity trading.
• Can take lessons on the market efficiency and the challenges.

(E) Gafla 

The underrated cult classic movie on the stock market. It is an Indian stock market movie, released in 2006, and directed by Sameer Hanchate.

This movie may not be a well known movie as compared to other movies, but it’s worth exploring it. The name of the movie Gafla means ‘Fraud’ or ‘Deception’, setting the base for the movie. A film that got its inspiration from the 1992 stock market scam. 

This movie is known for its realistic portrayal of the Indian Stock Market and the dark side of financial trading. It throws light on the high-stake nature of the stock market operations, a place where profit and loss can be made within seconds.

Why to watch it-

• Provides a realistic approach of the Indian stock market.
• Exploration of ethical practices.
• A good review movie.
• Presented the face of the stock market in a compelling and understanding  narrative.

(F) Wall Street

Another movie on the list that has managed to educate as well as enthrall audiences on the complex behavior of stock markets. A captivating movie released in 1987, directed by OLiver Stones. 

The plot of the movie revolves around the ambitious and young stockbroker Bud Fox, played by Charlie Sheen, who is eager and excited to make his mark in the financial world. He then comes under the umbrella of Gordon Gekko, a charismatic and unethical corporate raider. Introduced Bud to the high-stakes world of wall street.

Gekko encourages Bud to engaged in insider trading and some other unethical practices to know about the profitable deals.

Why to watch it –  

• Movie delves into the competitive nature of stock trading, dilemmas, and unethical decisions faced by the traders.
• Movie reflects the impact of insider trading, sheds light on unethical and illegal practices. 
• Offers valuable insights about manipulation in the financial market.

(G) Boiler Room 

Boiler Room, a gripping movie released in 2000, directed by Ben Younger. The movie revolves around the character of Seth Davis, played by Giovanni Ribsi, a young and ambitious college dropout who joins a brokerage firm called J.T. Martin. 

The brokerage firm employs aggressive techniques to sell worthless or overpriced stocks to investors through cold phone calls. 

The movie sheds light on unethical practices within the financial industry, including the pump-and-dump schemes, where stocks are artificially inflated to gain profits. Davis Seth entangled in these schemes of the firm.

Why to watch it – 

• A must watch recommended for traders and investors as it exposes the unethical practices that are practiced in the financial industry.
• Film highlights the impact of these schemes investors, who are then forced to take poor decisions regarding investment.
• Investors and traders can take note of dangers of short term gains without considering long term goals. 
• Provides all that by presenting it in an entertaining manner.

(H) Bazaar 

A Hindi language film, released in 2018, directed by Gauravv K. Chawla. The movie sets out to offer a unique perspective on the Indian stock market and a must watch movie for the traders and investors. 

The story centers on Rizwan Ahmed, a young stock trader who aspires to make a big in the financial industry. He is determined to be mentored by and work under Shakun Kothari (played by Saif Ali Khan), a seasoned and ruthless stock market player.

The film showcases Rizwan’s journey as he explores the high stake world of stock trading, struggling with ethical values, and to make moral decisions or not.

Why to watch it – 

• Provides a closer look at the Indian stock market, its dynamics and valuable context.
• Movie explores cutthroat competition, market manipulation, and insider trading.
• Movie tries to depict the reality of the stock market in a realistic manner. 

Conclusion 

The above discussed movies offer a mix of elements- the drama, entertainment, as well as the educational insights into the world of stock market and trading. Whether you’re trying to understand the dilemmas, risks, situations faced by the traders or investors, or simply looking to seek some sort of inspiration for market investment, then these films can help you out. 

So, remember to consider these silver screen movies, when you are looking to invest, or want to learn the tactics of the market, or to simply want to see yourself in the financial market working.