5 Movies That'll Get Your Inner Investor Going

You’re sitting in front of your computer, staring at your latest decision. You bought that stock, on a hunch, but somehow - you know it’s the one.

Everyone is telling you you’re wasting your money, and this one’s a classic dog.

It’s already been 2 weeks and the numbers stay mostly red, when suddenly - that line shoots up so fast your head starts spinning.
Nothing beats that rush, knowing that - not only were you right, but that you just made so much money, it’s obscene!

In that moment - your life feels like a Hollywood blockbuster, but if you’re still waiting for that moment (or the next one), how about watching these 5 great movies to get your investing juices flowing?

The Big Short (Shorting)

A couple of years before the 2008 housing market bubble burst, a few hedge funds and savvy investors saw the coming disaster and took brilliant steps to profit from the upcoming crash. The movie is a must-see for anyone who’s interested in the investing world, but is also a great watch for the less economically-inclined. Based on true stories, released in 2015.

“Do you realize what you just did? You just bet against the American economy” - Ben Ricket

The Wolf of Wall Street (Stock Trading)

The famous story of penny-stock pusher - Jordan Belfort, whose meteoric rise in the investing world through market manipulation and the subsequent fall from grace, were immortalized by Hollywood in 2013. The film portrays Belfort’s hard-sell tactics, his lavish lifestyle, and the culture of debauchery he instilled in his firm in a sometimes-funny, sometimes-shocking story that served as warning to many, and an instruction manual for some…

“Sell me this pen” - Jordan Belfort

Wall Street (Stock Trading)

This one’s a classic! The 1980’s were a golden era for Wall Street. The stock market was booming and brokers were making heaps of money. This 1987 movie tells the story of Bud, a junior broker who wants to work with Gordon Gekko - who is a famous Wall Street player. To get the job, Bud uses insider information, which leads to a whirlwind of events, culminating in a shocking ending.

“The most valuable commodity I know of is information” - Gordon Gekko

Boiler Room (Stock Trading)

This drama, loosely based on Jordan Belfort’s firm’s pump-and-dump scheme, 2000’s Boiler Room, tells the story of Seth, a college dropout who joins a brokerage firm to become rich and win his father’s approval. The firm runs a “boiler room” - a small room where brokers work in close quarters to egg each other on into making more pump-and-dump sales, often quoting Gordon Gekko from Wall Street. Seth eventually becomes disillusioned with the scheme and conspires to bring the firm down.

“Anybody who tells you money is the root of all evil doesn’t ******* have any” - Jim Young

Barbarians at the Gate (Leverage)

Based on the RJR Nabisco bidding war that was started when the conglomerate’s CEO, F. Ross Johnson decided to take the company private buy buying it himself. The decision launched the largest-ever bidding war between Johnson and Kravis brothers, and culminated in a leveraged buyout worth $25bn - the greatest LBO in history at the time. The film was released in 1993.

“Now I know what the "F" in "F. Ross Johnson" stands for” - Charlie Hugel

Bonus: Billions (Hedge Funds)

The series follows the stories of the brilliant-yet-unscrupulous billionaire hedge fund owner Robert Axelrod, and the ruthless District Attorney Charles Rhodes, as they often butt heads, as well as take on external and internal challenges. The show began airing in 2016, and is loosely based on the story of former U.S. District Attorney Preet Bharara and S.A.C. Capital Advisors manager Steve Cohen.

“I don't lie to myself, and I don't hold on to a loser” - Bobby Axelrod