Since the 1987 debut of the enduring Wall Street film, real-life trading, and investing events have been documented in countless trading-related films. You may think that trading movies are probably boring and not your cup of tea, but in fact, best trading movies are the most thrilling choice ever!
The following films will completely change your perspective on trading movies and may even give you a head start in trading yourself! And if, by any chance, that does happen, we recommend starting with binary options, as it is deemed one of the easiest trading methods available online. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the world of stocks and trading!
Wall Street
The Oliver Stone classic that encouraged countless college grads to repeat the famous slogan “Blue Horseshoe likes Anacott Steel” as they ran to their Series 7 tests is a finance film that every professional should think about watching.
Nearly 30 years after it was first produced, Wall Street still influences the hiring of brokers, analysts, traders, and bankers. It was made to show how extravagant and fun-loving the finance industry is.
Let’s face it: even though the Wall Street movie helps warn us about the dangers of insider trading, who wouldn’t like to be Gordon Gekko or Bud Fox and indulge a little in our greedy side?
The Big Short
In this movie about money, Christian Bale plays Michael Burry, a Wall Street expert who finds out that several home loans have gone bad.
Burry stakes money on credit default swaps worth more than $1 billion, betting against the housing market. His work caught the attention of other greedy people, like Mark Baum, an expert on hedge funds, and Jared Vennett, a banker.
These two rich men are working together to make the most of the coming economic downfall in the United States.
Remember that you don’t need to forecast the news to be successful; a basic strategy you follow with discipline is simpler.
Boiler Room
Boiler Room is another movie that explores the moral and ethical dilemmas of working for a pump-and-dump scam firm, similar to The Wolf of Wall Street. In fact, “Boiler Room” is said to be based on the Jordan Belfort story.
Boiler Room is a movie that teaches you how to learn how financial assets get inflated and how uncontrolled the financial and stock markets are. Moreover, it ultimately teaches how to sell rather than trade.
Trading Places
In this modern version of The Prince and the Pauper, Eddie Murphy plays the role of a streetwise con man who is misled into taking over as manager of a commodities trading firm.
He unintentionally takes on the role of Dan Aykroyd’s character, a blue-blood CEO. Even though the real trading takes a back seat to how the characters adjust to their new lives, the last 15 minutes of the movie are a good representation of a busy trading session in the orange juice futures pits.
Without giving away any specifics, this particular moment is worth the money. This movie is a must-see because of the supporting cast, which includes famous actors from the 20th century like Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche, the nostalgia for the 1980s, and Murphy and Aykroyd’s great acting.
Inside Job
The Matt Damon-narrated documentary is a masterpiece. The 2008 financial crisis is covered in full depth in the film. Millions of people lost their jobs and houses due to the crisis, which cost over $20 trillion and also almost brought about a global financial collapse.
The Hummingbird Project
This movie is for you to view if high-frequency trading (HFT) interests you. Even though it’s not the most interesting movie you’ll ever see, it gives you an idea of what HFT trading is and how powerful and fast computers can help you make a lot of money.
Two high-frequency traders are trying to build a direct fiber-optic cable link between New Jersey and Kansas. This is not based on a true story.
Wolf of Wall Street
Jordan Belford, a New York stockbroker, is the subject of this true-life tale. This humorous Wall Street satire in the finance world uses a lot of profanity and other “stuff.” The movie, which has a lot of big names, shows how greed and self-interest drove Wall Street traders and the financial services industry. Leonardo DiCaprio’s excellent acting makes The Wolf of Wall Street a success.
Rogue Trader
This movie is based on the true story of trader Nick Leeson, who was the only one to blame for the failure of the second-oldest merchant bank in the world, Barings Bank.
Leeson was a rising star on the Singapore stock exchange who rose to prominence after amassing massive losses in cleverly hidden accounts for his bosses. With a short straddle position on the Nikkei that finally experiences a huge sigma move, his actions ultimately result in the mother of all lost trades.
Margin Call
In this film, we spend a whole day following the important figures at a sizable Wall Street investment bank as the 2008 economic meltdown is just getting started.
The head of the risk management division of a Wall Street investment bank is one of the casualties of downsizing; he was wrapping up a significant analysis when he was fired. When the study is done, his disciple calls his coworkers right away to tell them that the investment bank has gone bankrupt.
Too Big to Fail
A superb drama-documentary called Too Big to Fail was adapted from a book written by Andrew Ross Sorkin. The movie shows how both government and private banks contributed to the 2008 financial crisis.
Some of the biggest personalities in the financial sector, including politicians and central bankers, are featured in the award-winning film. In conclusion, you might be let down by the leaders of the world’s financial system, but you’ll still like the movie.
Conclusion
These best trading movies are worth watching for any aspiring financial professional. Even if you aren’t considering a career in finance, these movies can give you an understanding of the crazy and occasionally absurd world of banking.
We sincerely hope you like the films. Moreover, we advise you to view some of the top stock market and trading documentaries if you want to learn more about the trading industry.