Top 13 Trading Movies Every Trader Should Watch

Films about trading are good sources to learn about different aspects of trading. The world of cinema has produced some exceptional trading films over the years. We are going to review the top 13 trading movies that every trader and investor must watch.

1. Margin Call

Margin Call is critical news for investors and traders. When an entire company is at stake, the scenario becomes too big and the situation becomes too intense. This is what happens in Margin Call, one of the best trading films ever. The film depicts how big financial institutions worked especially before the 2008 crisis. This thought-provoking and the dramatic trading film keeps you at the edge of your seat for its entire duration.

2. The Wolf of Wall Street

The Wolf of Wall Street is based on the true story of a stock trader, Jordan Belfort. He made his way through the ranks of the trading world to reach the highest level. This insane trading film depicts how drugs, greed, and a lavish lifestyle led to the fall of one of history’s most popular stock traders. Belfort devises new ways to trick investors into security scams and to cover his tracks. But, eventually, everything falls along with the people he loved the most.

3. Wall Street

Wall Street is among the best stock broker movies Hollywood ever produced. The story is about a young stockbroker. The movie emphasizes that Wall Street exercises a lot of power as a recruitment source for brokers, traders, and financial analysts. The lessons of morality and doing right are absolutely amazing in this movie. Moreover, the film warns us about insider trading and also gives an alternative but vivid picture of stock’s reality.

4. The Big Short

The Big Short is among the best trading films to watch because it depicts a dramatic tale of events that lead to the 2008 crisis. The movie is based on the nonfiction book, The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis. The film lets us have an idea about how a big investment bank forecasted an imminent financial crisis before anyone else. The film is a great learning source as well in which we learn about synthetic CDOs and mortgage-backed bonds in an easy way.

5. Inside Job

Inside Job is one of the best trading movies of all time. The film depicts how despicable corruption in the finance sector led the world to the 2008 crisis. The film consists of five sections. The first section, How We Got Here, highlights the systematic corruption within the financial ranks. The second section, The Bubble (2001 to 2007), describes the housing bubble and all its technical aspects. The third section, The Crisis, depicts what happens when panic enters banks. The fourth section, Accountability, sheds light on how the US government tried to force big financial institutions to face their corruption. The final and fifth section is Where We Are Now.

6. Trading Places

Trading Places is one of the best short-selling trading films because it explains commonly misunderstood short-selling trading techniques. The movies show different stereotypical aspects of money. Moreover, it paints a very clear picture of the basics of the socioeconomic and class culture of America. The climax scene where Eddie Murphy tricks experienced financiers worth the time spent on this remarkable trading film.

7. Boiler Room

Boiler Room is among the best broker movies. It is a story of a stockbroker Seth Davis. Davis finds a job as a broker for an investment firm. But, soon he finds out that the job is not as legitimate as he first perceived. He learns the hard way that scamming people and their hard-earned money has both consequences, moral and legal. The film is a warning for those who invest money in stock markets but don’t look for a transparent and solid financial firm. Pump and dump firms just scam people and inflict pain and suffering upon others.

8. Glengarry Glen Ross

Glengarry Ross is a tale of unprecedented greed and underhanded tricks of the higher hierarchy of a real-estate firm. The movie showcases how an unscrupulous firm leads its salespersons to completely eroded moral values. The movie beautifully highlights the trials and tribulations of salespersons who bear a lot of pressure from morally and ethically corrupt officials.

9. Floored

Floored is a paragon of excellence in film direction. The movie revolves around futures trading. It is one of the best trading movies because of the educational factor. The film explains the future and stock trading. The interviewees tell shocking anecdotes as well as honest comments on trading and the financial world. Moreover, the movie also sheds light on the differences between gambling and trading. It is one of the best trading movies for those who want to learn about futures and stock trading.

10. Barbarians at the Gates

Barbarians at the Gates is among the best traders movies. The movie revolves around Ross Johnson, CEO of RJR Nabisco. He tries to make the company private through buyouts to avoid disclosure of financial troubles of the company. His co-investors don’t like Nabisco’s plan and try to find other buyers for the company. Thrill, drama, and learning make this movie of the best trading films of all time.

11. Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room

Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room is among the best trading movies of all time. The movie is a tale of a large corporation, Enron. The tale covers how Enron’s management personnel hide its business practices and easily get away with it. They are also associated with a couple of unlawful plans including capitalizing on California’s energy crisis. The film showcases how morally corrupt management personnel is just bent on benefits at any cost. Overall, the film is one of the best trading films that make us watch the dark side of large financial institutions.

12. Too Big to Fail

Too Big to Fail is based on Andrew Ross’s book with the same name. The film highlights the actions of Henry Paulson, US Treasury Secretary, and Ben Bernanke, the Chairman of the Federal Reserve System. It showcases how these two senior figures worked to contain the crisis period between August 2008 to October 2008. The film highlights how certain large corporations especially financial institutions are important for the greater economic system and if they fail, the system fails as well. Again, it is one of the best trading movies and must watch for anyone interested in trading.

13. Capitalism: A Love Story

Capitalism: A Love Story is a tale of the victorious and disappointments of despicable capitalism pervasive throughout the United States of America. The movie explains how just one percent of capitalists have more wealth than the other 99% combined. The film criticizes the capitalist system that claims to reward free enterprise but in reality, it rewards greed. The film showcases how capitalism has controlled American society that once used to work for the common good and prosperity. In a nutshell, this is one of the best trading movies of all time that provides a dissection of America’s capitalist system and the destruction it caused to American society.