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The Best Trading Films and TV Shows to Watch
Whether you’re an experienced trader or just getting started, films and television series on trading and finance provide a mix of pleasure, education, and inspiration. These films depict the intensity, drama, and psychology that underpin high-stakes trading situations, market collapses, and the chase of fortune. If you want to relax while still feeding your trading attitude, here’s a list of the best trading films and TV series to watch, along with why they’re must-sees. The Best Trading Films and TV Shows to Watch
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1. Wall Street (1987) – The Best Trading Films and TV Shows to Watch
Oliver Stone directed and starred Michael Douglas and Charlie Sheen.
This classic film follows Bud Fox, a young stockbroker who is drawn into the world of insider trading under the tutelage of corporate raider Gordon Gekko. Gekko’s famous phrase, “Greed, for lack of a better word, is good,” became associated with 1980s Wall Street extravagance.
Why Watch: It explores ambition, ethical conflict, and the darker side of trade, all while highlighting the allure of money and achievement.
2. The Big Short (2015)
The film is directed by Adam McKay and stars Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, and Brad Pitt.
Based on Michael Lewis’ book, this film follows the few traders who predicted and gambled against the 2008 housing bubble collapse. It uses comedy, fourth-wall cracks, and celebrity appearances to teach complicated financial products such as CDOs and credit default swaps.
Why Watch: It’s instructive, humorous, and profoundly perceptive on financial risk, irrational markets, and institutional greed.
3. Margin Call (2011)
The film is directed by J.C. Chandor and stars Kevin Spacey, Jeremy Irons, Paul Bettany, and Zachary Quinto.
This video, set over 24 hours in a fictitious investment bank, shows the early stages of the 2008 financial crisis. When an analyst learns that the company is harboring harmful assets, leaders must make tough choices.
Why Watch: Provides a realistic and stressful depiction of moral compromise, fear, and corporate decision-making amid a crisis.
4. The Boiler Room (2000)
The film is directed by Ben Younger and stars Giovanni Ribisi, Vin Diesel, and Ben Affleck.
This video delves into the murky world of a brokerage business that employs pump-and-dump methods to scam investors. It demonstrates how readily ambition and avarice may lead young traders into unethical behavior.
Why Watch: A fascinating cautionary story about seeking fast riches, as well as a compelling examination of unlawful trading enterprises.
5. Trading Places (1983) – The Best Trading Films and TV Shows to Watch
Director: John Landis Starring: Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd
A social satire in which a wealthy commodities trader and a destitute guy switch lives as part of a sadistic experiment conducted by two wealthy businessmen. It culminates in a renowned trading scenario on the frozen orange juice futures market.
Why Watch: It combines humor with real-world trading ideas, which is particularly good for understanding futures and market manipulation.
6. Billions (2016)
Platform: Showtime Starring: Damian Lewis and Paul Giamatti.
A fantastic television series pitting hedge fund king Bobby Axelrod against US Attorney Chuck Rhoades. The series combines law, power, and money in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse.
Why Watch: Documents hedge fund culture, insider trading, and the psychological warfare that occurs in high-level finance. Full of strategic and mental games.
7. Industry (2020)
Platform: HBO Creators: Mickey Down & Konrad Kay
Set at a top London investment firm, the drama follows new graduates as they seek permanent careers. It reveals the fast-paced world of trading, client management, and internal politics.
Why watch: Raw and passionate, it depicts what it’s like to operate at the bottom of the trade hierarchy, debunking glamor clichés with reality.
8: Rogue Trader (1999)
The film stars Ewan McGregor and is based on the actual life of Nick Leeson.
Leeson was a trader who led to the bankruptcy of Barings Bank after accruing large undisclosed losses. The video depicts his rise and collapse as a derivatives trader in Singapore.
Why Watch: Demonstrates how a lack of monitoring and risk management can devastate a centuries-old organization.
9. Inside Job (2010) – The Best Trading Films and TV Shows to Watch
The documentary is narrated by Matt Damon.
An Oscar-winning documentary that examines the underlying roots of the 2008 financial crisis via interviews with economists, traders, and politicians.
Why Watch: Provides a clear, complete knowledge of the systemic failures that contributed to the global crisis, which is critical for any serious trader.
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Final Thoughts
From exhilarating dramas to educational documentaries, these trading films and television series provide a unique perspective on the financial world. They not only amuse, but also teach viewers about risk, ethics, strategy, and psychology, all of which are essential for being a good trader. Whether you’re studying about market bubbles, derivatives, or human behavior, these screen tales take you past the numbers and into the heart of trading.