Top 10 Trading Movies Every Trader Should Watch
Watching trading and finance movies is one of my favorite pastimes when I'm not actively trading.
Taking a break from the charts to recharge is essential, and what better way to do that than by enjoying a trading movie?
I recommend these films as they offer valuable lessons by highlighting many common trading mistakes you should avoid.
If there are any movies you love that I might have missed, do share your picks!
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1. Wolf Of Wall Street – 2013
Based on the true story of New York stockbroker Jordan Belford.
This finance movie is a funny satire on Wall Street and contains a lot of swearing and other "stuff".
The movie great much thanks to the great acting by Leonardo DiCaprio.
I read the book first and actually like it better than the movie – I really recommend you read it and my other recommended trading books if you have not already.
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2. The Big Short – 2015
In this finance movie you follow the Wall Street guru Michael Burry (Christian Bale) realizes that a number of subprime home loans are in danger of defaulting.
Burry bets against the housing market by throwing more than $1 billion of his investors' money into credit default swaps. His actions attract the attention of banker Jared Vennett (Ryan Gosling), hedge-fund specialist Mark Baum (Steve Carell) and other greedy opportunists.
Together, these men make a fortune by taking full advantage of the impending economic collapse in America.
Keep in mind, you don't need to predict news to be profitable, a simple strategy that you follow with discipline is easier.
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3. Wall Street I – 1987
This is an must-see movie for all traders.
Wall Street is a 1987 film about a young stockbroker named Bud Fox (played by Charlie Sheen) who becomes involved with Gordon Gekko (played by Michael Douglas), a ruthless corporate raider.
As Bud becomes more involved in the world of high finance, he becomes caught up in Gekko's illegal activities and is forced to choose between his own personal gain and his loyalty to his father, a union leader.
The film was directed by Oliver Stone and is considered a classic of the Wall Street genre. It explores themes of greed, corruption, and the consequences of ambition.
Michael Douglas won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Gordon Gekko, and the film's memorable lines, such as "Greed is good," is well known by now.
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4. Trading Places – 1983
This is a classic – watch it!
Trading places movie is a fun and great story about a snobbish investor (Dan Aykroyd) and a wily street con artist (Eddie Murphy) who find their positions reversed as part of a bet by two commodity millionaire traders.
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5. Rogue Trader – 1999
Great trading movie – illustrate one of the most common mistakes among traders – not cutting losses quickly.
This the top Forex trading movie all beginners needs to watch.
The story of Nick Leeson (Ewan McGregor), an ambitious forex investment broker who single handedly bankrupted one of the oldest and most important banks in Britain.
The lesson here?
Risk management is something you need to understand if you want consistent results.
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6. Wall Street II – 2010
If you have seen Wall Street I, you have to see Wall Street II Money Never Sleeps.
Now out of prison but still disgraced by his peers, Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas) works his future son-in-law (Shia LaBeouf), an idealistic stock broker, when he sees an opportunity to take down a Wall Street enemy and rebuild his empire.
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7. Margin Call – 2011
This one is a no-brainer.
In this movie, we follow the key people at large Wall Street investment bank, over a 24-hour period, during the early stages of the 2008 financial crisis.
The Wall Street investment bank is downsizing and one of the victims is the risk management division head, who was working on a major analysis just when he was let go. His disciple completes the analysis and frantically calls his colleagues in about the investment bank's financial disaster he has discovered.
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8. Inside Job – 2010
This is a masterpiece documentary narrated by Matt Damon.
The movie takes a closer look at what brought about the 2008 financial crisis.
The crisis which at a cost over $20 trillion, caused millions of people to lose their jobs and homes in the worst recession since the Great Depression, and it nearly resulted in a global financial collapse.
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9. Barbarians At The Gate – 1993
A true story of the leveraged buyout of RJR Nabisco.
In this movie, the president of a major tobacco company decides to buy the company himself, but a bidding war ensues as other companies make their own offers. Interesting finance movie!
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10. Boiler Room – 2000
Outstanding acting from Ben Affleck, Seth Davis, and Vin Diesel.
The story of a college dropout who gets a job as a broker for a suburban investment firm which at first puts Giovanni (Seth Davis) on the fast track to success but he soon noticed that the job was not as legitimate as it sounds. Great movie.
Now all you need is the popcorn!
Johan Nordstrom is a full-time trader, and a family guy in his early 30's who trades the markets in a simple yet effective way. He has a master's degree in risk management and years of experience trading the markets. He has helped hundreds of struggling traders become consistently profitable. Read more.
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