28 Best Movies like The Big Short (2015)

Margin Call appears in this list for its real-time portrayal of a financial institution during the earliest hours of a market crash. The film builds tension through sharp dialogue and a pressured corporate atmosphere, offering an engrossing look at decision-making under extreme duress.

Set in the high-stakes world of the financial industry, involving the key players at an investment firm during one perilous 24-hour period in the early stages of the 2008 financial crisis. An entry-level analyst unlocks information that could prove to be the downfall of the firm. Margin Call is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 47m runtime, released in 2011 with an average rating of 6.9 by 2,134 people. The movie made an estimated total of $19,504,039 in the box office.

Too Big to Fail is included due to its exploration of the 2008 economic crisis from the perspective of powerbrokers and government officials. The movie provides a gripping, behind-the-scenes account of high-stakes negotiations that shaped global finance.

An intimate look at the epochal financial crisis of 2008 and the powerful men and women who decided the fate of the world's economy in a matter of a few weeks. Too Big to Fail is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 37m runtime, released in 2011 with an average rating of 6.9 by 267 people.

Inside Job makes the list as it unpacks the roots and consequences of the financial meltdown depicted in The Big Short. Taking a documentary approach, it delivers clear explanations and compelling interviews, making a complex crisis understandable and impactful.

A film that exposes the shocking truth behind the economic crisis of 2008. The global financial meltdown, at a cost of over $20 trillion, resulted in millions of people losing their homes and jobs. Through extensive research and interviews with major financial insiders, politicians and journalists, Inside Job traces the rise of a rogue industry and unveils the corrosive relationships which have corrupted politics, regulation and academia. Inside Job is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 49m runtime, released in 2010 with an average rating of 7.7 by 1,054 people. The movie made an estimated total of $7,871,522 in the box office.

Moneyball is recommended thanks to its smart, dialogue-driven depiction of using unconventional data analysis to challenge an established system. It stands out with witty writing and nuanced characters striving for outsize results within rigid structures.

The story of Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane's successful attempt to put together a baseball team on a budget, by employing computer-generated analysis to draft his players. Moneyball is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 14m runtime, released in 2011 with an average rating of 7.3 by 5,882 people. The movie made an estimated total of $110,206,216 in the box office.

The Wolf of Wall Street earns its place here for chronicling the rise and fall of ambitious financiers, amplifying the excess and humor of high-stakes trading. Its energetic pacing and bold storytelling make it an entertaining, outrageous financial saga.

A New York stockbroker refuses to cooperate in a large securities fraud case involving corruption on Wall Street, corporate banking world and mob infiltration. Based on Jordan Belfort's autobiography. The Wolf of Wall Street is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 3h 0m runtime, released in 2013 with an average rating of 8.0 by 26,232 people. The movie made an estimated total of $407,038,432 in the box office.

Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room is featured for its in-depth examination of real-life corporate scandal, dissecting the collapse of Enron with investigative vigor. The documentary format and compelling testimonies provide a fascinating window into business ethics gone awry.

A documentary about the Enron corporation, its faulty and corrupt business practices, and how they led to its fall. Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 50m runtime, released in 2005 with an average rating of 7.2 by 302 people.

Thank You for Smoking joins the list thanks to its satirical dissection of corporate spin and public manipulation, echoing a similarly sharp critique of institutional power. The film's clever wit and charismatic lead contribute to an entertaining exploration of persuasion and ethics.

Nick Naylor is a charismatic spin-doctor for Big Tobacco who'll fight to protect America's right to smoke -- even if it kills him -- while still remaining a role model for his 12-year old son. When he incurs the wrath of a senator bent on snuffing out cigarettes, Nick's powers of "filtering the truth" will be put to the test. Thank You for Smoking is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 32m runtime, released in 2005 with an average rating of 7.2 by 2,447 people. The movie made an estimated total of $24,793,509 in the box office.

Wall Street is included for its depiction of ambition and moral compromise within the financial sector. Renowned for memorable characters and memorable lines, it immerses viewers in the thrilling highs and lows of 1980s capitalism.

A young and impatient stockbroker is willing to do anything to get to the top, including trading on illegal inside information taken through a ruthless and greedy corporate raider, whom takes the youth under his wing. Wall Street is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 6m runtime, released in 1987 with an average rating of 7.2 by 2,283 people. The movie made an estimated total of $43,900,000 in the box office.

Boiler Room makes the list by spotlighting the allure and moral ambiguity of fast-paced sales environments. The film draws viewers in with pulsating energy and ethical dilemmas faced by young brokers chasing wealth.

A college dropout gets a job as a broker for a suburban investment firm and is on the fast track to success—but the job might not be as legitimate as it sounds. Boiler Room is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 59m runtime, released in 2000 with an average rating of 6.7 by 756 people. The movie made an estimated total of $28,780,255 in the box office.

The Informant! earns a spot for its offbeat account of real-life financial intrigue, blending quirky humor with the unraveling of a corporate whistleblower. The film’s unique tone and character-driven story create a captivating, unconventional thriller.

A rising star at agri-industry giant Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Mark Whitacre suddenly turns whistleblower. Even as he exposes his company’s multi-national price-fixing conspiracy to the FBI, Whitacre envisions himself being hailed as a hero of the common man and handed a promotion. The Informant! is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 48m runtime, released in 2009 with an average rating of 6.2 by 995 people. The movie made an estimated total of $41,771,168 in the box office.

The Laundromat is included due to its ensemble-driven storytelling, delving into global financial schemes through multiple perspectives. The film’s playful structure and topical subject matter provide both entertainment and food for thought.

When a widow gets swindled out of insurance money, her search for answers leads to two cunning lawyers in Panama who hide cash for the superrich. The Laundromat is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 36m runtime, released in 2019 with an average rating of 6.0 by 1,315 people.

99 Homes stands out for its depiction of personal struggles during the aftermath of the housing crisis. It delivers emotional intensity and moral conflict as characters navigate the harsh consequences of economic collapse.

After his family is evicted from their home, proud and desperate construction worker Dennis Nash tries to win his home back by striking a deal with the devil and working for Rick Carver, the corrupt real estate broker who evicted him. 99 Homes is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 52m runtime, released in 2015 with an average rating of 6.8 by 870 people. The movie made an estimated total of $1,411,927 in the box office.

The Founder is recommended for examining ambition and ruthless business tactics, this time within the fast-food industry. Its nuanced portrayal of real-life figures and shifting relationships offers a compelling look at the cost of success.

The true story of how Ray Kroc, a salesman from Illinois, met Mac and Dick McDonald, who were running a burger operation in 1950s Southern California. Kroc was impressed by the brothers’ speedy system of making the food and saw franchise potential. He maneuvered himself into a position to be able to pull the company from the brothers and create a billion-dollar empire. The Founder is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 55m runtime, released in 2016 with an average rating of 7.1 by 5,455 people. The movie made an estimated total of $24,121,245 in the box office.

Spotlight belongs in this collection for its investigative tone and commitment to uncovering the truth behind powerful institutions. The procedural storytelling and ensemble performances provide a riveting, thought-provoking experience.

The true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese, shaking the entire Catholic Church to its core. Spotlight is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 9m runtime, released in 2015 with an average rating of 7.8 by 8,884 people. The movie made an estimated total of $98,690,254 in the box office.

American Made earns its place thanks to its exploration of crime and capitalism intersecting in an adventurous, real-life tale. The film’s brisk pacing and charismatic lead add a lively, surprising dimension.

The true story of pilot Barry Seal, who transported contraband for the CIA and the Medellin cartel in the 1980s. American Made is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 55m runtime, released in 2017 with an average rating of 6.9 by 5,060 people. The movie made an estimated total of $133,511,855 in the box office.

Vice is featured for its vivid portrayal of real-world power plays and their far-reaching effects on public life. The narrative’s dynamic structure and incisive commentary make it both engaging and thought-provoking.

George W. Bush picks Dick Cheney, the CEO of Halliburton Co., to be his Republican running mate in the 2000 presidential election. No stranger to politics, Cheney's impressive résumé includes stints as White House chief of staff, House Minority Whip and Defense Secretary. When Bush wins by a narrow margin, Cheney begins to use his newfound power to help reshape the country and the world. Vice is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 12m runtime, released in 2018 with an average rating of 7.0 by 3,644 people. The movie made an estimated total of $76,100,000 in the box office.

The Social Network appears on this list due to its portrayal of ambition, innovation, and ethical grey areas shaping a transformative industry. The film’s razor-sharp dialogue and compelling rivalries turn corporate origin stories into gripping drama.

In 2003, Harvard undergrad and computer programmer Mark Zuckerberg begins work on a new concept that eventually turns into the global social network known as Facebook. Six years later, Mark is one of the youngest billionaires ever, but his unprecedented success leads to both personal and legal complications when he ends up on the receiving end of two lawsuits, one involving his former friend. The Social Network is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 1m runtime, released in 2010 with an average rating of 7.4 by 13,333 people. The movie made an estimated total of $224,920,315 in the box office.

Barbarians at the Gate is recommended for its humorous yet incisive glimpse into high-stakes corporate takeovers. The film’s clever scripting and colorful characters transform a true business saga into an entertaining narrative.

F. Ross Johnson decides to buyout his own tobacco firm RJR Nabisco after the plans of the launch of his new product, a smokeless cigarette Premier, fail on account of market rumours. Barbarians at the Gate is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 47m runtime, released in 1993 with an average rating of 6.9 by 51 people.

Trading Places is here for its playful premise of social and financial upheaval, turning lives upside down through the machinations of the elite. Its blend of comedy and sharp class commentary offers laughter as well as insight.

A snobbish investor and a wily street con-artist find their positions reversed as part of a bet by two callous millionaires. Trading Places is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 56m runtime, released in 1983 with an average rating of 7.2 by 3,716 people. The movie made an estimated total of $90,404,800 in the box office.

Glengarry Glen Ross stands out for its intense examination of sales culture and personal desperation. The razor-sharp dialogue and powerhouse performances make for a riveting, claustrophobic exploration of workplace competition.

Times are tough at Premiere Properties. Shelley "the machine" Levene and Dave Moss are veteran salesmen, but only Ricky Roma is on a hot streak. The new Glengarry sales leads could turn everything around, but the front office is holding them back until these "losers" prove themselves. Then someone decides to take matters into his own hands, stealing the Glengarry leads and leaving everyone wondering who did it. Glengarry Glen Ross is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 40m runtime, released in 1992 with an average rating of 7.3 by 1,629 people. The movie made an estimated total of $10,725,228 in the box office.

The China Hustle is included for its illumination of international financial schemes that unsettle markets and investors. The documentary’s investigative approach uncovers previously hidden layers of deception and risk.

An unsettling and eye-opening Wall Street horror story about Chinese companies, the American stock market, and the opportunistic greed behind the biggest heist you've never heard of. The China Hustle is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 24m runtime, released in 2018 with an average rating of 7.2 by 88 people.

Rogue Trader joins this list to spotlight how individual decisions can trigger catastrophic consequences within global finance. The film’s focus on personal ambition set against a backdrop of institutional oversight heightens its sense of urgency.

Rogue Trader tells the true story of Nick Leeson, an employee of Barings Bank who--after a successful trading run--ends up accumulating $1.4 billion in losses hidden in account #88888. Rogue Trader is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 1h 41m runtime, released in 1999 with an average rating of 5.9 by 134 people.

The Hudsucker Proxy is recommended for its satirical take on corporate power and the unpredictability of big business. The film’s stylized approach and whimsical storytelling lend it a unique charm within tales of financial machinations.

A naive business graduate is installed as president of a manufacturing company as part of a stock scam. The Hudsucker Proxy is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 51m runtime, released in 1994 with an average rating of 7.1 by 1,211 people. The movie made an estimated total of $2,800,000 in the box office.

Casino Jack is featured here for its depiction of real-life powerbrokers manipulating financial and political systems for personal gain. It entertains with colorful characters and a brisk narrative built on high-stakes corruption.

Based on a true story, a hot shot Washington DC lobbyist and his protégé go down hard as their schemes to peddle influence lead to corruption and murder. Casino Jack is a movie from Canada in English, with a total 1h 48m runtime, released in 2010 with an average rating of 5.9 by 329 people. The movie made an estimated total of $1,083,683 in the box office.

The Company Men makes this list for its exploration of job loss and personal reinvention in the aftermath of economic turmoil. The film draws viewers into moving stories of resilience and adaptation in uncertain corporate times.

Bobby Walker lives the proverbial American dream: great job, beautiful family, shiny Porsche in the garage. When corporate downsizing leaves him and two co-workers jobless, the three men are forced to re-define their lives as men, husbands and fathers. The Company Men is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 44m runtime, released in 2010 with an average rating of 6.5 by 821 people. The movie made an estimated total of $4,882,577 in the box office.

Shattered Glass earns its spot due to its tension-filled examination of deception and credibility in a professional environment. The gradual unmasking of truth and ethical peril grips viewers throughout.

Stephen Glass is a staff writer for the respected current events and policy magazine The New Republic and a freelance feature writer for publications such as Rolling Stone, Harper's and George. By the mid-90s, Glass' articles had turned him into one of the most sought-after young journalists in Washington, but a bizarre chain of events - chronicled in Buzz Bissinger's September 1998 Vanity Fair article - suddenly stopped his career in its tracks. Shattered Glass is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 34m runtime, released in 2003 with an average rating of 7.0 by 482 people. The movie made an estimated total of $2,944,752 in the box office.

Quiz Show is included for its detailed portrayal of real-world scandal and the unraveling of public trust. Its thoughtful pacing and nuanced performances provoke questions about ambition and morality.

Herbert Stempel's transformation into an unexpected television personality unfolds as he secures victory on the cherished American game show, 'Twenty-One.' However, when the show introduces the highly skilled contestant Charles Van Doren to replace Stempel, it compels Stempel to let out his frustrations and call out the show as rigged. Lawyer Richard Goodwin steps in and attempts to uncover the orchestrated deception behind the scenes. Quiz Show is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 13m runtime, released in 1994 with an average rating of 7.3 by 1,000 people. The movie made an estimated total of $24,822,619 in the box office.

The Assistant joins this list for its subtle depiction of power dynamics and ethical compromise within a professional hierarchy. The understated narrative style enhances the growing sense of unease and complicity.

A searing look at a day in the life of an assistant to a powerful executive. As Jane follows her daily routine, she grows increasingly aware of the insidious abuse that threatens every aspect of her position. The Assistant is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 28m runtime, released in 2020 with an average rating of 6.3 by 537 people. The movie made an estimated total of $1,338,881 in the box office.