7 Money-Related Shows to Binge on Netflix

Introduction

When COVID hit, the world’s economy was shaken to its core. Many feared that a worldwide recession was about to happen, and while that thankfully didn’t happen, many still fear the possibility of a recession, especially citizens of the United States, a country that has yet to properly deal with COVID-19.

The fear of a recession has urged many people to delve into the world of finance to learn how money is properly handled and what happened back during the 2008 recession. Fortunately, Netflix contains many shows and movies dealing with that exact subject plus a few other financial topics.

Some of these shows, however, are restricted to US-only, meaning that people in other countries can’t watch them. Don’t worry, though, because a VPN for Netflix will help you navigate around that pesky geo-block. Now, without further ado, let’s talk about the seven best financial shows on Netflix.

7 Shows to Catch on Netflix

1. Inside Job (2010)

Released in 2010, the documentary Inside Job takes viewers on a journey through the 2008 financial crisis and why it happened. Matt Damon narrates the documentary and gives an excellent performance, and the writers did a good job explaining things clearly and concisely.

Inside Job shows the devastation caused by the financial crisis and hold zero punches. If you enjoy documentaries dealing with harsh topics, then Inside Job is for you. I promise that you will come out of the documentary having learned something new.

2. The Big Short (2015)

The Big Short discusses the 2008 financial crisis through a different lens. A more comedic lens, to be specific. The film stars star-studded names such as Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt, and more.

The film follows Michael Burry (Christian Bale) as he attempts to bet against the oncoming defaulting of home loans. He’s doing so, however, only hastens the housing bubble pop, bringing about the financial crisis that affected millions of citizens.

The Big Short is a good comedy-drama that handles a serious subject with grace. IF you like comedies, you’re missing out on not watching this.

3. The Queen of Versailles (2012)

The Queen of Versailles takes the financial crisis and looks at it through the eyes of billionaires. The subjects of the documentary, the Siegel family, were in the midst of building a brand new mansion when the housing crisis hit.

The documentary does a good job showing viewers how the wealthy handled the crisis and the inevitable failures of the construction project as the crisis went on. It’s definitely not a documentary for everyone, but if character-driven documentaries are your forte, you will absolutely love The Queen of Versailles.

4. The Trader (2018)

Taking a break from the 2008 financial crisis, we have The Trader, a documentary that follows the day in the life of a trader in Georgia. Said trader sells second-hand clothing in exchange for potatoes. In fact, potatoes are the only currency in his region—a region in the Republic of Georgia

The Trader does a fantastic job showcasing the harsh lives some people in poorer regions experience and reminds us that there are people out there that need our help. All in all, if you’re looking for an uplifting and heartwarming documentary, then I recommend The Trader.

5. Saving Capitalism (2017)

Saving Capitalism, a serious documentary by Jacob Kornbluth, shows viewers the disarray found in the United State’s capitalistic system. The United States, as showcased in the documentary, is ripe with fraud, corruption, and deceit, and citizens are the ones paying for it.

The documentary focuses on the ways the United States can save itself, outlining improvements. While controversial, the documentary does a fantastic job showcasing the problems inherent in what people refer to as “late-stage capitalism”.

6. Dirty Money (2018-)

Speaking of corruption, what kind of list would this be if we didn’t talk about Dirty Money, one of Netflix’s original television series.

Dirty Money is a documentary-style show that follows cases of corruption and fraud in corporate America, starring infamous figures such as Martin Shkreli and Donald Trump.

While not extremely detailed like some full-length documentaries, Dirty Money does a great job giving overviews of each subject and the cases stacked against them. If you like shows that expose the corrupt, then Dirty Money is for you.

7. Banking on Bitcoin (2016)

Finally, we have Banking on Bitcoin, a documentary focused on the rise, fall, and rise of Bitcoin, the world’s first major cryptocurrency.

Directed by Christopher Cannucciari, Banking on Bitcoin follows Bitcoin and its investors, as well as the effects Bitcoin had on the financial world, including how Bitcoin could one day threaten the entire banking industry.

Cryptocurrency is here to stay, and if you find yourself interested in how it works, find some time to watch Banking on Bitcoin.

Conclusion

Netflix is a wellspring of financial documentaries and films, so if you find your curiosity piqued by finance, then I recommend a Netflix subscription. After all, many documentaries focus on current events, and what better way to learn the state of the world’s financial state than on your couch?