Show Me the Money: Movies That Make You Think More Critically About Wealth

By Adrian Johansen

“Greed is good.”  

Most people know the famous Gordon Gekko line from 1987’s Wall Street. You can also probably hear Jerry Maguire shouting “show me the money!” Maybe you can even remember the comical approaches some movies have taken when it comes to wealth, like Trading Places. 

There’s no shortage of films that have made us all think critically about money over the years. What’s interesting, however, is the different approaches they all take. Money is such a huge influence in our culture and our daily lives, it only makes sense that Hollywood reflects that. 

But, some movies about money make you think a bit more than others. Some might even cause you to change the way you think about wealth and the impact it might have on your life. Whether you want to be inspired, motivated, or consider the sometimes negative impact greed and money can have, there are plenty of great films to choose from that will cause you to think about every aspect of wealth. 

Let’s take a look at a few of them and what they represent. 

Inspirational Money Movies

When people think about money, it’s easy to automatically have thoughts of greed and dishonesty. Some movies that focus on money and entrepreneurship do go this route. For example, The Social Network follows Mark Zuckerberg’s rise to the top of the social media food chain. Today, Zuckerberg is worth about $120 billion, but the film depicts the idea that he had to step on a lot of people’s toes to get to where he is. 

Other entrepreneurial movies are more inspiring, whether they’re based on real-life rags-to-riches stories, like Joy and The Pursuit of Happyness, or heartfelt films that show you can achieve your goals without mountains of cash, like Moneyball. 

It shouldn’t be a surprise that many movies about money are based on true stories. Though most films take plenty of creative liberties, the main “plot” is always still there, allowing viewers to see themselves in the story and feel more connected to how money motivates the characters. 

If you want to start a business of your own, watching movies can be a great way to feel inspired. Take that motivation and run with it, keeping the following entrepreneurial tips in mind: 

• Let others know you want to start a business

• Use failures as learning opportunities

• Stay connected to your network

• Develop a solid business plan

• Be genuine with your ideas

You never know what kind of advice or life lessons you’ll learn from a film. So, don’t be afraid to consider movies like these “research” as you start to reach for your dreams.

Generational Wealth Depictions

When you think about some of the richest people in the world, there’s no question that many of them worked hard for their success. Others, however, were born into money. Generational wealth is often viewed as a huge problem, especially in the U.S. It often seems like the rich keep getting richer and the poor keep getting poorer. 

People with extreme wealth tend to follow a few certain rules and patterns to generate consistent income, including: 

• Acquiring assets

• Acquiring businesses

• Eliminating debts

• Investing in stocks and bonds

Often, movies about generational wealth tend to take an income disparity approach. Films like The Notebook do this quite well, especially when showcasing how classism and income can impact the course of people’s entire lives. 

More recently, films have started to take a more serious approach to income disparity. The 2019 film Parasite is a dark, yet comedic approach to how shockingly different the rich versus poor lifestyles truly are. It focuses on a symbiotic relationship between a nearly destitute Korean family and a wealthy family, showcasing the vast differences in the two lifestyles and detailing just how far some people are willing to go to achieve wealth – wealth that can be passed on for generations.

Films That Make You Question Money

We’re a culture that’s fascinated by money, even when we see the negative impact it can have on society or an individual’s life. That’s one reason why The Wolf of Wall Street was so popular, depicting the rise and fall of one of the most successful (and criminal) stockbrokers of all time. 

Audiences also like to see the potential dangers associated with money. Heist films like Ocean’s 11, and even kidnapping/ransom movies like All the Money in the World might seem far-fetched, but many draw inspiration from real-life situations. Money is often called the ultimate motivator, even when it pushes people toward criminal activities.

Even the Oscar-winning film The Big Short took some underlying shots at wealth, causing viewers to learn a few lessons along the way. The biggest one? Greed isn’t good. Gordon Gekko’s line may be famous, but this movie (and so many others) show just how easily wealth can be taken away in an instant. 

The films listed here and the ideas they can spark around wealth and money are only the tips of the iceberg. Art imitates culture, and money is ingrained in our culture. The next time you watch a movie where wealth is involved in any way, consider how it makes you feel, how accurate it really is, and how important money is to our society. You might find yourself watching from a new perspective.