3 Iconic Movies That Focus on Investing

by Kevin Faber

If you're a professional in the world of investing, or at least an interested party, you're in luck entertainment-wise. There's a wide range of movies that tackle this subject, many of which are critical darlings. So, if you want to start a watch list, here are three iconic movies that focus on investing.

1. Wall Street

When audiences think of investment movies, Wall Street is probably the first film that comes to mind. There's a good reason for this. Not only is Wall Street immensely quotable and iconic, but it also provides a compelling look at the world of investing. The movie centers around Bud, a young man who idolizes Wall Street legend Gordon Gekko. In order to begin working for Gekko, Bud decides to deal in insider trading. While this garners him a partnership with Gekko and extreme wealth, it also makes him hurt a lot of people. Predictably, this results in suspicion and a slow moral downfall. However, Bud manages to come to his senses and realizes what he's doing. Unlike many other movies that focus on character downfalls, Bud is given a second chance in the end. Other than the main message surrounding ethics in investing, Wall Street has important advice for those entering the industry. Mainly, be careful who you deal with and know what you're doing. You should understand things like asset based lending before you dive in.

2. The Wolf of Wall Street

The Wolf of Wall Street is a fairly new movie led by Leonardo DiCaprio. Sure, the movie is mostly remembered for its drug-fueled parties and an insane amount of swearing. However, it still has an important message about investment to share. The main character, Jordan Belfort, is a Wall Street stockbrocker who loses his job on Black Monday. Due to his talented pitches, he manages to amass a small fortune and create his own company. Jordan's schemes allow him to trick investors and mask the company as succesful. This con plunges him into a world of sex, drugs and money. Of course, this ultimately ends in an intense downfall. By the end of the movie, Jordan is divorced from his wife, loses custody of his daughter and ends up in jail. While you may get caught up in the gorgeous visuals and comedy, there are some important messages to take in. Most importantly, the movie stresses the dangers of getting caught up in success, especially when that success comes at the expense of others. However, it's also a great display of sales techniques. If you're interested in investment banking, you'll definitely want to pick up some of Jordan's tricks.

3. American Psycho

American Psycho is, undeniably, the odd man out on this list. While the film does focus on the world of investment banking, it isn't your usual money-based flick. Instead, this horror classic is full of mental breakdowns, vicious murders and extremely gory scenes. The movie centers around Patrick Bateman, an investment banker who seems to be living the good life. He has a high-level position, his wife is rich and he attends parties with gorgeous women every night. However, the monotone and lifeless nature of this culture drive him to murder. At first, Patrick sticks to killing prostitutes and homeless men. Unfortunately, his extreme hatred and jealousy of a coworker leads him to kill said man, which only drives him further into a frenzy. Eventually, he goes completely off the rails and even confesses to his crimes. Despite this, the movie ends with nothing changing. Is this extremely graphic and gory? Sure. Does it still have an important message about the world of investment? Definitely! No matter how crazy Patrick gets, he can't seem to escape his monotone existence. Everyone is expected to be obsessed with the unimportant and disinterested in truly living. In order to thrive in the world of investment, you need to stick to your values.