Are you someone who finds reading textbooks boring, and you are constantly seeking alternative ways to upgrade your financial knowledge? Let’s admit it: you love movies, right? Do you want to learn from the stories of real traders and investors who made or lost fortunes in the world of finance? So, here we have a list of some fantastic stock market movies and films about trading and finance for traders and investors in India.
These movies are entertaining, thrilling, educational, and insightful. They will show you the highs and lows of trading, the market players’ strategies and tactics, and the financial game’s risks and rewards. So, grab some popcorn and get ready to watch the best stock market movies ever.
Best Stock Market Movies in India | Viewers Choice
| Title | Type | Year | Rating |
| Wolf of Wall Street | Biographical Black Comedy Crime Film | 2013 | 4.7 |
| Wizard of Lies | Biographical Film | 2017 | 4.4 |
| Scam 1992 | Web Series | 2020 | 4.7 |
| Inside Job | Documentary Film | 2010 | 4.6 |
| Trading Places | Comedy Film | 1983 | 4.6 |
| Big Short | Biographical comedy-drama | 2015 | 4.5 |
| Boiler Room | Crime Drama | 2000 | 4.5 |
| Gafla | Crime Thriller | 2006 | 4.3 |
| Margin Call | Thriller | 2011 | 4.2 |
| Bazaar | Business Drama | 2018 | 4.0 |
Stock Market Movie 1- Wolf of Wall Street
A biographical film based on the memoir by Jordan Belfort, which depicts his rise and fall as a wealthy and corrupt stockbroker who engaged in fraud, money laundering, and drug abuse in the 1980s and 1990s. The film portrays his lavish and unrestrained lifestyle, as well as his downfall and legal troubles.
It was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for DiCaprio in 2014.
Stock Market Movie 2- Wizard of Lies
Based on a book by Diana B. Henriques, this movie tells the story of Bernie Madoff, the guy behind the biggest Ponzi scheme ever, and the film shows how he tricked lots of people out of billions of dollars. It explores the impact of his fraud on his family and victims.
This trading movie shows how Madoff deceived and defrauded thousands of investors of billions of dollars and how he managed to evade detection and suspicion for decades. The film also depicts the aftermath of his arrest and confession and the emotional and financial toll on his wife, sons, and associates.
It was originally aired as a television movie on HBO in 2017.
Stock Market Movie 3- Scam 1992
A web series based on the book by Sucheta Dalal and Debashish Basu, which dramatises the 1992 Indian stock market scam produced by Harshad Mehta, who manipulated the banking system and the stock prices to make huge profits.
The series shows how Mehta rose from a humble background to become a stockbroker and how he exploited the loopholes and flaws in the financial system and bribed and influenced the officials and the media. This is a must-watch among the movies for traders in India. It also portrays his rivalry with other brokers, his personal and professional challenges, and his eventual downfall and death.
It was released on SonyLIV in 2020.
Stock Market Movie 4- Inside Job
A documentary film that exposes the causes and consequences of the 2008 global financial meltdown and the role of the financial industry, regulators, politicians, and academics in creating and perpetuating the crisis. This stock market film reveals how the deregulation, corruption, and greed of the financial system led to the collapse of the economy and the bailouts of the banks, while millions of people lost their jobs, homes, and savings. The film also examines the lack of accountability and reform in the aftermath of the crisis and the ongoing risks and challenges for the global economy.
This stock market movie is narrated by Matt Damon and features interviews with key figures from the finance, politics, academia, and media sectors.
It won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2011.
Stock Market Movie 5- Trading Places
A comedy film that revolves around a bet between two wealthy businessmen who swap the lives of a snobbish investor and a street hustler. It explores the themes of social class, racism, and human nature. This amusing movie about the trade was released in 1983.
Stock Market Movie 6 Big Short
Adapted from Michael Lewis’ book, this movie narrates the tale of a bunch of investors who made bets against the US housing market just before the 2007-2008 financial crisis. The film shows how they discovered the flaws and frauds in the subprime mortgage industry and how they faced opposition and disbelief from the banks and the regulators. The film also explains the complex financial instruments and terms involved in the crisis, such as collateralised debt obligations, credit default swaps, and synthetic CDOs.
It was nominated for five Academy Awards and also won the Best Adapted Screenplay in 2016.
Stock Market Movie 7- Boiler Room
This movie on trading and finance depicts the operations and culture of a fraudulent brokerage firm, where young and ambitious salespeople are trained to sell worthless stocks to unsuspecting investors, using high-pressure and unethical tactics. The film exposes the illegal and immoral practices of the firm, as well as the personal conflicts and dilemmas of the protagonist, who is torn between his loyalty to his colleagues and his conscience. The film is inspired by the real-life cases of boiler room scams, and is influenced by the films Wall Street and Glengarry Glen Ross.
It was released in 2000.
Stock Market Movie 8- Gafla
This is a film on finance and stock market, inspired by the 1992 Indian stock market scam, which follows the journey of a young man who enters the stock market and becomes involved in a web of deceit, corruption, and crime. The film depicts his rise from a small-time trader to a market leader and his fall from grace after his involvement in a financial scandal. The film also explores the workings and dynamics of the stock market and the role of the regulators, the media, and the public in the scam.
It was released in 2006.
Stock Market Movie 9 Margin Call
The film revolves around employees at a fictional investment bank who uncover a significant risk in their firm’s portfolio, potentially leading to a global financial collapse. Inspired by real events of the 2008 financial crisis, the movie explores themes of greed, corruption, morality, and accountability within the financial world. “Margin Call” received critical acclaim for its realistic portrayal and suspenseful storytelling.
The film about trading has earned recognition from various film festivals and critics associations.
Stock Market Movie 10 Bazaar
This is another Hindi film on finance that revolves around the world of stock trading and corporate power. It follows a small-town stockbroker who idolises a ruthless tycoon and joins his firm, only to discover his dark secrets. It also involves a love triangle and a murder plot.
Movies About Trading
Here is a masterpiece film about trading that you should certainly watch:
Rogue Trader
Rogue Trader tells the true story of Nick Leeson who was a trader who caused the collapse of Barings Bank, a prestigious British bank. In the 1999 film starring Ewan McGregor, we witness Leeson’s unauthorised and risky trades in the Singapore stock exchange, resulting in a loss of over $1 billion. The movie follows Leeson’s ascent at Barings, where he conceals massive losses through the 88888 error account. Eventually, the losses exceeded £800 million, prompting Nick and his wife Lisa to flee to Malaysia. Unaware of the bankruptcy, they return to London, where Nick is arrested in Frankfurt.
Some Films on Finance Available on OTT in India
Here are some amazing films on Finance that you can watch on OTT, like Netflix and Amazon Prime.
Dirty Money
Dirty Money is a Netflix show that talks about cheating in businesses, fake money schemes, and tricky accounting. All six episodes, each lasting an hour, were released on Netflix on January 26, 2018.
Money Explained
Money Explained is a Netflix documentary series that explores various aspects of money, such as credit cards, student loans, gambling, retirement, and scams. It features various celebrity voices and expert interviews to help money make sense.
King of Stonks
King of Stonks is a German comedy-drama series that revolves around Felix Armand, the COO of a fintech company that is involved in a massive scandal. The series is inspired by real events in the financial world and centres on narcissism, egoism, and double standards.
The Laundromat
“The Laundromat,” a 2019 Netflix movie, reveals the shady side of the global financial system. Directed by Steven Soderbergh and inspired by Jake Bernstein’s book, it tells the story of Ellen Martin (Meryl Streep), a widow who discovers a huge fraud. The scheme involves a Panama-based law firm creating shell companies and offshore accounts for the wealthy. Gary Oldman and Antonio Banderas play charismatic lawyers narrating the story, exposing how their dubious dealings impact people worldwide.
Conclusion
Whether you are a trader, an investor, or just a movie lover, you can learn a lot from watching these 10 must-watch stock market movies.
We hope you enjoyed this list of the best stock market movies of all time. Which one is your favourite? Have you watched any of them? Do you have any other suggestions? Let us know in the comments below. And if you want to learn more about the stock market and finance, check out our other blog posts.
FAQs | Stock Market Movies
There are multiple stock market movies depicting the stories of traders, investors, brokers, and scammers. Some of the most popular ones are Wall Street (1987), Wizard of Lies, Scam 1992, and Margin Call (2011).
The outlook for 2023 is mixed for stocks, as there are various factors that could affect the market performance. Some of the positive factors include the recovery from the pandemic, the stimulus measures, and the innovation in various sectors. Some of the negative factors include rising inflation, interest rate hikes, geopolitical tensions, and regulatory uncertainties.
One of the movies about an Indian trader is Gafla, which is inspired by the life of Harshad Mehta, a notorious stock market operator who was involved in a massive scam in the early 1990s. The movie shows the rise and fall of Subodh Mehta, a middle-class man who gets entangled in a web of crimes and greed.
One of the movies about the life of a trader is Rogue Trader, which is based on the true story of Nick Leeson, a trader who single-handedly caused the collapse of Barings Bank, the world’s second-oldest merchant bank. The movie portrays his risky and fraudulent trading activities, as well as his personal and professional challenges.
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Disclaimer: Investments in the securities market are subject to market risks; read all the related documents carefully before investing.