Movies about banking and finance offer a compelling blend of drama, education and entertainment. This curated guide focuses on the best investment banking movies—from M&A showdowns to crisis-night decision rooms—plus a few wealth-management adjacent picks. For our full catalogue (including series and documentaries), visit the Movies for Wealth Managers & Private Bankers overview. If you prefer underrated gems, check out 5 Hidden Finance Movies.
Best Investment Banking Movies (Essentials)
Wall Street (1987)
The iconic portrayal of ambition, greed and insider temptation. Michael Douglas’s Gordon Gekko became shorthand for 80s Wall Street culture.
Key lesson: Incentives, conflicts of interest and the cost of “win at all costs.”
Learn more: IMDb · Wikipedia
Trailer: YouTube search
The Big Short (2015)
A sharp, witty explainer of the 2008 crisis—CDOs, CDS and the perverse incentives that primed the collapse.
Key lesson: Product complexity, information asymmetry and betting against consensus.
Learn more: IMDb · Wikipedia
Trailer: YouTube search
Margin Call (2011)
Twenty-four hours inside an investment bank on the brink. Senior management confronts unpalatable choices as risk models implode.
Key lesson: Governance under stress, risk culture and the “ethics of survival.”
Learn more: IMDb · Wikipedia
Trailer: YouTube search
Boiler Room (2000)
High-pressure sales, questionable product, maximum hype. A cautionary tale about culture, compliance and the line between persuasion and fraud.
Key lesson: Suitability, mis-selling and why controls matter.
Learn more: IMDb · Wikipedia
Trailer: YouTube search
Too Big to Fail (2011)
HBO’s behind-the-scenes drama of policy-makers and bank chiefs grappling with systemic collapse.
Key lesson: Interconnected balance sheets, liquidity freezes and policy trade-offs.
Learn more: IMDb · Wikipedia
Trailer: YouTube search
Movies About Wealth Management 💸🔑
The Banker (2020)
Vision, access and the fight to finance underserved communities in mid-century America.
Key lesson: The power—and limits—of financial intermediation; ownership and access.
Learn more: IMDb · Wikipedia
Trailer: YouTube search
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
An excess-fuelled ride through sales culture, leverage and retail brokerage misconduct.
Key lesson: Incentives drive behaviour; supervision and conduct risk are non-negotiable.
Learn more: IMDb · Wikipedia
Trailer: YouTube search
Arbitrage (2012)
A billionaire fund manager’s carefully constructed façade unravels—raising questions about valuation, disclosure and fiduciary duty.
Key lesson: Reputation risk, leverage and the cost of cutting corners.
Learn more: IMDb · Wikipedia
Trailer: YouTube search
What You’ll Learn (Key Takeaways)
- Risk & governance: Why model limits, liquidity spirals and decision rights matter.
- Incentives & conduct: Culture drives behaviours—design incentives carefully.
- Products & structure: From securitisation to shorting—understand what you’re pricing and selling.
- Policy & systems: Interconnected balance sheets and the TBTF problem.
Related Reading
- 5 Hidden Finance Movies Every Banker Should Watch
- Movies for Wealth Managers & Private Bankers (Overview)
FAQ – Investment Banking Movies
Which films are most realistic about investment banking?
Margin Call is widely praised for its boardroom realism and risk discussions; The Big Short for explaining products and incentives.
What should aspiring bankers watch first?
Start with Wall Street (culture & conflicts), then Margin Call (governance) and The Big Short (products & incentives).
Are there UK- or Europe-focused options?
For series, try Industry (UK) and Bad Banks (Europe). See our overview on the Movies page.
Your turn: Which investment banking film taught you the most—and why? Share your view in the comments.
