Films about the 2008 financial crisis, like Margin Call or set in the messy world of Wall Street, have been popular for a long time -if you are interested in similar movies about these topics, here are 10 recommendations for you.
10 Movies like Margin Call
Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
Based on David Mamet’s Pulitzer-winning play, Glengarry Glen Ross follows the daily lives of four salesmen on Wall Street after the numbers in their office have crumbled. Feeling depressed and like they don’t really want to do this anymore, their firm sends in one of its top salesmen to motivate them, sometimes using unorthodox techniques.
Wall Street (1997)
Michael Douglas stars as Gordon Gekko in Wall Street, the iconic film from 1997 about the financial world, in which Gordon climbs the Wall Street ladder starting as a young stockbroker. But his lies and deceits will only get him so far before everyone realizes what’s going on. It’s a reminder that Margin Call may have been about one of the biggest disasters in Wall Street history, but it’s far from the only one.
Inside Job (2010)
This five-part Oscar-winning documentary, narrated by Matt Damon, explores in depth the events depicted in Margin Call, where the problem came from, and what happened later. If you are looking for the most complete retelling of how the financial crisis of the 2000s came to be, Inside Job is the film to watch.
Moneyball (2011)
If you enjoyed the sort of feel-good aspect of Margin Call about a guy who was so good at reading numbers he put his entire firm on its feet and eventually got a promotion, you might enjoy Moneyball. Written by Aaron Sorkin, the film follows a baseball team that has been built by someone reading statistics and algorithms rather than watching games. A fascinating story.
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
Another film similar to Margin Call about the ins and outs of life on Wall Street is Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street, which sees an unhinged Leonardo DiCaprio as Jordan Belfort, rising through the ranks of the financial world and essentially stealing millions of dollars from his investors.
The Ides of March (2011)
While Margin Call is more about the financial sector, The Ides of March is a political thriller that follows George Clooney as the governor of Ohio aspiring to get a nomination during the forthcoming primary, while his press secretary, played by Rian Johnson, is about to learn it all about the dirty side of politics after a series of events that could risk his candidate’s chances at a nomination.
A Most Violent Year (2014)
If you are looking for similar movies to Margin Call, you might as well look into JC Chandor’s filmography. After Margin Call, Chandor directed the 2014 thriller A Most Violent Year, which stars Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain and follows the owner of a family business as he tries to keep his moral compass while surrounded by violence and corruption.
The Big Short (2015)
If you are interested in movies similar to Margin Call about the financial crisis of 2008, there is no better way to start than with Adam McKay’s The Big Short, which depicts how analysts on Wall Street started to notice that there may be something fishy with the numbers. In a way, The Big Short can be thought of as the spiritual sequel to Margin Call.
The Founder (2016)
Michael Keaton stars as Ray Kroc, a salesman who sees the potential of McDonald’s in Southern California; after meeting the owners, he embarks on a journey to make it the most popular food chain in the world. It’s the other side of the coin of Margin Call; it’s not about a business that is crumbling but rather a rising one.
The Wizard of Lies (2017)
The Wizard of Lies stars Robert De Niro as Bernie Madoff, a businessman who pulled off one of the biggest frauds in. US history as an investor on Wall Street. Imagine Margin Call if it was focused on Jeremy Irons’ character, only this isn’t about the 2008 financial crisis.
Do you have any other recommendations for movies like Margin Call? Let us know in the comments.
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