15 Best Stock Market Movies to Watch in 2024

The stock market has always been a fascinating topic for both filmmakers and audiences. The excitement of high risks, big rewards, and unexpected twists makes it perfect for creating gripping stories. Whether it’s the joy of sudden financial success or the downfall of a company, share market movies always keep you hooked.

While Hollywood is famous for making great stock market films, Bollywood has also made some interesting Hindi movies about finance and trading. Each movie gives a different view of the stock world, making them the best finance films to watch.

In this article, we’ll share some of the best stock market movies—both real-life stories and fictional tales—that will catch your attention and help you understand this exciting world better. So let’s get started!

15 Best Stock Market Movies and Web series

Here is a list of the top stock market movies to watch in 2024, along with their IMDb ratings:

List of Best Stock Market Movies in Hindi

Here’s a list of the top stock market movies in Hindi:

Best Share Market Movies and Web Series - Overview

Let's check the overview of some of the best stock market movies and their key takeaways:

1. The Wolf of Wall Street

The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) is an award-winning movie based on the real-life story of Jordan Belfort. Jordan was a stockbroker who rose to wealth through fraudulent schemes on Wall Street. The movie is directed by Martin Scorsese, and it stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Belfort, alongside Jonah Hill and Margot Robbie. It showcases Jordan’s wild lifestyle, which was all about drugs, lavish parties, and reckless behavior, as he builds his empire at Stratton Oakmont.

The film focuses on the high risk of penny stocks and the corruption in the stock market. It shows how greed can lead to unethical choices. Belfort’s downfall is a cautionary tale about the consequences that can come if ambition is left unchecked. You will learn a lot as the movie highlights some of the darker side of stock trading. There are also lessons on morality, the importance of regulation, and the dangers of greed in the financial sector.

Reception: This share market movie received critical acclaim for its direction and performance, especially that of Leonardo DiCaprio.

• IMDB rating: 8.2

• Language: English

• Budget: Approximately Rs.650 crore

• Earnings: Approximately Rs.2,430 crore

• Available On:  Amazon Prime Video

2. The Big Short

The Big Short (2015) is one of the most popular stock market-related movies that is based on the 2008 financial crisis, which was caused by the U.S. housing bubble. It is directed by Adam McKay and stars Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, and Brad Pitt. The film tells the stories of several outsiders who predict the collapse of the housing market and bet against it.

Bale plays Michael Burry, a hedge fund manager who notices the flaws in subprime mortgages and creates a credit default swap to gain from their failure. Carell’s character, Mark Baum, uncovers the corruption in mortgage-backed securities, while Gosling’s Jared Vennett explains these complex financial terms to the audience. Together, they reveal how greed and unchecked risk-taking led to the crisis.

The movie connects to the stock market since it highlights how financial institutions manipulate assets for profit. The lesson here is to deeply understand financial markets and beware of overconfidence when investing.

Reception: The movie was praised for its screenplay and performances, winning an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

• IMDB rating: 7.8

• Language: English

• Budget: Approximately Rs.330 crore

• Earnings: Approximately Rs.880 crore

• Available On:  Amazon Prime Video

3. Margin Call

Margin Call (2011) is a gripping drama about 24 hours at a Wall Street investment bank during the 2008 financial crisis. It is directed by J.C. Chandor and features an ensemble cast including Kevin Spacey, Jeremy Irons, and Demi Moore.

The story starts when Eric Dale, who is the head of risk management, is laid off and hands a flash drive to Peter Sullivan, an associate. Sullivan found out that there were flaws in the company’s financial model and realized they were on the brink of collapse. The team scrambles to handle the crisis and decides to sell off their bad assets in a “fire sale” to minimize losses. This action destabilizes the market and damages their reputation.

The film shows how greed and poor risk management can trigger a financial collapse. The lesson here is clear: always be cautious with investments and understand the risks involved.

Reception: Margin Call received positive reviews for its realistic portrayal of the financial crisis.

• IMDB rating: 7.1

• Language available: English

• Budget: Approximately Rs.16.8 crore

• Earnings: Approximately Rs.93.6 crore

• Available On:  Amazon Prime Video

4. Rogue Trader

Rogue Trader (1999) is a drama about Nick Leeson, a former derivatives trader. He is played by Ewan McGregor. The movie is directed by James Dearden, and it shows details of Leeson's role in the 1995 collapse of Barings Bank.

Leeson, who was initially successful at Barings, hides massive losses in a secret account called 88888. He kept trading and losing millions and then covered it by deceiving both his superiors and the market. Eventually, his losses exceed £800 million, causing Barings to go bankrupt. Leeson and his wife flee Singapore, but he learns of the bank's collapse through the news. They attempt to return to London, but Leeson is arrested in Frankfurt. He is later deported to Singapore and sentenced to prison. However, he is diagnosed with cancer, which affects his sentence duration.

The movie shows how unchecked risk-taking and lack of oversight can ruin a whole institution. The lesson to learn here is how important transparency and control are in financial operations.

Reception: This share market movie tells the story of Nick Leeson and the collapse of Barings Bank, receiving mixed reviews.

• IMDB rating: 6.4

• Language: English

• Budget: Approximately Rs.54 crore

• Earnings: Approximately Rs.51.75 crore

• Available On:  Amazon Prime Video

5. Inside Job

Inside Job (2010) is a documentary directed by Charles Ferguson that again explores the 2008 financial crisis. The film features interviews with financial experts, politicians, and academics.

The movie is divided into five parts. First, it covers the rise of deregulation in finance and the 2000s housing bubble. It shows how risky financial practices, like mortgage-backed securities and credit default swaps, contributed to the crisis. Second, it details how banks like Lehman Brothers and Bear Stearns collapsed, leading to a global recession. Third, it reveals how government bailouts protected executives while ordinary people suffered. Lastly, it examines the lack of accountability and the ongoing resistance to reform.

The lesson from the film is the need for stricter financial regulations and transparency. It highlights how greed and conflicts of interest can lead to economic disasters, stressing the importance of accountability in financial practices.

Reception: Inside Job won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.

• IMDB rating: 8.2

• Language: English

• Budget: Approximately Rs.10 crore

• Earnings: Approximately Rs. 25 crore (documentary)

• Available On:  Amazon Prime Video

6. Boiler Room

Boiler Room (2000) is a crime drama that is directed by Ben Younger. The film stars Giovanni Ribisi, Vin Diesel, and Ben Affleck. It follows Seth Davis, a college dropout who runs an illegal casino. He joins a shady brokerage firm, J.T. Marlin, which promises quick wealth.

At J.T. Marlin, Seth learns the firm's brokers use "pump and dump" schemes. They hype worthless stocks to investors and then sell their shares and come out with huge profits, leaving investors with worthless stock. As Seth succeeds and gains approval from his father, he discovers the firm's illegal practices.

Seth, feeling guilty, tries to shut down the firm and recover money for the victims. He collaborates with the FBI, leading to the firm's raid. The film shows how greed and deception in the stock market can ruin lives. It teaches the importance of ethical practices and transparency in investing.

Reception: This stock market movie received mixed and positive reviews focusing on the stock brokerage world.

• IMDB rating: 7.0

• Language: English

• Budget: Approximately. Rs.31.5 crore

• Earnings: Approximately Rs.126 crore

• Available On:  Amazon Prime Video

7. Too Big to Fail

Too Big to Fail (2011) is a TV movie directed by Curtis Hanson, based on Andrew Ross Sorkin's book. It stars Paul Giamatti as Ben Bernanke and also covers the 2008 financial crisis.

The film shows how major banks like Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers struggled during the crisis. Bear Stearns was sold to JPMorgan Chase with government backing. When Lehman Brothers faced collapse, U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve President Timothy Geithner tried to save it but failed. Lehman went bankrupt, causing a market crash.

AIG, another failing firm, was rescued with an $85 billion loan, showing it was “too big to fail.” The movie reveals the difficulties of handling such crises and the importance of quick government action. The lesson here is that some institutions are so critical that their failure can lead to wider economic problems, requiring decisive intervention.

Reception: The movie was well-received for its depiction of the financial crisis.

• IMDB rating: 7.3

• Language: English

• Budget: Not widely reported as it was an HBO film.

• Earnings: Not publicly disclosed. 

• Available On:  Amazon Prime Video

8. Baazaar

Baazaar (2018) is one of the best stock market movies Bollywood has come up with. It is a Hindi film directed by Gauravv K. Chawla and stars Saif Ali Khan, Rohan Vinod Mehra, Radhika Apte, and Chitrangada Singh.

The movie follows Rizwan Ahmed, a small-time trader from Allahabad who moves to Mumbai to work with Shakun Kothari, a powerful and shady stock market leader. Rizwan starts working at a big trading firm and impresses Kothari, who hires him as his broker. Rizwan uses insider information illegally to try to recover Kothari's losses.

As Rizwan becomes close to Kothari, he learns about a scheme involving bribed government contracts. When the scheme fails, Rizwan loses everything and discovers that Kothari set him up to take the fall. Kothari is eventually arrested, and Rizwan helps expose his illegal activities.

The movie shows the dangers of greed and deceit in the stock market and highlights the importance of ethics and integrity in trading.

Reception: Baazaar received mixed reviews focusing on stock market trading.

• IMDB rating: 6.5

• Language: Hindi

• Budget: Approximately Rs.30 crore

• Earnings: Approximately Rs.28-30 crore

• Available On: Youtube Movies

9. Gafla

Gafla (2006) is an Indian crime drama directed by Sameer Hanchate, inspired by the 1992 Indian stock market scam involving Harshad Mehta. The film stars Sameer Dharmadhikari, Sandeep Kshirsagar, and Sonali Kulkarni.

The story follows Subodh, a middle-class man with big dreams. He enters the stock market hoping to improve his life. Initially, his journey looks promising, but he soon gets entangled in a web of fraud and deceit. The film portrays how his ambitions lead him into a high-stakes game that ultimately results in severe financial and personal consequences.

Gafla highlights the risks of stock market investments and the ease with which one can get caught up in financial scams. It teaches about the importance of due diligence and the dangers of greed and unethical practices in trading.

Reception: Gafla is a Hindi film that explores the stock trading sector.

• IMDB rating: 7.2

• Language: Hindi

• Budget: Approximately Rs.5 crore

• Earnings: Not widely reported.

• Available On: Youtube Movies

10. Trading Places

Trading Places (1983) is a comedy film directed by John Landis, starring Dan Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy, Ralph Bellamy, and Don Ameche. It follows a wealthy broker, Louis Winthorpe III (Aykroyd), and a street hustler, Billy Ray Valentine (Murphy), who are swapped as part of a bet by two rich brothers, the Dukes.

Winthorpe is framed and loses everything, while Valentine is placed in his role. Both men eventually discover the Dukes' scheme and decide to take revenge. They use insider information about a report on orange juice crop forecasts to trick the Dukes into making a bad investment. As a result, the Dukes lose their fortune while Valentine and Winthorpe profit immensely.

The film shows how easily people can manipulate markets and highlights the impact of insider trading. It teaches the importance of ethics in trading and the consequences of greed.

Reception: The movie is a comedy classic that received positive reviews for its humor and social commentary.

• IMDB rating: 7.5

• Language: English

• Budget: Approximately Rs.150 crore

• Earnings: Approximately Rs.905 crore

• Available On:  Amazon Prime Video

11. Wall Street

Wall Street (1987) is a crime drama starring Michael Douglas, Charlie Sheen, Daryl Hannah, and Martin Sheen. The story is about Bud Fox, a young stockbroker involved with Gordon Gekko, a greedy corporate raider. Gekko, played by Douglas, is known for his famous line, "Greed is good." The movie shows the dark side of stock trading and highlights the risks of insider trading and the obsession with wealth.

Wall Street was directed by Oliver Stone as it was a symbol of 1980s excess. Michael Douglas won an Oscar for his role, and the film has inspired many to pursue careers in finance. The lesson is that chasing quick money in the stock market can lead to dangerous outcomes. 

Reception: This movie on stock market was acclaimed for its portrayal of corporate greed and won an Oscar for Michael Douglas's performance.

• IMDB rating: 7.4

• Language: English

• Budget: Approximately Rs.198 crore

• Earnings: Approximately Rs.525 crore

• Available On: Hotstar

12. Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story

Scam 1992 (2020) is a gripping financial drama on SonyLIV directed by Hansal Mehta. It stars Pratik Gandhi as Harshad Mehta, a stockbroker who shook India's financial markets in the early 1990s. The show also features Shreya Dhanwanthary as journalist Sucheta Dalal, who exposed Mehta's scam.

This stock market web series follows Mehta's rise in the share market and his eventual downfall after he manipulates bank funds for personal gain. It shows how risky stock market greed is and the impact of financial crimes. The story also highlights why ethical trading is essential.

The show was shot in Mumbai across 200 locations and became the most-watched series on SonyLIV. Scam 1992 won several awards, including Best Drama Series. 

Reception: Widely praised as one of the best Indian share market web series

• IMDB rating: 9.4

• Language: Hindi

• Budget: Approximately Rs.60 crores

• Earnings: Not disclosed

• Available On:  SonyLiv

13. The Big Bull

The Big Bull (2021) is an Indian crime drama film that is directed by Kookie Gulati. It stars Abhishek Bachchan as a character inspired by stockbroker Harshad Mehta, known for his financial scams in the 1980s and 1990s. The film also features Ileana D'Cruz and Nikita Dutta in key roles.

The movie follows the story of a simple man who rises from Mumbai’s chawls to become a major player in the Bombay Stock Exchange. However, his success is built on shady deals, and this leads to his downfall. The film shows the risks of stock market greed and highlights the flaws in the financial system.

The Big Bull teaches you about the dangers of unethical trading and quick money schemes. It reminds viewers that integrity is key in the finance sector.

Reception: Mixed reviews; some enjoyed its entertainment value, while others criticized it for lack of depth.

• IMDB rating: 6.9

• Language: Hindi

• Budget: Approximately Rs.30-40 crores

• Earnings: Not disclosed

• Available On:  Hotstar

14. Equity

Equity (2016) is a financial thriller directed by Meera Menon and stars Anna Gunn, James Purefoy, Sarah Megan Thomas, and Alysia Reiner. It tells the story of Naomi Bishop, a senior investment banker focused on managing IPOs. After a major project fails, Naomi faces career setbacks. She takes on an IPO for a tech company called Cachet to prove herself. 

The challenges that Naomi faces reveal the cutthroat nature of the stock market and insider trading. Despite warning signs, greed and competition push the characters to make risky choices. Equity teaches you about the high stakes in finance and how ethics can easily be compromised. Again, it’s a reminder that in the market, quick profits can come with serious consequences.

Reception: Mixed to negative reviews; criticized for lack of engaging storytelling despite a strong premise.

• IMDB rating: 5.8

• Language: English

• Budget: Approximately Rs.23 crore

• Earnings: Approximately Rs.14 crore

• Available On:  Amazon Prime Video

15. Chasing Madoff

Chasing Madoff (2010) is a documentary directed by Jeff Prosserman, based on Harry Markopolos's book. The film follows Markopolos and his team, who spent ten years uncovering Bernie Madoff's massive Ponzi scheme. Madoff scammed investors of up to $65 billion, including fake returns. 

The story shows how Markopolos took his evidence to the SEC many times, but they ignored him. This highlights flaws in financial regulations and how greed can blind people to obvious fraud. 

Chasing Madoff teaches you the importance of skepticism and due diligence in the stock market. It depicts that even trusted figures can deceive investors. The movie shows why you should stay informed and question things, which is key to avoiding scams.

Reception: Generally positive; appreciated for shedding light on the Madoff scandal through investigative journalism.

• IMDB rating: 6.6

• Language available: English

• Budget: Undisclosed

• Earnings: Approximately Rs.1 crore

• Available On: Amazon Prime Video

Conclusion

These share market-related movies show how complex the stock market is. They offer more than just entertainment. Some of the best stock market movies dive into themes of greed, risk-taking, and the inner workings of the financial system. From the high-stakes drama in Too Big to Fail to the comedic twists in Trading Places, each movie on the share market highlights the impact of unethical practices and the consequences of risky decisions.

Baazaar and Gafla are about the harsh reality of stock market scams, while Trading Places and The Wolf of Wall Street show moral lessons about wealth and power. These stock market movies remind us of how important it is to practice ethical behavior in trading and understand market dynamics.

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FAQs:

Q1. Which Indian movies are based on the stock market?

There are several popular Indian movies and web series about the stock market. Some of the most renowned include Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story, The Big Bull, and Baazaar.

Q2. What are the best stock market movies on Netflix?

Margin Call is one of the best stock market movies available on Netflix. You can also watch Dumb Money, which offers another perspective on the market.

Q3. Which is the number one stock market movie?

The Wolf of Wall Street is considered one of the best movies about the stock market, praised for its direction and performances.

Q4. Which stock market movies are based on true events?

The Wolf of Wall Street and Scam 1992 are the two best stock market movies based on real events.

Q5. Which movies show the risks of stock trading?

Movies like Gafla, Wall Street, Scam 1992, and The Wolf of Wall Street highlight the risks involved in stock trading.