Are those movies about Wall Street exaggerated? Do banks or stock markets work as shown in the films? Luckily, finance professors enjoy watching movies too! Here’s a list of their recommended movies.

The list was compiled from the survey results of 80 finance professors. Part I could be found here: Top 10 Finance Movies of All Time (Part I)

6) Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005)

The documentary explores the collapse of the Enron corporation in 2001, which is one of the most highlighted examples of corporate corruption. The collapse uncovered illegal schemes such as driving up utility prices during the California energy crisis and other unethical business practices. Watch the film to explore the nature of greed and the importance of ethics in the hyper-competitive environment. 

7) Trading Places (1983)

Trading Places tells the story of an upper-class broker and a poor street-smart hustler whose lives reversed due to a bet among two millionaires. The elaborated bet was to test how each man will perform when their life circumstances were switched. Watch this dark comedy to understand the “greed is good” decade of the ’80s.

8) Rogue Trader (1999)

Rogue Trader was based on a true story where Nick Leeson, a young British man working at Barings Bank, a major investment bank. He was a successful trader and was seconded to Singapore to be the General Manager of the Trading Floor on the SIMEX exchange. He took advantage of the booming Asian market to make risky trades, hoping to earn more. Yet, through a series of unfortunate trades and cover-ups, the ambitious broker singlehandedly bankrupted one of the most important banks in the UK. 

9) Inside Job (2010)

Inside job is a documentary that gives a detailed recap of the global financial crisis back in 2008. Discover the elements that led to the financial meltdown and pinpoint the key financial and political players through a series of interviews. Watch the documentary which was narrated by Matt Damon for a comprehensive analysis of the 2008 global financial crisis.

10) Wall Street (1987)

Wall Street tells the story of a young stockbroker who is willing to do whatever he can to get to the top of the career ladder fast. He admired the power and status of a greedy corporate raider and enticed him to be his mentor by trading illegal insider information with him. Yet, the ambitious broker discovered that the overnight success and riches came with a hefty price.

Pick a few movies this weekend and gain some finance knowledge along the way.