Hollywood factory has captured Wall Street’s essence and depicted the big money fat cats of the finance world. Wall Street movies have been made along with fascination with the successful predatory tycoon or little guys or big corporate strategy. Movie-goers and watchers without financial education or background still get information about Wall Street. With titillating and irresistible scenes, the investment-related movies have grossed many times its production costs.
"Trading Places" focuses on an upper class commodities broker and a homeless street hustler. The movie was nominated for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy at the 41st Golden Globe Awards, earning more than US$90 million during its theatrical run in the United States. It became the second highest earning R-rated film of 1983.
Domestic total gross: $90.40 million
Opening weekend: $7.35 million
"American Psycho" focuses on a Manhattan investment banker who earns a fortune during the day and makes serial killing at night for no reason. The film was ranked No. 19 in Bloody Disgusting's list of the "Top 20 Horror Films of the Decade".
Domestic total gross: $15.07 million
Worldwide gross: $34.27 million
"Wall Street" features Bud Fox (Sheen), an impatient young man who is desperate to succeed, succumbing to making illegal and immoral decisions. Gordon Gekko (stockbroker Douglas), a wealthy, unscrupulous corporate raider guides him up the ladder. The film grossed USD $4.1 million on its opening weekend and made $43.8 million in North America.
Domestic total gross: $43.85 million
Opening weekend: $4.10 million
Investment banker Laurel Ayers, the main character in “The Associate (1996)” tries to make it up the Wall Street corporate ladder. Creating a fictional white man, she starts her own investment firm and gets many ordeals.
Domestic total gross: $12.84 million
“Pi” features Max Cohen, a paranoid math and computer genius who is chased by a Hasidic Jew and greedy Wall Street traders. Max can make stock predictions based on the calculations of his computer. The film was awarded the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay and the Gotham Open Palm Award.
Each of director Darren Aronofsky’s friends and family received $150 return on their $100-investment. The movie grossed $3.22 million.
Top Grossing Movies about Wall Street (P.1)