NEW YORK–What are the best movies of all time when it comes to learning about finance? A new ranking offers its opinion and thoughts.

According to broker analysis site Investing in the Web, its ranking of movies set in the finance industry is based on fan and critic reviews from sites that Rotten Tomatoes, IMDb and Letterboxd. 

Each film was given a rating out of 40 from viewer feedback, with the final ranking reflecting both entertainment value and financial education quality. 

The list does not include “It’s a Wonderful Life,” the Christmas classic about the Bailey Building & Loan, which for all intents and purposes is a credit union.

According to Investing in the Web, the top finance-lesson (not all of them good) movies are: 

Wolf of Wall Street

The top film with critics, fans, and experts, was The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), starring Leonardo DiCaprio, with a score of 38.9 out of 40. 

“This Martin Scorsese classic is based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, who took an entry-level job at a Wall Street brokerage and worked his way up the financial ladder,” Investing in the Web said in its analysis. “The film is one of the most entertaining films on this list, ranking highest in both the IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes Audience categories, The Wolf of Wall Street is jam-packed with accessible industry jargon, and valuable lessons on investment, whilst also warning viewers against greed and corruption.”

Boiler Room

“In second place, with a score of 38.3 out of 40, is Boiler Room (2000). Following Seth Davis as he swaps his illegal casino apartment for a stock broking role, Boiler Room ranked the highest with Rotten Tomatoes Critics and offers a behind-the-scenes look into the life of hard sales and high commissions,” Investing in the Web stated.

The Big Short

“In third is The Big Short (2015), starring Steve Carell, Brad Pitt, Christian Bale and Ryan Gosling,” the ranking states. “Scoring 36.5 out of 40, the star-studded comedy-drama follows the stories of a hedge fund manager, a bank executive, and a pair of young investors amid the 2008 financial crisis. 

“Like many of the other finance films on this list, the characters uncover corruption and flaws in the system, but there are valuable lessons to learn in market research, and plenty of helpful explanations of key financial terms from the narrating characters,” it added.

American Psycho

“…Perhaps a surprising entry on this list, is American Psycho (2000),” Investing in the Web said. “It is easy to forget that the violent and thought-provoking film is set in the backdrop of finance, with Christian Bale starring as a wealthy investment banker. American Psycho scored 35.8 out of 40 with viewers and critics and sheds a light on the surreal world of the financial industry’s elite.”

Wall Street

In fifth is Wall Street (1987), with a score of 35.4 out of 40. 

“In this classic crime drama, an ambitious stockbroker takes drastic action to impress a shady corporate raider,” Investing in the Web states. “The film’s key lessons revolve around caution and the importance of ethics and following rules in finance.”

Margin Call

“Another film centering around the 2008 financial crisis, Margin Call features famous faces, including Demi Moore, Stanley Tucci and Paul Bettany,” the review states. “Set primarily within the confines of an office, the movie is packed with industry-specific language and exposition, which makes for quick learning.”

Glengarry Glen Ross

“In seventh place is Glengarry Glen Ross (1992), which follows a team of sales representatives at a real estate firm, competing to keep their jobs,” Investing in the Web stated. “The film scored 33.5 out of 40 and makes for an entertaining watch. With valuable advice, like ‘always be closing’, the film juggles best practices with the very worst and offers a perfect model of what not to do in the form of character Shelley Levene.”

Rogue Trader

“Scoring 32.3 out of 40 with viewers and critics, Rogue Trader (1999) is eighth,” the analysis said of its rankings. “The drama follows Nick Leeson (Ewan McGregor) and is based on the true story of the futures trader whose risky investments brought down Barings Bank. 

“Another ‘what not to do’ story, Rogue Trader advises watchers never to double down on losing positions, to differentiate luck and skill, and the importance of a stop-loss.”

Barbarians at the Gate

“The final movie in the ranking is Barbarians at the Gate (1993) which scored 23.3 out of 40,” according to Investing in the Web. “Less popular with fans and critics than other films on this list, Barbarians at the Gate still offers some valuable lessons about leveraged buyouts and market research, following the bidding war that ensues after F. Ross Johnson, the CEO of a major tobacco company, decided to attempt to purchase his own business.” 

to a range of viewers. 

“They may not teach you everything you need to know about finance, but there is no harm in turning to the media for entertainment and entry-level information.” 

Additional Rankings

Investopedia.com has its own ranking of movies about finance, which can be found here.