These Financial Thrillers Show Why Hollywood Loves a Good Hustle
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Money can make people do crazy things. Once, I was so broke that I sold a pair of beat-up sneakers for grocery funds. It didn’t go well. The consignment store only gave me $12, but I was able to make it work. (Thank god for rice and ramen.) Luckily, my financial situation has improved, but I still love a good hustle.
Apparently, so does Hollywood. Over the years, the film industry has cranked out a ton of financial thrillers that are far more exciting than my sneaker tale. Hell, anything can happen when money and desperation intertwine. Below, you’ll find ten captivating movies about characters who’ve been pushed to the limit. (Or their bank accounts, at least.) There’s the sexy Wall Street thriller Fair Play starring Alden Ehrenreich and Pheobe Dynevor, Adam Sandler’s cautionary tale Uncut Gems, the criminally underrated Limitless, and everything in between.
Fair Play
Don’t let Phoebe Dynevor and Alden Ehrenreich’s chemistry fool you. Fair Play is not a rom-com. The film follows a young couple working at the same hedge fund. When one of them receives an unexpected promotion, it pushes their relationship to the deep end.
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The Wolf of Wall Street
Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Jordan Belfort in The Wolf of Wall Street. Jordan is a skilled investment banker who finds his own company in his 20s and makes a fortune. But his glamorous life comes crashing down when the FBI investigates his financial empire.
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Uncut Gems
In Uncut Gems, Adam Sandler stars as Howard, a zany jeweler with a gambling problem and a deep love of the Boston Celtics. One day, Howard is presented with the opportunity to change his life—but it requires an extremely risky bet. The high stakes could grant him financial freedom, or it could lead to his downfall.
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Breaking
This heartbreaking thriller is based on the true story of Brian Brown-Easley—a Marine veteran who robs a bank. Though Brian is unarmed, he threatens to blow up the building, leading to a high-stakes hostage situation. Tensions rise over the course of an afternoon as the police try to coax Brian out of his dangerous spiral.
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Man on Fire
In Man on Fire, Denzel Washington stars as Creasy, a bodyguard tasked with looking over a 9-year-old girl named Lupita (Dakota Fanning). One day, Lupita is kidnapped and held for ransom. In order to get her back, he embarks on a wild manhunt to find her killers and figure out why she was kidnapped in the first place. Lupita comes from an incredibly powerful family, so the mysterious criminal must be in desperate need of cash.
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The Game
The Game is directed by David Fincher and stars Michael Douglas as Nicholas Van Orton, a quiet banker who makes a steady living. On his birthday, Nicholas’ estranged brother stops by with a personalized game. The gift seems harmless, but it’s tailored to uproot the player's life. When things spiral out of control, Nicholas fears that his life and financial well-being are in danger.
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Money Monster
In Money Monster, George Clooney stars as Lee Gates, a Wall Street guru who hosts a stock market show called—you guessed it!—Money Monster. One day, Lee is kidnapped during a live taping. His captor, Kyle, lost his life savings after following Lee’s financial advice. Now, he wants revenge. In order to stay, Lee has to work with his producers to diffuse the situation and get everyone home safely.
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Limitless
Eddie Morra (Bradley Cooper) is having a tough time. His job sucks. His apartment’s a mess. And his girlfriend wants to leave him. Then, an old friend gives Eddie a new pill that unlocks his brain. With full mental access, Eddie becomes a finance tycoon, but the drug’s side effects threaten to ruin everything.
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