Hey guys! Been watching a TON of great movies recently, and thought we’d reminisce a bit on all those AWESOME money movies out there :) I could only come up with a good 5-6 myself, so mad thanks to my VIP crew and twitter followers for the reminders. My goldfish-memory just ain’t the same anymore…
Then check out the end for a surprise giveaway! But no cheating. You’ve got to see what I missed first before you can finalize your answer ;) Enjoy!
Top 10 Best Financial Movies
 1. Wall Street “In this riveting, behind-the-scenes look at big business in the 1980’s, an ambitious young broker (Charlie Sheen) is lured into the illegal, lucrative world of corporate espionage when he is seduced by the power, status and financial wizardry of Wall Street legend Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas). But he soon discovers that the pursuit of overnight riches comes at a price that’s too high to pay.”- Amazon |
 2. Glengarry GlenRoss “Times are tough in a New York real-estate office; the salesmen are given a strong incentive to succeed in a sales contest. First prize is a Cadillac Eldorado, second prize is a set of steak knives, third prize is the sack! There is no room for losers in this dramatically masculine world; only “closers” will get the good sales leads. There is a lot of pressure to succeed, so a robbery is committed which has unforeseen consequences for all the characters.” – IMBD (Gengarry GlenRoss) |
 3. Trading Places “Mortimer and Randolph Duke are commodity brokers who enjoy a little wager now and then. For the latest bet, Randolph believes they can take a common criminal and make him a successful businessman in the company. The criminal, Billy Ray, is to be given the job and home of Louis, who in turn is set up for crimes he didn’t commit, to see if he resorts to crime once he’s lost his rich environment and friends.”- IMBD |
 4. Boiler Room “Seth Davis (Giovanni Ribisi) is a 19-year-old college dropout who strives for approval from his father, a judge who is horrified that his son operates a 24-hour illicit casino. When an old friend visits the casino with a fellow broker, Davis is impressed by their wads of money and yellow Ferrari, and decides to join the firm… But the dream fades when Davis discovers the scam that is making all of the brokers wealthy…” |
 5. Brewster’s Millions “Richard Pryor is Montgomery Brewster, a minor league baseball pitcher who discovers he has to blow $30 million on 30 days as a condition to inherit a much greater fortune. Here’s the catch: He will forfeit everything if he reveals to a soul the real reason he seems to be throwing away all that cash. With the help of his pal Spike (John Candy), they set off on a frantic spending spree.” – Amazon |
 6. It Could Happen To You “Charlie and Muriel Lang have led simple lives – until they win $4 million on the lottery! There is a problem, however. Prior to winning, Charlie had eaten at a cafe and hadn’t been able to tip the waitress. He had promised her, jokingly, that if he won the lottery he’d give her half of it. This is why his wife, Muriel decides to leave him. She doesn’t want the waitress to get a cent of their money…”- IMBD |
 7. The Money Pit “Walter Fielding and Anna Crowley have to start looking for a new house- but there’s not much they can afford! This soon changes when they meet a lonely old con-artist who sells them a beautiful mansion at a ridiculously low price. Only there’s a catch. The second Walter and Anna move in to the house it falls apart, starting from the stairway, to the bath falling through the roof to eventually the chimney falling into the house!” – IMBD (The Money Pit) |
 8. Jerry Maguire “Jerry Maguire used to be a typical sports agent: willing to do just about anything he could to get the biggest possible contracts for his clients. Then, one day, he suddenly has second thoughts about what he’s really doing. When he voices these doubts, he ends up losing his job and all of his clients, save Rod Tidwell, an egomaniacal football player. Can Jerry resurrect his career while still staying true to himself?” – Amazon (Jerry Maguire) |
 9. Money For Nothing “After finding a bagful of unmarked $100 bills, unemployed dockworker Joey Coyle had a million reasons to give the money back, but he couldn’t think of one! And when he decides to keep it, oh what a price he pays! The lucky discovery launches a buying spree and a series of uproarious events leading to Joey’s outrageous attempt at sneaking out of the country past the media, the mob, and the cops.” – Amazon (Money For Nothing) |
 10. Office Space “Unable to endure another mind-numbing day at Initech Corporation, cubicle slave Peter Gibbons (Ron Livingston) gets fired up and decides to get fired. Armed with a leisurely new attitude and a sexy new girlfriend, he soon masters the art of neglecting his work, which quickly propels him into the ranks of upper management! Now the stage is set for Peter to carry out a high-tech embezzling scheme…” – Amazon (Office Space) |
Honorable Mentions:
– Family Man
– The Secret of My Success
– Indecent Proposal
And now the Ultimate DVD Giveaway!
We’re giving away TWO Wall Street DVD packs courtesy of my good friends at Go Baking Rates! A site created to improve the way people connect to the banks and financial institutions they use every day.
These movies include Wall Street, Boiler Room, and Glengarry GlenRoss. All you have to do to enter is tell us which is YOUR favorite financial movie! That’s it! Just do one of the following:
- Drop a comment with your fave $ movie below
- Or tweet it around (ex. “My fave money move is Boiler Room! Which is yours? (http://tinyurl.com/24r3p7a via @BudgetsAreSexy)”) Just be sure to let me know you tweeted it though so I can count you in :)
I’ll leave this open for a week, and then announce the winners next Tuesday, September 14th after hitting up good ol’ Random.org. Good luck everyone! ALWAYS BE CLOSING!!!
———-
*GIVEAWAY OVER* Are you ready to see who won?! Here we go!….. The TWO lucky winners who will each get their own set of DVD packs (Wall Street, Boiler Room, and Glengarry GlenRoss) are…..LYNDA and BOBBY! Congrats guys, will email you shortly. Stay tune for more giveaways later all!
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When I saw the title of this I knew Boiler Room HAD to be on the list! I simply LOVE that movie! I’ve never seen Wall Street or Glengarry GlenRoss, But I’ll have to check them out!
I’m still gonna have to go with 21.
As a new home owner, my favorite movie has to be “the money pit.” While I did buy a home I could afford and haven’t had any major issues. There is a house in the neighborhood that was selling for very cheap and it became a money pit for the person who purchased it. Within 2 months of moving in they had to put an entire new roof, redo much of the drywall and put in french drains. Certainly a money pit
The Money Pit for sure. Our little bathroom renovation has turned into a money pit, leaking pipes, replacing floor and subfloor… ack! But it will be well worth it in the end. I love the part where he’s stuck in the floor.
Wall Street and Office Space…two totally different premises, but great in their own ways.
One of my favorite movies about money, and the destructive effects it can have was kind of a dark movie called “A Simple Plan“. It’s about two brothers and friends who find a downed plane in the woods with millions of dollars in cash in a duffel bag, probably the result of a drug deal gone bad. It follows their story as they try to hide the money, and how greed slowly turns them against each other and against their friends – as one mistake after another leads down a darker and darker path. Great movie!
Seen most of these but one or two I havent yet. My vote is for The Money Pitt because it has lasted the test of time, still remember it from time to time. Wall street, trading places, and brewsters millions are also great.
No Risky Business?
My favorite movie initially was wallstreet, until i saw Glen Gary Glenross. That movie shows the cut throat sales enivroment. Several great lines came out of that movie.. Coffee is for closers. (use that all the time)… ABC always be closing. must watch movie. Alot of people dont know about it just cause it is old but you have some of the greats there. .Baldwin, pacino. Harris. oh another short part of a movie that i like was the ending credits of The Other Guys. must see.
Wall Street is definitely at the top of my list followed closely by Boiler Room. Money Pit, Brewster’s Millions and Trading Places are tied for 3rd.
I’ll have to check out Glen Gary Glenross.
Trading Places is my number one favorite movie! Absolutely love that movie. I would’ve also put Arthur on this list, as that’s a classic as well!
My favorite is Wall Street… can’t wait for the second one to come out in a few weeks!
Office Space is probably my favorite movie on that list, but Glengary GlenRoss is fantastic.
Going to have to go with Boiler Room – such an intense movie, and does a great job of pulling on multiple emotions.
I think my favorite is still “Trading Places,” but I’m going to have to check out a couple of the movies in your list that I haven’t seen yet.
Love this post. I streamed Wall Street last night on Netflix and watched it for the first time in about 10 years. Such a great film. Boiler Room and Glengarry are fantastic, too, but I gotta stick to my comedy guns and say that Trading Places is my top pick because you won’t get something like this in a drama:
“When I was growing up, if we wanted a Jacuzzi, we had to fart in the tub.”
I dunno if this counts but I like the movie “Friends with Money” with Jennifer Aniston. Office space is great too and I would love to rewatch it!!
My vote is for Boiler Room – I’ve always loved that movie and am glad to see it on the list!
Of the ones listed, put me down for Boiler Room and then Wall Street.
Though I will added another finance movie not listed or mentioned, Other People’s Money. Very good movie about takeovers and Danny DeVito was great.
office space is hilarious. michael bolton? samir naga-naga-notgoingtoworkhereanymore? and then the scene where they destroy the printer? haha. good times. and plus jennifer anniston. c’mon! :D
Hands down, the money pit. My parents were buying their first home when that movie came out – a “fixer upper” bought on the cheap from an older woman who was unable to maintain it. It was built in 1918. My dad wouldn’t let my mom watch the movie until after escrow closed. When we did finally watch it, we laughed so hard that tears were running down our faces. Unfortunately, we laughed because so much of the movie was true to us – within the first year we had to replace the chimney that had fallen down, put on a new roof, and re-do all of the plumbing. I have very fond memories of the house and the movie!
Jerry Maguire…laugh, cry, and learn a lesson at the end. And the little boy is soo cute.
Office Space is definitely my favorite out of your top ten. Out of the 3 in the pack, I like Wall Street best.
Trading Places! Merry New Year!
I like Wall Street…sometimes greed isn’t good after all. But for laughs and lots of movie quotes to share among cubicle workers, Office Space is the real winner.
Wall Street by far! The Money Pit hit too close to home (sorry, bad pun)…I live in one!
It’s a Wonderful Life should get an honorable mention. Its central theme was a bank failure. And of course, angels getting their wings when you ring a bell.
Office Space is by far the best but GlennGary GlennRoss come in a close second!
I don’t know if I’d call Office Space a money movie, but it is by far the best of the bunch. The second best is Brewster’s Millions. Then there’s a big dropoff to the other movies.
I’d give A Christmas Carol (any version really) an honorable mention.
I love Office Space and the Money Pit! So many quotes in Office Space.
The Money Pit and I REALLY want to win this giveaway!
Gotta go with Wall Street on this one! I’m super excited about the sequel
I LOVE Boiler Room. The pacing is great, the cast is on point, and the soundtrack is HOT. I love how the street/ hip hop soundtrack seems awkward against a money/ “business” movie, until you see the “street” behind how they are hustling people, and it just fits. I will say I am really excited about Wall Street 2 (Don’t think their calling it that, but ya’ll know what I’m talking about :o)
I second the above comments for Boiler Room, Wall Street, etc (I work in banking so I especially appreciate these). . .but if I had to suggest new ones to add to the list I’d say Oceans 11 or Hudsucker Proxy.
It’s a Wonderful Life!! Crap, forgot about that one… I’ve actually only seen the ending to that one (which makes things VERY confusing, btw) but I really really enjoyed it. Gotta put that one back on the list to watch – thx for the reminder Joe Taxpayer!
And your house story is hilarious Angie – thx for sharing ;)
Charlie Brinson – Just tweeted that quote – classic!
My favorite is It Could Happen To You. Loved that movie. Sadly, I haven’t seen most of the others listed here!
the question I want answered is, Which character do you relate to most out of these 10 movies, J?!? :D
I like Brewster’s Millions & Boiler Room, although when I saw this post the first movie that came to mind was Mad Money with Diane Keaton.
Milk Money anyone?
I’ll go with 21 though. I’m really looking forward to seeing the new Wall Street too.
Sweet! Brewster’s Millions made the top 5. I’m liking this blog more and more.
Now, I’m going to say The Toy, starring Richard Pryor, who was so hilarious that some little rich kid decided he wanted to own him. One of my favorite childhood movies.
However, Bobby DID remind me how much I loved Milk Money. That movie was the hotness back in 5th grade!!!
Wall Street is definitely the best…cant wait for the new one to come out….
Hey, how about Fight Club as a money movie?!?
Of the list, my favorite to watch any time is Trading Places. The movie is classic!
What about The Color of Money? Or Pretty Woman?
Those are the first two I thought of – strange that no one else mentioned them.
Yeah, I def. forgot about a lot of great movies – Fight Club & Pretty Woman def. being 2 of them… Haven’t seen Milk Money or Color of Money or some of these other ones yet, but they’re going on my list! :)
Yes my suggestion got #1! Oh Right!
American Psycho was brilliant. It wasn’t just about an insane serial killer, but it was about his obsession with the power money gave him. Money gave him the ability to consume grand suits, Huey Lewis/Whitney Houston CDs, crisp clean linen business cards with bevelled edges, high rise apartments with spectacular views, and, of course who could forget, killing hookers with chainsaws and shanking homeless men in the dark steaming alleyways. Hey those chainsaws and butterfly knives aren’t free you know.
Office Space, Office Space! Love it.
Although, I haven’t seen too many of the others on this list, so I had better get to watching so I can beef up my $$ movie knowledge.
Office Space is number 1, but i just got Wall Street. I want to watch that for the first time before seeing the new one coming out!
J,
You’ve got some weak standards for a “Money” movie. Jerry Maguire and Office Space? No way! The Secret of My Success is the best!
Yo J!
Always inflating your ego man, you are a living legend! What do you think about scoring us some primo DC-premier tickets to Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps? Leverage all those professional contacts you have in the media business.
Or you know if we pay to go see the movie, then write about it, we could write it off as a tax deduction. Maybe a double-date with the Mrs. Budgets Are Sexy and Mrs. Engineer Your Finances??? HA
PS – have a great trip
Oh – and in case you need a little incentive.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5w4VKhjllzs
I thought Wall Street was excellent! I am interested in seeing the new one!
I’m definitely hoping the Wall St. 2 will be the best of them all!
Since my one true movie love is comedy, I have to say Brewster’s Millions is my favorite, with Money Pit, and Trading Places closely behind. Richard Pryor, Tom Hanks, and Eddie Murphy: it doesn’t get much funnier than that, especially when they were in their prime.
Office Space is epic but I don’t really consider that a movie about money, as much as it is about not working a job you hate.
I would LOVE to win this awesome movie pack!
Money movies? It’s OBVIOUSLY a tie between Richie Rich and Blank Check…
My favourite is Mad Money with Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah, and Katie Holmes. I can watch it over and over again.
Crap – Almost forgot to announce the winners! But they have now been picked! Are you ready?! Here we go!….. The TWO lucky winners who will each get their own set of DVD packs (Wall Street, Boiler Room, and Glengarry GlenRoss) are…..
LYNDA and BOBBY!
Congrats guys! Look for an email from me soon to get your addresses. Stay tuned for more giveaways soon…
Awesome! I’ll be FedEx’ing the packs today. Congrats Lynda and Bobby!