The 2008 financial crisis is one of the most significant financial and sociopolitical events of the 21st century, and its impact was felt by both the film industry and the world at large. While many studios were hit hard by the housing crisis, filmmakers responded to the event with films that represented how people worldwide were dealing with the ramifications.

16 years later and the effects of the 2008 financial crisis continue to influence the global economy. given enough time. Between films based on true events to original stories set in the shadow of the market crash, these are the best movies about the financial crisis.

that has had to live in poverty as a result of circumstances that are beyond their control. While writer/director is best known for making British “kitchen sink” dramas, she proved to be just as skilled at examining , and how it may only be achievable for those who have the generational wealth to back it up.

American Honey is a long film that justifies its length, as despite being nearly three hours, there is not a moment that it loses sight of its characters. proved to be a breakout star with her charismatic, yet deeply sensitive performance, and American Honey also featured a dynamic performance from that suggested that she was far more versatile than early critics may have claimed that she was.

, as companies are so careless in their treatment of employees that their terminations are carried out by those outside of the company. gives one of his best performances as a corporate employee who is tasked with informing various workers across the world that their companies have decided to fire them.

Up in the Air was a major award-season contender, earning nominations for Best Picture, Best Director for , and Best Supporting Actress for both and . While Clooney received a nomination, but not a win, it's evident that his performance in Up in the Air was vastly superior to his role in the oil drama , which had won him the Best Supporting Actor trophy just a few years earlier.

, as it paints a highly astute portrayal of the lives that lower-class families have as they desperately try to make ends meet. The fact that the film takes place right outside Disney World makes the commentary more cutting; although the film’s leads live close to the supposed “happiest place on Earth,” they recognize that attending the park is an experience exclusive to those with privilege.

As with many of Baker’s films, The Florida Project utilized many nonprofessional actors in order to feel more authentic to real life, as it allowed for a greater sense of improvisation and naturalistic reactions. However, it also featured an amazing performance by the great as a kind-hearted, yet stern hotel manager, which earned him a very deserved Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Anyone expecting ’s to be a fluff piecemay have been shocked to see the classic 1970s Warner Brothers logo that appears on-screen before the film begins. stripping explores how the financial crisis has impacted male dancers and changed the nature of their profession.

Even though the drama at the core of Magic Mike is serious, it doesn’t make the elaborate dancing sequences any less electrifying (with many going on to become memorable memes or rewatchable scenes). To continue the same social themes, Soderbergh’s 2023 sequel explored the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

takes place right in the middle of the 2008 United States Presidential Election between and and . The social crime thriller explores the trickle-down effects of a botched robbery of a mafia-fueled poker tournament.

Two dim-witted robbers (and ) make the mistake of stealing from the wrong people, forcing an entire criminal enterprise to collapse due to limited funds. Despite his callousness during the promotional tour for his latest film , he shows a real restraint here with the social themes here.

Director 's is set in New York City during the 2008 financial crisis. Starring as Gordon Gekko, the film depicts the events following his release from prison for insider trading. He teams up with his daughter's stockbroker fiance Jake () to attempt to fix the broken father-daughter relationship, while also targeting a selfish banker using the crisis for his own financial gain.

of a master manipulator with ease in , and his performance serves as a solid anchor for the otherwise shaky plot. It doesn't help that its prequel— (1987)—was much better by comparison, and was well-received by critics and fans alike.

While has yet to make a film in recent years that rivals his work in the 1990s like , his 2012 drama . as a disgruntled drilling salesman who must convince the local residents of a small town to invest in his offer to build on their land.

Damon co-wrote the film alongside , who also appears in the film in a supporting role as his rival. The chemistry between the two actors makes the movie worth watching, as it soars thanks to the way they react and act after their proposal is shot down by unexpected external factors.

wrestled with a moral quandary that the crisis presented. If yuppie stockbrokers and corporate workers were responsible for the collapse of the market, do they deserve any sympathy when they lose everything? thanks to the economic downturn.

as a former office worker who is terminated and must work grunt labor alongside his quirky brother-in-law (). The film also features strong work from and . The cast members perfectly play the roles of the perpetrators and victims of corporate America.

explores the collapse of a major hedge fund that fires nearly half of its staff on the same day. It's a drama that collapses under the pressure of too many debts at once, with its key players having to make some tough calls about who to let go to keep the investment bank afloat. All of this takes place in a span of 24 hours with the early stages of the 2008 crisis used as an appropriate backdrop.

director received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay for his riveting dialogue and thorough research. . While the film is very dialogue-heavy, the implication that a corporation is willing to let thousands of people lose their jobs to save their bottom line is just as scary as any horror movie.

In 's , single father and construction worker Dennis Nash () is hired by heartless real estate broker Rick Carver (). The deal? Dennis has to evict other people from their homes in Florida in order to keep his own during the Great Recession.

Showing a close-up of the 2010 housing crisis – an aftermath of the stock market crash – the overlooked 2014 film . The protagonist's unique situation (and ) makes it a compelling watch, with its storyline standing out among other movies about the 2008 crash.

received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her heartbreaking performance as the woman Sandra, who lives with depression, in . Sandra’s co-workers are forced to choose between allowing Sandra to stay on the staff after returning to work or receiving the bonuses that their employers promised them.

Even though it comes down to the decision that the characters will make in a critical vote, . The film is propelled by a fantastic performance from Marion Cotillard, who deserves more credit for her role here.

explores the aftermath of the collapse and how it drives lifelong best friends Doug McRay (Affleck) and Jem Coughlin () to increase their criminal activities. When they plan one last heist at Fenway Park, things go wrong when an unplanned hostage is thrown into the equation.

, the filmmaker feels the influence of crime movie maestro in his direction of the riveting bank robbery sequences. . Doug and Jem are only driven to violence as a result of the circumstances that they find themselves in; they’re not inherently bad people.

is another great bank robbery thriller examining the desperate measures common people must go to sustain themselves financially. David Mackenize’s brilliant neo-noir Western follows the brothers Toby (Chris Pine) and Tanner (Ben Foster) as they rob a series of Texas Midland Banks to save their departed mother’s ranch.

Taylor Sheridan’s crackling dialogue helps thoroughly explain why the brothers are proceeding with their crimes and who the real victims will be due to their bank robbing spree. Depicting how the crisis impacted rural areas around the country, the film's protagonists ensure they are stealing from the banks themselves and not those they service – but does that justify their actions?

Anyone confused by the housing crisis, how it happened, and who was responsible may want to watch The Big Short for purely educational purposes. Adam McKay’s film adaptation of the popular nonfiction novel of the same name utilizes a fourth-wall-breaking, docudrama style that thoroughly explains the events that led up to the crash. It primarily follows a group of investors who shocked everyone when they bet against the seemingly infallible mortgage market

While the subject material is quite serious, McKay uses cutaways to popular culture images and celebrity guest stars to make the journey more entertaining. Learning about stocks is a lot easier when Margot Robbie or Anthony Bourdain is there to explain it all, making this an essential 2008 financial crisis movie.

There have been countless documentaries about the corruption within Wall Street and the looming crisis that could have been avoided, but the Oscar-winning film Inside Job may be the most detailed breakdown of the timeline. Matt Damon narrates the documentary as it tells the frustrating story and details the events that led up to the infamous crash that caused so many to lose their jobs and security.

While it’s a lot of information to digest on initial viewing, Inside Job spends enough time on each fact to make things even more infuriating. Through interviews and explanations of key facts and major players, the 2010 documentary paints a complete portrait of the crisis. It may serve as a good double feature with The Big Short, as it covers many of the same topics and real-life subjects.

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