The financial crisis of 2008, also known as the global financial crisis, was a severe worldwide economic crisis that was triggered by the subprime mortgage meltdown in the United States. The crisis had far-reaching effects on the global economy, leading to widespread unemployment, foreclosures, and financial instability. In the aftermath of the crisis, many films were produced to explore and depict the human, social, and economic impact of the events of 2008.
“Too Big to Fail”, 2011
Director: Curtis Hanson
Directed by Curtis Hanson, this HBO film is based on the book by Andrew Ross Sorkin and offers a behind-the-scenes look at the 2008 financial crisis and the efforts to prevent a complete economic collapse.
Starring: William Hurt, Edward Asner, Billy Crudup, Paul Giamatti, Topher Grace, Cynthia Nixon, Bill Pullman, Tony Shalhoub, James Woods, John Heard, Erin Dilly, Amy Carlson, Ayad Akhtar, Kathy Baker, Beau Baxter, Ben Livingston, Erin Burnett, Chance Kelly, Chil Kong, Daniel K. Isaac, James Saito, Maria Bartiromo, Michael O'Keefe, Robert Hogan, Victor Slezak, Chandra Thomas, Tom Mason, Peter Hermann, Joey Slotnick, Evan Handler, Matthew Modine, Ajay Mehta, David Faber, Laurence Lau, Josh Casaubon, Gregory Jones, George Taylor, Kathleen Coslett, Danny Darrow, Rob Evans, Rutanya Alda, Peter Hans Benson, Fiona Choi, Laila Robins, Tom Tammi, Steve Liesman, Dan Hedaya, Steve Tom, Jonathan Freeman;
Production year: 2011;
Genre: drama, biography, history;
Age: 18+;
Duration: 98 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,3;
“Margin Call”, 2011
Director: J.C. Chandor
Directed by J.C. Chandor, this film follows the key people at an investment bank over a 24-hour period during the early stages of the financial crisis as they attempt to handle the impending collapse of the firm.
Starring: Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Irons, Zachary Quinto, Penn Badgley, Simon Baker, Mary McDonnell, Demi Moore, Stanley Tucci, Aasif Mandvi, Ashley Williams, Susan Blackwell, Maria Dizzia, Jimmy Palumbo, Al Sapienza, Peter Kim, Grace Gummer, Oberon Ka Adjipong, Claude Jay, Kevin Keels, Jason Liebman, Jamie Lee Petronis, Uziman, Steven Weisz;
Production year: 2011;
Genre: thriller, drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 107 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,1;
More information about the film “Margin Call” on the website imdb.com
“Inside Job”, 2021
Director: Vitaliy Strokous, David Ochs, Mike Bertino, Mollie Helms
Directed by Charles Ferguson, this documentary film provides a comprehensive analysis of the global financial crisis of 2008, examining the systemic corruption and ethical issues that contributed to the collapse.
Starring: Lizzy Caplan, Christian Slater, Clark Duke, Tisha Campbell, Andy Daly, Chris Diamantopoulos, John Di Maggio, Bobby Lee, Brett Gelman, Shion Takeuchi, Josh Robert Thompson, Grey Griffin, Ron Funches, Eric Bauza, Suzy Nakamura, Cheri Oteri, Adam Scott, James Adomian, Will Blagrove, Roger Craig Smith, Kayvan Novak, Gary Cole, Vargus Mason, Lauren Lapkus, Carl Tart, Debra Wilson, Karin Anglin, Max Mittelman, Darius Johnson, Scott Adsit, Timothy Simons, Ana Gasteyer, Santina Muha, Kate Micucci, Nicole Sullivan, Patton Oswalt, Jon Daly, Kevin Michael Richardson, William Jackson Harper, Fred Tatasciore, Zachary Quinto, Henry Winkler, Drew Tarver, Dan Lippert, Shaggy 2 Dope, Violent J, Michael-Leon Wooley, Leon Scherwitz;
Production year: 2021;
Genre: animation, science fiction, fantasy, comedy, adventure;
Rating: IMDB: 7,7;
More information about the film “Inside Job” on the website imdb.com
“The Big Short”, 2015
Director: Adam McKay
Directed by Adam McKay, this film is based on the true story of a few individuals who saw the 2008 financial crisis coming and bet against the big banks, leading to massive profits.
Starring: Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt, Melissa Leo, Hamish Linklater, John Magaro, Rafe Spall, Jeremy Strong, Marisa Tomei, Finn Wittrock, Stanley Wong, Byron Mann, Tracy Letts, Karen Gillan, Selena Gomez, Max Greenfield, Margot Robbie, Rudy Eisenzopf, Casey Groves, Charlie Talbert, Harold Gervais, Maria Frangos, Hunter Burke, Bernard Hocke, Shauna Rappold, Brandon Stacy, Aiden Flowers, Peter Epstein, Anthony Marble, Silas Cooper, Leslie Castay, Andrew Farrier, Ingrid Steed, Vanessa Cloke, David Zalkin, Carrie Lazar, Mychael Bates, Rajeev Jacob, Jay Potter, Garrett Hines, Ryan Broussard, Adepero Oduye, Jeffry Griffin, Anthony Bourdain, Joey Brooks, Colette Divine, Oscar Gale, Cayden Arthur Miscally, Dave Davis;
Production year: 2015;
Genre: drama, comedy, biography, history;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 130 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,8;
More information about the film “The Big Short” on the website imdb.com
“Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps”, 2010
Director: Oliver Stone
Directed by Oliver Stone, this sequel to the 1987 film “Wall Street” explores the financial world in the aftermath of the 2008 crisis, following the release of Gordon Gekko from prison.
Starring: Michael Douglas, Shia LaBeouf, Josh Brolin, Carey Mulligan, Frank Langella, Vanessa Ferlito, Thomas Belesis, Eli Wallach, Susan Sarandon, Richard Stratton, Harry Kerrigan, Sunil Hirani, Maria Bartiromo, Austin Pendleton, Eric Purcell, Christian Baha, John Buffalo Mailer, Melissa Lee, Annika Pergament, Julianne Michelle, Greg Hildreth, Darin Guerrasio, Waltrudis Buck, John Bedford Lloyd, George Blumenthal, Jason Clarke, Catherine Wolf, Andy Serwer, Thomas M. Joyce, Becky Quick, Faye Wattleton, Olaf Rogge, Richard Green, Anthony Scaramucci, Limor Hakim, Sean Stone, Ed Bergtold, Mike DiGiacinto, Kevin Keels, Edward Henzel, Ron Insana, Vincent Farrell Jr., Pete Antico, James Chanos, Jim Cramer, Michael Genet, Alice Burla, Noelle Beck, Graydon Carter;
Production year: 2010;
Genre: drama, melodrama;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 127 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,2;
More information about the film “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps” on the website imdb.com
These films offer a range of perspectives on the financial crisis of 2008, delving into the complexities of the events and their impact on individuals and society as a whole.
The films about the 2008 financial crisis offer a compelling and thought-provoking exploration of the human impact of economic turmoil. Through powerful storytelling, these films delve into the lives of individuals and communities affected by the crisis, shedding light on the complexities of greed, corruption, and resilience. From gripping dramas to insightful documentaries, each film presents a unique perspective on the events of 2008, leaving audiences with a deeper understanding of the far-reaching consequences of financial instability and the enduring strength of the human spirit. These films serve as both a reminder of the past and a call to action for a more just and equitable future.
