Films About the Great Recession
The Great Recession, which began in late 2007 and lasted until mid-2009, was a significant global economic downturn that affected millions of lives. This period of financial instability, marked by widespread unemployment, home foreclosures, and a general loss of trust in financial institutions, has inspired a number of films that explore its impact on individuals and society. These films often delve into themes of economic hardship, personal struggle, and the quest for resilience in the face of adversity, providing audiences with a poignant reflection on a turbulent time in recent history.
Here are some notable films that address the Great Recession:
“The Big Short”, 2015
Director: Adam McKay
This film follows a few savvy investors who predicted the housing market collapse and bet against the banks. Through a mix of humor and drama, it explains the complex financial instruments that led to the crisis and highlights the human stories behind the financial disaster.
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
“Margin Call”, 2011
Director: J.C. Chandor
Set in a large investment bank during the early stages of the 2008 financial crisis, this thriller portrays the moral dilemmas faced by employees as they discover the impending collapse of the firm. The film showcases the tension between profit and ethics in the high-stakes world of finance.
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
“99 Homes”, 2014
Director: Ramin Bahrani
This drama follows a recently evicted father who finds himself working for the real estate broker who foreclosed on his home. It explores the devastating effects of foreclosure and the ethical compromises individuals make to survive in a harsh economic landscape.
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Michael Shannon, Laura Dern, Douglas M. Griffin, Randy Austin, Carl Palmer, James Brown, Luke Sexton, Noah Lomax, Alex Aristidis, Tim Guinee, Jonathan Tabler, Garrett Kruithof, Richard Holden, Deneen Tyler, Albert C. Bates, Jayson Warner Smith, Gretchen Koerner, Liann Pattison, Cullen Moss, Nicole Barré, Judd Lormand, Javier Molina, JD Evermore, Christopher Berry, Donna DuPlantier, Jordyn McDempsey, Robert Larriviere, Nadiyah Skyy Taylor, Ann Mahoney, Jason Kirkpatrick, Don Brady, Clancy Brown, Manu Narayan, Cynthia Santiago, Joseph Angelette, Jeff Pope, Karen Miller, Donald Mohr, Wayne Pére, Yvonne Landry, David Maldonado, Adam Leitman Bailey, Chris Angerdina, John L. Armijo, Max Armijo, MaryBeth Bonin, Joni Bovill, Tom Bui, Isabella Campos;
Production year: 2014;
Genre: drama, crime;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 112 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,1;
“The Company Men”, 2010
Director: John Wells
This film tells the story of three corporate executives who are laid off during the recession and must navigate their new realities. It highlights the personal and professional challenges faced by those who find themselves suddenly unemployed.
Starring: Ben Affleck, Chris Cooper, Craig T. Nelson, Kevin Costner, Tommy Lee Jones, Maria Bello, Rosemarie DeWitt, John Doman, Eamonn Walker, David Wilson Barnes, Suzanne Rico, Kent Shocknek, Adrianne Krstansky, Lewis D. Wheeler, Celeste Oliva, Tom Kemp, Nancy Villone, Chris Everett, Lance Greene, Kathleen Mahony-Bennett, Allyn Burrows, Anthony Estrella, David Catanzaro, Anthony O'Leary, Angela Rezza, Sasha Spielberg, Maryann Plunkett, Patricia Kalember, Dana Eskelson, James Colby, Richard Snee, Ellen Colton, Cady Huffman, Gene Amoroso, Annette Miller, Tonye Patano, David De Beck, Alan Dary, William Hill, Carolyn Pickman, Craig Mathers, Jeff Barry, Brian White, Denece Ryland, Rena Maliszewski, Cindy Lentol, Scott Winters, Sanjit De Silva, Austin Lysy, Dossy Peabody;
Production year: 2010;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 104 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,7;
“Inside Job”, 2021
Director: Vitaliy Strokous, David Ochs, Mike Bertino, Mollie Helms
This documentary investigates the causes of the 2008 financial crisis, featuring interviews with financial insiders, politicians, and journalists. It provides a thorough analysis of the systemic corruption and regulatory failures that led to the economic 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 Other Side of the Mountain”, 1975
Director: Larry Peerce
This independent film focuses on a father trying to keep his family together after losing his job due to the recession. It captures the emotional struggles and resilience of families facing economic hardship.
Starring: Marilyn Hassett, Beau Bridges, Belinda Montgomery, Nan Martin, William Bryant, Dabney Coleman, Bill Vint, Hampton Fancher, William Roerick, Dori Brenner, Walter Brooke, Jocelyn Jones, Greg Mabrey, Tony Becker, Griffin Dunne, Warren Miller, Robin Pepper, Brad Savage, David Garfield, Kenneth Dorsey, William Johnson, Frank Foeldi, Frank Willis, William Woollard, Jack Ross Sharp, Richard Malone, Michael Murdock, Samuel Dwyer, John Perell, Terry Hall, Bruce Dennis Cosbey, Sherri Zak, Dick Winslow, Harold Clarke Jr., Paula Chandler, Dee Dee Bever, Eddie Keller, John Zaccaro, Charlene Jones, Lee Baumgarth, Don Newsome, Peter Canon, Candy McCoy, Donald Black, Karlene Gallegly, Jerry Kinmont;
Production year: 1975;
Genre: drama, melodrama, biography;
MPAA rating: pg;
Duration: 102 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,4;
“American Honey”, 2016
Director: Andrea Arnold
While not solely about the Great Recession, this film portrays a group of young adults traveling across the Midwest selling magazine subscriptions. It reflects the disillusionment and lack of opportunity experienced by a generation growing up in the aftermath of the financial crisis.
Starring: Sasha Lane, Shia LaBeouf, Riley Keough, McCaul Lombardi, Arielle Holmes, Crystal Ice, Veronica Ezell, Chad Cox, Garry Howell, Kenneth Kory Tucker, Raymond Coalson, Isaiah Stone, Dakota Powers, Shawna Rae Moseley, Christopher David Wright, Summer Hunsaker, Brody Hunsaker, Johnny Pierce II, Chasity Hunsaker, Michael Hunsaker, Kaylin Mally, Laura Kirk, Will Patton, Daran Shinn, Sam Williamson, Bruce Gregory, Gail Sears, Chris Bylsma, Andrea Fantauzzi, Samantha Kelly;
Production year: 2016;
Genre: drama, melodrama, adventure;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 163 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7;
More information about the film “American Honey” on the website imdb.com
These films offer a diverse range of perspectives on the Great Recession, each contributing to the broader conversation about economic hardship and resilience in contemporary society.
The films about the great recession offer a poignant and thought-provoking reflection on the human experience during times of economic turmoil. Through powerful storytelling and compelling characters, these films capture the raw emotions, struggles, and resilience of individuals and communities grappling with financial hardship. From intimate dramas to gripping documentaries, each film provides a unique lens through which to examine the impact of the recession on society, leaving audiences with a deep sense of empathy and understanding for those affected. As the credits roll, these films serve as a reminder of the enduring human spirit in the face of adversity and the potential for hope and renewal even in the darkest of times.
