Plot: The lives of two families collide after a tragic accident.

KBZ’s Take: With an A-list cast including Liev Schreiber, Marisa Tomei and Peter Sarsgaard, this film is more of a murder mystery/drama than a financial fraud film. However, the financial fraud aspect of the film plays a key role into the development of the plot and subsequent actions of the main characters. Though the film has received mixed reviews, it’s likely due to the many subplots that thread together during the narrative. If you have the time to pay attention, you’ll be rewarded with a little-seen film about family tragedy.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3XQRMfj

Plot: A group of wealthy twenty-somethings in LA hatch a get rich quick scam.

KBZ’s Take: James Cox is no Martin Scorsese and that’s the first thing you’ll notice about this film. While using a similar stylistic approach and quick edit narrative to Scorsese’s films, Billionaire Boys Club shows a truncated version of the true story about Joe Hunt and his scam that turned deadly. Ansel Elgort, Taron Egerton and Emma Roberts carry the film while Kevin Spacey phones it in with a caricature of his very similar performances in 21 (2008). However, if you liked Cox’s previous effort about ‘a deal gone deadly’ in Wonderland (2003), you’ll also enjoy this film.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3HlApMy

Plot: A look at Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme and destruction of his family.

KBZ’s Take: A slow burn, character study of Bernie Madoff’s financial fraud. Robert DeNiro and Michelle Pfieffer do an admirable job of portraying the players behind the biggest financial fraud in U.S. (and perhaps World) history. Though it tackles the specifics of Madoff’s Ponzi scheme, the film is more of a family drama and the tragedy that befalls the family after the scheme is exposed.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3jhuHDy

Plot: A behind the scenes look at the U.S government’s players during the 2008 financial crisis.

KBZ’s Take: This film is not for everyone. Basically, a Docudrama, Too Big to Fail chronicles all the players and events happening behind the scenes as the economy was crashing. However, if you do enjoy films that show ‘how the sausage is made’ it’s an intriguing look at how close both the U.S. economy and World economy almost came crashing down due to bank malfeasance. Worth watching for great performances by James Woods and Billy Crudup.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3JuTKO7

Plot: Hedge fund manager tries to sell his company before his corruption is exposed.

KBZ’s Take: The film that gives Hedge Funds a bad name. Richard Gere nails his role as the hedge fund manager whose greed comes at the expense of everything else – his wife, his family and even murder. Like most financial fraud films, this film doesn’t delve into the complexities of the fraud being committed but keeps it simple for the audience to understand. This film is much more about the dynamics of a hedge fund manager that will literally do anything to keep his fraudulent activities from being exposed.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3JzPixs

Plot: Investment bankers slowly realize their firm is about to collapse.

KBZ’s Take: This is a great film that even non-financial people will understand. Margin Call is another look at the 2008 financial crisis but takes a different approach. It isn’t concerned with a bad guy / good guy dynamic but more about the experiences of people at different levels on the corporate ladder as the crisis deepens. A much-overlooked film that has a stellar cast with standouts including Simon Baker, Kevin Spacey, Zachary Quinto, Stanley Tucci, Demi Moore and the always amazing Jeremy Irons.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/40iHDKe

Plot: True story about a bank trader who bankrupts one of the oldest banks in Britain.

KBZ’s Take: This little-known film is a breath of fresh air in the Financial Fraud film subgenre. While most of these films have tackled U.S. financial crimes, Rogue Trader tells a story that might be less known to those of us ‘across the pond’. Ewan McGregor is stellar as the trader who keeps gambling and losing.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3kW5SNZ

Plot: After being evicted from his home, a man starts to work for the corrupt real estate broker who evicted him.

KBZ’s Take: 99 Homes tackles an aspect of the financial crisis not generally covered – that of the housing crisis, the people who lost their homes and the vultures taking advantage of the situation. Given most people know of someone who has had a family housing crisis, this film will be hard to watch for some. It’s a great film with fantastic performances from both Andrew Garfield and Michael Shannon.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3HJP4CW

Plot: A college dropout takes a job with an investment firm that might not be on the up and up.

KBZ’s Take: Whatever happened to Giovanni Ribisi and Nicky Katt? Both give career defining performances in this film – Ribisi as the college dropout who’s ultimately trying to win favor with his father and Katt as Ribisi’s superior who plays one of the best pricks in film history. Even Vin Diesel is great in this film as a somewhat sympathetic superior and ‘friend’ to Ribisi’s new recruit. One of the best films about financial fraud and a great film to see even if these type of crime movies aren’t your cup of tea.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3kNN03v

Plot: The men who made millions from the 2008 financial crisis.

KBZ’s Take: Where Wall Street is a micro view into corruption and greed with Michael Douglas’ Gordon Gekko, The Big Short is a macro view into the systemic greed and corruption encompassing the worldwide financial system. What The Big Short does better than any film about financial fraud is to break down all the corruption and schemes into laymen’s terms that most people would understand. And once you understand, you’ll be sick to your stomach with how these malevolent actors and institutions seemingly got rewarded for almost destroying the entire world economy. This is a great partner film to Too Big to Fail and Margin Call to get a better understanding of just how f****d up things were in 2008 and continue to this day with our financial institutions.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3XOkE83