Learn How Financial Power Really Works With These 15 Documentaries

Finance sounds boring until someone loses a billion dollars. The world of money is packed with drama, greed, genius, and just enough ridiculousness to keep things dangerously entertaining. So, here are 15 finance documentaries to put on your watch list.

1. Inside Job (2010)

Through interviews with key financial insiders and policymakers, this film reveals how deregulation in the financial industry led to a global recession. It’s a compelling narrative that helps you understand the intricate web of decisions and policies that culminated in one of the most significant economic downturns in recent history.
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2. The Big Short (2015)

“The Big Short” offers a dramatized yet insightful look into the housing market collapse of the mid-2000s. Following a group of investors who foresaw the impending crisis, the film illustrates how complex financial instruments and a lack of oversight contributed to the economic disaster.
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3. Enron: The Smartest Guys In The Room (2005)

Explore the rise and fall of Enron, once hailed as America’s most innovative company, in this gripping documentary. It shows the company’s fraudulent accounting practices and the corporate culture that prioritized profits over ethics. The film also serves as a tale about the dangers of unchecked corporate greed.
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4. The China Hustle (2017)

This documentary exposes a financial scandal involving Chinese companies that exploited U.S. investors through fraudulent practices. The documentary presents the lack of regulatory oversight and is an eye-opening account that underscores the risks inherent in international investing.
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5. Playing With Fire (2019)

“Playing with Fire” is a 2019 documentary that explores the Financial Independence, Retire Early movement. It follows the journey of Scott Rieckens and his family as they figure out the principles of financial independence and early retirement.
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6. Money For Nothing: Inside The Federal Reserve (2013)

Gain insight into the U.S. Federal Reserve’s role in the economy with this informative documentary. It examines the history, policies, and influence of the central bank, shedding light on how its decisions impact inflation. Besides, the film also encourages its viewers to consider the complexities of monetary policy and its far-reaching effects.
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7. The Ascent Of Money (2008)

Historian Niall Ferguson looks for the evolution of money and financial systems in this comprehensive series. From ancient Mesopotamia to modern-day banking, “The Ascent of Money” shows how financial institutions have shaped human history.
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8. Capitalism: A Love Story (2009)

Michael Moore’s documentary critiques the capitalist system, focusing on its impact on American society. The film examines issues such as income inequality, corporate bailouts, and the erosion of the middle class. Through personal stories, it challenges viewers to check on the moral implications of capitalism.
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9. The Corporation (2003)

What if corporations were judged like people? “The Corporation” runs with that idea—and the conclusion it reaches is chilling. Case studies and legal analysis paint the modern corporation as an entity with all the rights of a person but none of the responsibility. This is about how the very design of corporate power encourages recklessness.
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10. Maxed Out (2006)

“Maxed Out” offers a sobering look at the dark side of consumer credit in America. It teaches that easy access to credit cards can lead to an unending cycle of lifelong debt that’s hard to escape, especially for low-income families. It also shows the systemic practices in the credit industry that exploit consumers.
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11. The Panama Papers (2018)

There’s a reason “The Panama Papers” feels more like a thriller than a documentary—it’s because it follows a global game of hide-and-seek with trillions of dollars. But this isn’t just about elites gaming the system. It’s about the cost to everyday people when massive wealth exits the taxable economy.
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12. Banking On Bitcoin (2016)

This film is about a new way of thinking about value, security, and control. It walks you through how a mysterious whitepaper sparked a movement that challenges everything from central banks to middlemen to data monopolies. Lastly, you also learn how this seemingly fringe idea exploded into a trillion-dollar market.
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13. American Greed (2007)

“American Greed” is a documentary-style TV series that exposes real-life white-collar crimes, including Ponzi schemes. Moreover, viewers learn to recognize red flags in investment offers, avoid high-risk ventures without transparency, and understand the long-term consequences of financial deception.
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14. Freakonomics (2010)

“Freakonomics” adapts the bestselling book of the same name into a documentary that explores how economic principles influence everyday life. Produced on a modest budget, the film shows that people actually respond to rewards, penalties, and expectations in ways that aren’t always obvious.
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15. The Laundromat (2019)

With humor, absurdity, and star power, “The Laundromat” takes you inside the mind-bending world of shell companies. But beneath the glossy surface lies a sharp critique of how financial systems are designed to be just opaque enough to confuse most people and just flexible enough to let the wealthy slip through the cracks.
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