5 Movies & Docuseries to Learn About Money and the Economy 

Another long weekend is coming ahead in May. If you have been busy travelling during the Raya break, you might want to consider just “Netflix and Chill” by watching a movie this coming holiday. 

But instead of the usual blockbusters or series, watch these five movies and docuseries to learn about money and the economy. 

You might have read on social media or news that the stock markets are not performing well, inflations have been rising globally, and the crypto bubble is busting. Some economies like Sri Lanka are on the brink of a collapse. So, this is a perfect time to understand how money and the economy work without sacrificing entertainment value (finance can be very dull).  

#1 The Big Short

This is the most entertaining movie I have watched about the economy and finance (There is even a cameo by Margot Robbie explaining complex finance stuff, need I say more). The movie explains the 2008 subprime crisis, which triggered the global financial crisis by following the stories of a few people who saw a crisis coming, but nobody believed them until it was too late. A must watch!

#2 Money, Explained

If you are in the mood for bite-sized documentary series, check out Money, Explained. Each 20-minute episode introduces topics on personal finance in a fun and fast-paced series. The series shows how our emotions and behaviours are closely associated with money, making us easily fall for scams or end up in credit card debts. It’s time to learn how money works and be smarter with your finances. 

#3 Tinder Swindler

A fairytale-like story of how one little swipe can change your life forever. This British true-crime docuseries chronicles the story of the Israeli conman (Simon Leviev) who used Tinder, a popular dating app, to manipulate vulnerable women seeking love and use them to fund his over the top lavish lifestyle. Simon Leview is estimated to have swindled over $10 million from his Tinder dates worldwide but is still a free man. Watch this to learn how scammers scheme so you don’t fall into the honeytrap.

#4 Uncut Gems

Viewer discretionary! This movie is not for everyone; it is an anxiety-inducing cinema blending financial crime and thriller genres. If you are up for it, brace yourself for a fast-paced film covering loan sharks, sports betting, gambling, and the lengths people go to when driven by greed and money. 

#5 This Giant Beast that is the Global Economy 

This Amazon Prime 8-episode docuseries is hosted by Actor Kal Penn and directed by Oscar-winner Adam McKay (the same guy that directed The Big Short), exploring the global economy. Penn takes you worldwide to meet key players behind some of today’s economy’s serious and bizarre movements. Each episode focuses on a central question about the global economy — such as how to launder a bag of dirty cash — as the show looks to discover surprising ways the economy interconnects and impacts the lives of people worldwide. You can simply choose to watch any of the episodes and be amazed at how intricate the global economy is.

#Bonus How the Economic Machine Works by Ray Dalio

If you are not subscribing to Netflix or Amazon Prime, check out this well-animated video on YouTube by Ray Dalio, the American billionaire investor and hedge fund manager of the world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates. He explains in easily understandable terms how while the economy seems complex, it is underpinned by simple transactions that are driven by human nature. 

Have fun watching these movies and series, and I hope you come out wiser after watching them. Which one was your favourite, and do you have any other finance-related movies to recommend?