Funny movies dealing with investments...

January 18, 2007 2:32 PM

Asking for a friend: Looking for a movie or tv show that deals with investing in a comedic way.

The whole show or movie doesn't have to deal with investing, but maybe a part in particular. Are there any that you can think of that go about this in an interesting/funny/ironic way? Thanks.

posted by Sreiny to media & arts (16 answers total)

Trading Places
posted by COBRA! at 2:32 PM on January 18, 2007

In Brewster's Millions Richard Pryor's character has to spend $30M in 30 days, in order to get a $300M inheritance (without telling anyone why he's blowing so much cash). I think there are several scenes where people are pitching him ridiculously stupid/expensive ideas, trying to get him to invest in them.
posted by avoision at 3:00 PM on January 18, 2007

The Twisted World of Marge Simpson. Spurned by the other members of her investment club, Marge invests in a pretzel business, and goes head to head with their pita franchise.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 3:13 PM on January 18, 2007

There's another Simpsons episode where the nuclear power plants get taken over by the Germans, and all the employees get rich off the stock. Except Homer, because he sold his for $25.
posted by smackfu at 3:15 PM on January 18, 2007

Definitely Trading Places, although it's more commodities trading and the trading floor part is the most serious part of the movie.

Mike Judge's "Idiocracy" has a time-traveller offer someone billions of dollars which he'll get by going back in time and investing money. "Working Girl" is set in the world of investment brokers but I can't remember any details specifically.

A recent episode of 30 Rock was quite funny on this topic. I know it's not a movie, but it made me chuckle.

Donaghy: Tracy, I don't understand. You've starred in 14 films. You don't have any money saved?

Tracy: Nah, I lost all of it.

Donaghy: Really? Who's your money manager?

Tracy (pointing to huge thug-like bodyguard): Grizz.

Grizz (sadly): Worldcom, man. Worldcom.
posted by AmbroseChapel at 3:18 PM on January 18, 2007

The Saphead is an early Buster Keaton film (silent, of course) with some wonderful stock exchange sequences.
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 4:22 PM on January 18, 2007

The Associate may fit the bill. More about the whole world of finance and business, but...
posted by The Deej at 4:27 PM on January 18, 2007

Since someone brought up the Simpsons, how 'bout some Futurama?

"A Fishful of Dollars" - Fry checks his bank account and finds out his $.98 has turned into $4 Billion, after accruing 1000 years worth of of interest. He tries to buy everything he used to enjoy in the 20th century, eventually spending $500 million on a can of extinct anchovies so he can eat them on a pizza. Pamela Anderson somehow figures into an complex anchovy heist.

"Futurestock" - Planet Express shareholders vote "That Guy," an un-frozen '80s "dollar jockey" as the Planet Express CEO. He hypes up Planet Express to the point that he can sell it to Mom, leading to huge increases in share value. Yet, as is so often the case, a blockbuster corporate buyout is foiled by a case of terminal Boneitis.
posted by krippledkonscious at 4:30 PM on January 18, 2007

There's an episode of Friends (transcript: http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/9151/221.htm) that might fit the bill - Monica invests in a stock because the ticker symbol is her initials, and then gets all, well, Monica about the stock market.
posted by Persimmon at 4:49 PM on January 18, 2007

I have to second Trading Places (commodities futures).
Rogue Trader isn't a comedy per se, but the absurdity is something.
posted by nj_subgenius at 5:09 PM on January 18, 2007

The Hudsucker Proxy is a very funny movie about a ringer CEO brought in to lower the stock of a company for a takeover.
posted by neustile at 5:32 PM on January 18, 2007

Low expectations, eh? That brings to mind The Producers - both original and remake.
posted by krippledkonscious at 5:40 PM on January 18, 2007

There's an episode of Seinfeld where George and Jerry invest in a stock on an inside tip, but the guy who is supposed to tell them when to sell ends up in a coma. Funny things happen. Long story short, Jerry loses money and George makes a killing.
posted by B-squared at 5:56 PM on January 18, 2007

Glengarry Glen Ross is a movie about real estate investment salesmen. There are probably some scenes you'd like in it. It's a good movie too!
posted by meta87 at 11:47 PM on January 18, 2007

How about Envy?

Disclaimer: I do not advocate the renting, purchasing, or viewing of this awful, awful film.

I saw this about a year ago and couldn't eat solid foods for a week.
posted by nineRED at 7:40 AM on January 19, 2007

I find Jim Cramer's show Mad Money pretty hysterical, but that's just me.
posted by Nathanial Hörnblowér at 12:42 PM on January 19, 2007