The Big Short

Watch The Big Short

"This is a true story."
  • R
  • 2015
  • 2 hr 10 min
  • 7.8  (492,868)
  • 81

In 2008, the world economy nearly collapsed due to the housing market crisis in the United States. The Big Short, directed by Adam McKay, tells the story of a group of Wall Street traders who saw the crisis coming before anyone else did, and decided to bet against the housing market in order to make a fortune. The film stars Christian Bale as Dr. Michael Burry, a socially awkward but brilliant hedge fund manager who discovers the vulnerability in the housing market and decides to invest heavily in credit default swaps, a complex financial instrument that allows him to bet against the market. Steve Carell plays Mark Baum, a fiery hedge fund manager who joins forces with two young traders, played by Finn Wittrock and John Magaro, to investigate the housing market and confirm Burry's predictions. Meanwhile, Ryan Gosling plays Jared Vennett, a slick Wall Street banker who serves as the film's narrator, and who makes a fortune by facilitating the traders' bets against the market.

At first, the traders' convictions are met with skepticism from their peers and superiors, who believe that the housing market is too big to fail. However, as the crisis escalates, the traders face a moral dilemma: should they celebrate their profits, knowing that their bets are causing thousands of people to lose their homes and jobs, or should they try to warn the public and prevent the crisis from getting worse?

The Big Short is a highly entertaining and informative film, not only because of its star-studded cast and witty screenplay, but also because of its insightful depiction of the 2008 financial crisis. The film takes complex financial concepts that are often presented as dry and boring and turns them into engaging and funny moments of storytelling. For example, in one of the film's most memorable scenes, Margot Robbie, playing herself, explains subprime mortgages while drinking champagne in a bathtub. In another scene, a group of loan officers rap about how easy it is to make a loan, even to people who clearly can't afford it.

However, the film is also a sobering reminder of the devastating effects that the financial crisis had on ordinary people, many of whom lost their homes, jobs, and savings. The Big Short doesn't shy away from showing the human toll of the crisis, with scenes of families being evicted from their homes, homeless people living in their cars, and laid-off workers standing in line for job fairs.

The performances are exceptional, with Bale and Carell standing out in particular. Bale fully immerses himself in the role of Burry, portraying him as a brilliant but eccentric outsider who struggles with mental health issues. Carell, meanwhile, brings both humor and pathos to the role of Baum, a character who is both outraged by the system and complicit in it. Gosling also delivers a charming performance as Vennett, who serves as the audience's guide through the complex world of finance.

Overall, The Big Short is a must-watch film for anyone interested in the 2008 financial crisis, and in the current state of the economy. It's a film that manages to educate, entertain, and unsettle its viewers, all at the same time. Watch The Big Short Online for a lesson in history and finance that's both entertaining and eye-opening.

The Big Short is a 2015 comedy with a runtime of 2 hours and 10 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.8 and a MetaScore of 81.

The Big Short
Description
Where to Watch The Big Short
The Big Short is available to watch free on Kanopy. It's also available to stream, download and buy on demand at Paramount+, Amazon Prime, Apple TV Channels, The Roku Channel, Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play and Vudu. Some platforms allow you to rent The Big Short for a limited time or purchase the movie and download it to your device.
  • Release Date
    2015
  • MPAA Rating
    R
  • Runtime
    2 hr 10 min
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    7.8  (492,868)
  • Metascore
    81