The Big Short (2015)

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Four outsiders in the world of high-finance who predicted the credit and housing bubble collapse of the mid-2000s decide to take on the big banks for their lack of foresight and greed. (imdb)

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Directed By: Adam McKay

Written By: Adam McKay, Charles Randolph, Michael Lewis

Starring: Melissa Leo, Brad Pitt, Marisa Tomei, Steve Carell, Christian Bale, Rafe Spall, Ryan Gosling, Margot Robbie, John Magaro, Hamish Linklater, Jeremy Strong, Stanley Wong

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Biography

Country: USA

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The Big Short belongs to 39 collections

1. 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die (collaborative: moderated by kozan26 - 239 stars)

2. Academy Award - Oscar - Best Picture and Nominees (collaborative: moderated by smviper00 - 46 stars)

3. Based on a Book (collaborative: moderated by iconogassed - 24 stars)

4. Academy Award - Oscar - ALL Best Picture, Directing, Acting & Screenplay Nominees (collaborative - 22 stars)

5. Fourth wall (collaborative: moderated by djross - 16 stars)

6. Based on true events (collaborative: moderated by iconogassed - 12 stars)

7. Films available in HD (collaborative: moderated by kubricksucks - 12 stars)

8. Business, Finance and Economics (collaborative: moderated by djross - 11 stars)

9. Oscar: Best Writing (adapted/original) (collaborative: moderated by paulofilmo - 10 stars)

10. Netflix USA (public: mpowell - 8 stars)

11. Availability: Netflix Canada (collaborative: moderated by geohawk - 6 stars)

12. Best by different standards (public: sesito71 - 6 stars)

13. Triumvirate of Oscar Winning Actors/Actresses in the Cast (3 or more) (collaborative: moderated by Dunstan-xxx - 5 stars)

14. Top 3000 movies with the most votes on IMDb (public: fanfic - 5 stars)

15. edkrak films to see (public: edkrak - 4 stars)

16. Famous People Acting As Themselves (No Documentaries) (collaborative: moderated by SirStuckey - 3 stars)

17. 2000s (2000 to 2009) period film (collaborative: moderated by djross - 3 stars)

18. 88th Academy Award Nominations (collaborative: moderated by Johnny Mo - 3 stars)

19. Top 1000 movies with the most votes on IMDb (public: fanfic - 3 stars)

20. Top 2000 movies with the most votes on IMDb (public: fanfic - 2 stars)

21. Films That Clearly Break the Fourth Wall (collaborative: moderated by Dunstan-xxx - 1 star)

22. 2018: Complete Watchlist (public: SageSledge - 1 star)

23. Oscar 2016 (collaborative: moderated by temper114)

24. 73rd Golden Globe Nominees - 2015 (collaborative: moderated by BeeDub)

25. Ratings (collaborative: moderated by cheapthrills)

26. 88th Academy Awards Nominations - Best Picture (collaborative: moderated by SageSledge)

27. MUBI TR (collaborative: moderated by ozdemibr)

28. Visti al cinema (public: Rubens)

29. Movies I've Seen In Theaters (public: SirStuckey)

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32. seen in 2016 (public: sproost)

33. jeff_h's films to remember (public: jeff_h)

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35. My Movie Collection (public: elhenzo)

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TCI | Percentile | Date Rated | # Stars (Reviews)

Stars	User	Rating
15	Leonardis	95 _85th
Really really great movie. The Big Short plays a pretty dang good tribute to what happened and makes you a little angrier about the whole thing just watching some of it happen. Adam Mckay's directing is different and better than his other comedies and it works well. Everybody pulls off their given roles very well and I liked the story and characters. Some comic relief is in there to go along with it too. For sure one of the best and most entertaining movies of 2015.
13	Bojangles	90 _97th
An angry, cynical, and ultimately sad/depressing tale told thru the filter of the Oliver Stone School of Vertical Editing which jumps thru time via pop culture imagery and photojournalism. Brilliant. No I Told You So's--just a 500% ROI and millions of broken lives stacked on top of a static, fascist, industrio-governmental modus operandi. There is a vigor that comes from characters rejecting solipsism, straining away self-doubt, and accepting grisly truths--this is truly the way things are. Wow.
11	BillyShears	75 _65th
Puts on big thick glasses and leans back in chair "I saw 8 boobs during this"
9	joel-w-m	9 _92nd
The financial jargon and drama is thick and constant, but phenomenally and entertainingly packaged: The editing sizzles with both comedic and dramatic potency (lots of abrupt scene cuts and charming pop culture potpourri), the script is both serious and snicker-worthy (4th-wall breaks and snarky narration lie alongside tense moral exploration), and the big three put their acting chops on full display through some fantastic characters (the eccentric Michael, fiery Mark, and douche-y Jared).
7	jthusky	88 _93rd
Extra points because how in the lord did they make subprime loans and mortgage failures into a smart, interesting, funny and disturbing film? Ensemble cast is wonderful, McKay's directing is great if unsubtle and the editing is to die for.
6	Okkervil	77 _78th
The interesting subject matter & grim awfulness of the greed & stupidity manage to propel a story where absolutely no one deserves your sympathy. There are some clumsy efforts from McKay to provide humanity to both Bale & Carell in the form of tragedy & social trials, but neither really works. That said, the stylish direction, punchy screenplay and Margot Robbie in a bath make this essential viewing. The lingering feeling of impeding doom when this all happens again is its finest achievement.
6	Cinema_Asia	80 _84th
Christian Bale as the Aspergers metal head stock analyst is probably the greatest role he's ever done. Manages to explain the entire MBS fraud that brought the entire global financial system to its knees in concise, humorous, and creative detail. The film also does an amusing breaking the fourth wall job of narrating itself without coming across as annoying or cheesy. Also has the balls to call out the institutions involved in this scam. Powerful film every American should watch.
6	eCitizen	70 _70th
This is by far the clearest & most complete explanation of the nature & cause of real estate bubble & corresponding 2008 stock crash I've seen. But, it sometimes felt like a scattered mess. It was hard to relate to the characters & even harder to like them. All the good guys are portrayed as eccentric geeks, lunatic crusaders, greedy opportunists or inept, with the exception of Brad Pitt's minor character. It was also stupidly confused by fake story paths. Good, but not polished.
6	Tony Irwin	92 _88th
An ingenious little work, that at its best moments points at the absurdity in all our human institutions and at the foolishness of it all and the... well... futility of civillisation. Getting a comedy director was the right choice - the funnier they made it, the more horrifically grim truth they could afford to share. Steve Carell and his team are brilliant, but Christian Bale quietly threatens to steal the whole show with his performance.
4	AFlickering	1 _4th
thank god the likes of selena gomez and margot robbie have finally deigned to translate the financial crisis into idiotspeak for me, said no one ever. plus: characters who can be fully described in a single sentence perform jarring, transparently hollow gestures toward a conscience, and so does the film in between its overcalculated, self-aware wisecracking. no synthesis between the comic, tragic, righteous and educational elements means it fails on all four counts. time to watch TWOWS again.
4	letskillrobots	32 _94th
The Big Sad, more like it.
4	mwgerb	80 _95th
I know it's practically cliche at this point to call something this generation's Dr. Strangelove, so I'll resist. But I was reminded of the nuclear apocalypse scene, applied to the world economy, stretched out to a feature-length film. The disaster is terrifyingly portended and boldly explained. Granted, there are more familiar elements of comedy, but where did Adam McCay learn to direct this powerfully?
4	FrederikA	75 _77th
After dicking around with (mostly good) Will Farrell comedies for over a decade, Adam McKay reinvents himself as mid-nineties Oliver Stone (with a sense of humor) and delivers a poignant, well-written black comedy/exposé about how we all are totally and utterly screwed.
4	RandallODim	86 _82nd
The Big Short is The Wolf of Wall Street if you replaced contempt for the little guy with pity. Everyone is talking about how much of the movie is steeped in anger, but it goes beyond that, to the point where anger runs out and all you're left with is disappointment and sadness. The final bait-and-switch is the best and most depressing joke in the film, and in the end you're just left with a sense of emptiness. It just wants to tell you "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry this is the world we live in."
4	bakcheia	79 _67th
Between having more celeb appearances than a Muppets movie and some playful-yet-inconsistent editing, The Big Short may be 2015's hardest movie for me to pin down. I wasn't bored, I liked its winking self-awareness, and the performances were all around quite good. However, I couldn't reconcile its indictment of greed while also being a product of one of the greediest industries around AND flaunting its slew of cameos and expensive leading ensemble. Maybe that furthers all the irony though...
4	hisblob	81 _73rd
A successful use of non-documentary film to explain complicated events
4	Corbad	80 _79th
An extraordinarily clever format and deft editing skilfully overwhelm the niche subject matter and saturated jargon to produce an engaging and well executed film.
3	terrymac	81 _87th
Very good. Well-paced, tonally sound, and with a great cast. I really liked Carrell and Bale in this. The technical stuff is covered effectively, providing enough detail to be understood, but not affecting the pacing of the drama. The little celeb inserts worked for me, but I can see them jarring others. McKay handles all this well. Of course, the behaviour that let to the financial horror is abhorrent, so the film might leave you a tad angry. Well worth seeing. A good partner to Margin Call.
3	cagedwisdom	50 _38th
No guys, come on. This has the most insufferable editing I've seen in a long time. For one thing. Secondly, I can't believe the screenwriter who worked on Moneyball, a film about a sport I knew absolutely nothing about going in which managed to make me feel like I understood what was going on without pandering to me like I'm five years old, also worked on this, which has exposition so lazy, contrived, full of itself and not even really adequate. Carell is the only reason I rate it this highly.
3	tenhas	82 _77th
Perfectly edited and directed one. Lewis' words become more effective in McKay's hands.
3	frederic_g54	9 _90th
Easily trumps Margin Call - and Jonathan Jarvis' animated online video - as the most comprehensive, thoughtfully assembled examination of the subprime mortgage crisis, offering nothing less than biting commentary and vitriolic rhetoric against the greedy assholes who almost destroyed the world economy. What really makes this movie stand out, however, is the cleverly funny, fittingly unorthodox way in which everything is presented. In that regard, props to Hank Corwin for a damn fine editing job.
3	Charlie	80 _81st
This is so fucked up, you can't make it up. And that after all this shit, all the lying and fraud, the same bullshit is still going on out there, that's what really makes me angry. But you know: "Everyone, deep in their hearts, is waiting for the end of the world to come." - Haruki Murakami -
3	KasperL	70 _65th
Interesting and entertaining. I liked it. But it's a bit overrated, isn't it?
3	Neonman	85 _80th
McKay seems to be maturing, or immaturing, as a director -- although this is a comprehensive and procedural narrative of some suckers during the financial collapse of last decade, the style in which it's divulged is exuberant and without any fucks. I admire, and was entertained by, this overdone Scorsese-esque Iannucci-esque counterpart to TWoWS, but this shows the lows and stress of the lifestyle instead. Not for everyone, but I liked it a lot.
3	d_r_e_s_	3 _65th
Not worthy of any of it's Academy nominations, escpecially for editing, seriously; too sloppy, too full of itself, and too casual for an event as serious as this. That said, the story is interesting and Carell's performance hightened my experience severely, which made me rate it a tad higher. *Good
3	hellboy76	86 _96th
Coming out the same year (and me watching relatively close to each other) sets up this film to be the polar opposite of Spotlight. Both are true story digging for truth type presentations, with Spotlight being an insanely slow burn. and The Big Short being the grenade down the trousers. Everyone is so hammily scene stealing, they manage to steal the scene fro themselves somehow. The years best, of the few films I have seen. It isn't every detail about the crash, but it's enough to make you mad.
3	Darren	50 _21st
a nice surprise. Basically Capitalism a love story but people can like it cuz it's not Michael Moore. Still don't really get the feeling any of these characters are good people or that I should have sympathy for them cuz they're still scum who feign interest in humanity.
3	lex	85 _67th
Very inventive directing and editing, which makes it a blast to watch even if you're struggling to follow every single intricate detail of the housing collapse, which the movie even knowingly jokes about. Unlike Wolf of Wallstreet, it tackles its economic subject with humanity and darkly comedic cynicism rather than with overblown, discompassionate excess which makes it an interesting companion piece. Clever, funny, a little tragic, and just very well executed all around.
3	FoxyRussian	29 _10th
Bale and Carell really play their roles perfectly. Everyone else about this movie falters extremely.The movie is filmed in a pseudo documentary style, with 4th wall breaking, terrible edited montages and more shaky cam than a Bourne Movie. The celebrity explanation segments are terrible, I hate when a wall street movie goes "Well you probably don't understand this and its boring to explain". Which is funny, because the book suffered from not being able to explain any concepts simply.
3	TheEscapist	74 _72nd
Entertaining film with a quick pace. I liked it, though perhaps it could have had more impact on a personal level. On the other hand then the whole film maybe wouldn't have worked as well as it did. The celebrity cameos felt patronizing and could have been replaced with something better.
3	whotemp	80 _60th
Well, I felt patronized but I also feel depressed, which means that it achieved its goal. The music was great. I feel mixed up about the level of seriousness in this film, from the explanation and stripper scenes, to the scene at the end. I suppose it reflects the ludicrous behavior of the subject. I do have a better understanding of the meltdown now though.
3	Groovy_Souls	95 _97th
The most entertaining informational movie I've ever seen. Managing to take something almost incomprehensible and make a feature length film out of it, and also make it interesting as hell, is beyond me. Also, what a cast. Especially Carrell. Adam McKay is impressing me with this, and I can't wait to see a little more.
2	Filligan	92 _85th
Until The Big Short, Margin Call was the best film I'd seen tackling this complex subject matter. This film not only explains more, and in a clearer way, but it lobs its message proudly to the audience: get angry -- and it's easy to. Look at Adam McKay! Worked his way up from silly comedies to do something he's clearly passionate about. The frantic pace keeps the tone consistent, aided by the script's fun conventions that don't overstay their welcome. Some definite Scorsese influence in here.
2	Moribunny	68 _70th
Artificial and didactic, almost like an essay at times, but doesn't take itself too seriously and works pretty well for what it is. At its worst it strains too conspicuously to hold the viewer's attention in spite of the topic, which the creators apparently deem dangerously technical. Seems to stand on the shoulders of "Capital", "Margin Call" and "The Wolf of Wall Street", all of which are better.
2	Pickpocket	8 _82nd
Loved this book and it was a good adaptation of some really juicy material. There's obvious problems: poor choice of music, editing is shaky and Carrell's performance is absolute shit. However, they really made it cinematic and despite not explaining the crisis in the most accurate way (it's too boring to do this) it was good enough to give people the gist of things. Big fan of Michael Burry and Bale really does him justice.
2	jecca06	85 _59th
Well made and well acted, but I don't like walking out of the theater wishing I had studied up beforehand.
2	cowfrappe	81 _90th
Hilarious, biting, affecting, and surprising. Often somehow all in the same moment.
2	angrypierre	88 _90th
There was a really big challenge here to take a large, intractable and complicated subject, with a brutal emotional underscore, and make it both informative and interesting. And funny. Genuinely funny. I was very impressed. I'm not sure Margot Robbie needed to be in the bath, but I understand the point that was being made by the little celebrity cameos. Just very well done in every respect.
2	Alex Watkins	3 _38th
The trailers made this one look like a high-octane comic thriller of sorts, Ocean's Eleven on Wall Street. Instead, it's mostly sad and angry, and justifiably so. The (amusing) expository gimmicks provide some sizzle but the substance is plenty interesting on its own.
2	PeaceAnarchy	79 _57th
An enjoyable film with great performances and a decent narrative that gets a bit too caught up with its gimmicky asides.
2	twincinema	75 _64th
This film mainly works because of its editing. I am also surprised, as a Canadian who barely understands what a subprime mortgage is, could follow along with this film.
2	prowler	59 _58th
What it accomplishes (and movies like Inside Job or Wolf'o'WS didn't / couldn't) is the catharsis of anger at the "stupidity and fraud" behind the big crash. So many YEAH moments where we're right behind the protagonists. The flipside is when we're supposed to empathize with their inner pains: (1) these are cardboard cutouts, not people, and (2) yeah we're not gonna feel too sorry for profiteering hedge funders, even if they happened to be on the right side. Good, significant watch anyway.
2	caffe	46 _29th
You'll never believe it, but the second that rich white guys figure out the world is about to collapse they choose not to warn anyone about it and instead they make sure to find ways to profit from it while everyone around them is dying. Surprise!
2	helfen419	88 _84th
Upsetting
2	cussot	76 _29th
Laudatory attempt to make myopic mega-greed watchable.
2	EastonD	60 _40th
As an idiot, I appreciate a film that treats me like one.
2	moraesfelipe	70 _72nd
Interesting how McKay uses YouTube clips and internet stuff in the crazy first 45 minutes, but it's also too bad how the film manages to be too serious in the last 45 or so. Still, what an exciting way to talk about the 2008 crash -- in a way that is way closer to Anchorman to Margin Call.
2	Stewball	70 _54th
OK, first off, there ain't near enough humor in it for it to be labeled a comedy. And yeah, it's an incomplete picture, but only because it pulls up short at every opportunity it had to present the whole story. The scene with the model in the bubble-bath sipping champagne while mulling over the implications of all those sub-prime mortgages came as close as it got to spilling the beans. Then there was the ditsy former government regulator who was now on the payroll of the p [Full Review]
2	walkearth	70 _81st
Has a lot of energy for the subject matter. The presentation was interesting and served the tone of the film well. Christian Bale and Steve Carell were brilliant.
2	Ocelot	75 _81st
Despite being advertised as a comedy, it only is insofar as your ability to laugh at greedy assholes ruining the world. I don't find that amusing, but this movie is good.
2	JacoIII	42 _69th
Managed to make a complex issue entertaining. Made me want to learn more about economics and fraud. Also made me kind of ashamed that I didn't already know more about economics and fraud.
2	omgfridge	8 _80th
Has one hell of an awful trailer (obviously trying to attract the masses). If you can make banking and economics fun than you're getting a pass from me. Enjoyed the style it went for, that being very reminiscent of "The Wolf of Wall Street". Holla to the editing.
2	DarkCloud	95 _94th
A hilariously illuminating dark comedy about the subprime mortgage bust of 2008-09. EDIT: I watched this twice in last two days and this is like vintage wine. All the subtle comedies and vile antics, words of the fraudulent bankers left me wondering with the sinking feeling 'How the hell?' And now the frauds of Wells Fargo are out. This is a systemic, top-down, reprehensible culture and system. Everything is royally screwed, everything is fucked big time.
2	rafa_livrari	96 _96th
The best soundtrack ever. Great performances by Bale and Carrel. It made banking and economics fun. A great movie. I couldn't take my eyes off the screen.
2	SirStuckey	90 _94th
Manages to be incredibly watchable and infuse humor into a wholly depressing subject. You'll feel like shit and completely powerless after the movie is over. You might feel a slight bit of hope that people will see this and some change will occur, but I wouldn't get your hopes up. Just hope you're dead before everything goes to complete shit.
2	gsb	76 _66th
Lacks emotional punch to truly convey the outrage its clearly going for but super entertaining!
2	dunetails	85 _84th
Like a pop-documentary, manages to explain pretty difficult financial concepts in an entertaining way.Yeah,i know,but really it does.
2	wetwillies	85 _59th
It's impressive that McKay is able to make his film succeed as an informative history lesson, as a crass comedy about idiots with responsibility (the driving force of McKay's previous work) and as a rollicking, sub-Scorsese portrayal of excess and greed. The great irony of this story is that our heroes were only in it to profit, just like the big bankers who screwed everyone over in the first place. The film makes this irony painfully clear. Incredibly incisive for something so entertaining.
2	leekenn	90 _93rd
A funny and yet deeply unsettling film. The whole cast is on fine form.
2	Gideon	3 _92nd
Enjoyed it a lot. Kooky characters galore and then some. The amount of douche is strong in this film. I like. Fast paced, quickly edited. Well acted, well directed, good script. We all know how the credit crunch went by, so no news there. Recommended!
2	deaddilly	80 _72nd
Confident, in-your-face filmmaking. Placing the audience in the shoes of the very few who benefitted from the demise of millions of others. Easily the most important movie of 2015.
2	AndreasThau	80 _77th
Bale as geek - check. Gosling in the film ... check! Pitt as farm-loving anticapitalist - check. Marisa Tomei in the film ... check! Carell not annoying but actually funny - check. A film full of pleasant surprises (amidst a topic that is anything but pleasant). There's even a Linklater on the role list! In the same genre as The Wolf of Wall Street, just ... good.
2	AAAutin	85 _93rd
(THE WEIRDOS OF WALL STREET)
2	Matthew Parkinson (CineMarter)	80 _89th
A movie about financial collapse that's fun, entertaining, informative, and a little scary, The Big Short is tremendously effective. It's easily the best film of director Adam McKay's career, and lives up to the likes of Margin Call and The Wolf of Wall Street as films about this type of subject matter. It's incredibly pointed, it's enjoyable for its entire 130-minute running time, and it's got more than a couple of good actors playing interesting - albeit somewhat shallow - characters.
2	stuie299	85 _76th
If you aren't already interested in the film's subject matter it won't win you over, but if you are already interested then you certainly won't have a lot to complain about. The score did a great job of being representative of the time period without being too obvious. I think though, the biggest surprise was how well Adam McKay's direction was. I initially had serious doubts about his involvement (him being known strictly as a comedy writer/director), but he did very well with his first drama.
2	guy piranha	80 _90th
movies like these should be mandatory, starting in school. in fact people should be required to watch them once a month, because we all know how quickly we tend to forget the ugly stuff in favor of yolo and all. and you know what? still wouldn't change a thing. dear michael burry, if you find a way to short mankind, please take all my money! on a side note: what the hell were you thinking with tesla?
2	damil	75 _81st
It's really great to see McKay take his energy & comedic skill as a director to something more sophisticated & intelligent like this. It's witty and clever, but also really smart & occasionally depressing in the way in which it captures the financial world. They did a really good job of making it accessible. The direction & editing are excellent, and the soundtrack is really cool. I wouldn't say there are any real standouts in the cast, but that's only because they're all awesome.
2	CMonster	81 _72nd
It's just depressing.
2	ericambler	84 _86th
Let's face it: the financial speculators who are the protagonists of THE BIG SHORT are only slightly less contemptible than the bankers whose irresponsible and fraudulent activity triggered an economic crisis; they did, after all, profit immensely from the failure of the system. But my God does this only make an already lively, well-acted, and thought-provoking film even more compelling.
2	Scorpus	81 _73rd
An interesting and informative film, The Big Short was unexpectedly entertaining
2	Seethruskin	2 _11th
A commendable idea to bring this issue to the forefront in the Trojan Horse that is Adam McKays built in bro comedy audience. Where it loses it for me is making me try to feel bad or care about these investment guys who made millions off of the housing crash In fact the only guy that comes off likeable in the end is Goslings character cause he isn't full of shit. He's not parading around like he gives a fuck about anything but making money and being right.
2	Paxton	80 _87th
Of all the movies that I knew would eventually get a sequel that was really more of just a retread because the story never changed, this is the most unfortunate.
2	VengefulKBM	85 _85th
Perfectly paced and filled with memorable performances, The Big Short really impressed me by making me actually understand what the hell these people were talking about in the first place. I came into the film not knowing the first thing about mortgages, CDOs, and subprime loans. I came out not only enlightened, but also entertained, and amazed that I had been in the theater for over two hours. I definitely recommend it, and I really hope to see more like this from Adam McKay in the future.
2	juntakinte99	81 _68th
The Big Short is a caustic indictment of the U.S. financial system. Bale & Carell are fantastic. Yet, unlike other narrative docudrama exposes from this year (Spotlight or The Stanford Prison Experiment), this film doesn't quite illustrate the cunning & carelessness of the antagonists. Gosling's complaint to another character goes for this film itself, "You're not cynical enough." It's still a fine film. But, in the end, I wanted an angrier, more informed audience. Not a dejected one.
2	LookJabba...	8 _76th
The Big Short remarkbaly takes what many could perceive to be a dull & alien subject matter; and somehow translates it into an interesting & entertaining film. Admittedly most of the terminology went straight over my head. But it's explained and broken down for the audience to grasp with the use of different expository gimmicks. But it's the acquired humour and stellar performances from Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling & Brad Pitt that make this film so surprisingly entertaining.
2	JaiGuy	75 _39th
I kept hearing Elaine Benes repeating "stock swap" as I watched this. I got very bored by the bank business language, so perhaps I'm not the right viewer for this picture. Some funny moments, and convincing performances kept me in it. I learned about collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) from Ryan Gosling's character. That's a mouthful more than he said in those Winding Refn movies.
2	patman	79 _90th
An exciting and entertaining picture on a complicated and terrible subject. McKay magnificently manages to create an informational movie that uses humor while it explores the reason for the economical collapse, through a few fascinating and enjoyable personalities it examines the culture and characters of the Wall Street. It's fun, energetic and has some unconventional directional choices, but manages to reach a serious note when it changes for the more tragic.
2	Yiannos	55 _36th
I'm suspicious of films that present the world of bankers and high finance as being populated with morons. Considering that this sector now attracts many of the 'best and brightest', it seems like a depiction that is based more on resentment than reality. Nonetheless, the film works best in its moments of recognition ,where the characters become aware of the damage they have done. The film can't settle on a tone though--it's neither particularly funny or serious--and it's terribly edited.
2	philamental	90 _96th
It's amazing to me that a film about the global financial crisis of the late 00s is so entertaining it's become one of my favourite films. Also love the appropriate choice of Metal tracks throughout the soundtrack which go a deeper level than just being Burry's background music.
2	Kmilchev1	80 _82nd
McKay broke the fourth wall in way which made this film accessible. The out of focus, dynamic way of filming brought a comedic touch and the brilliant performances of the notable cast made the transition of heavily financed dialogues rather smoothly. I did need to go over it the next day to fully appreciate what McKay had done. An enjoyable film and now a personal favourite.
2	le mami	65 _59th
Very interesting subject and very informative movie but it's too complicated for those who have no idea about the economic terms and running of the economic world even though the movie gives lots of explaniton during it's 2 hours period it was still not too clear for me. However, I have to say that the message and the ending were very clear and also successful about giving the reality of the economic crisis.
2	sw1341	100 _97th
Took a crazy complex topic and made it easier to understand. Plus kept the tension going even though we know how it turns out
2	illuvratings	90 _29th
Engaging, entertaining and educational.
2	juliekinnear	9 _0th
In 1984, Orwell said "There was truth and there was untruth, and if you clung to the truth even against the whole world you were not mad." This seems especially prescient after watching McKay's The Big Short. He manages to take a difficult concept and boil it down into language easy to understand and follow.The film provides many lessons about the global financial system and the role real estate plays within it, and for anyone interested in the market there are some great insights to be gained
2	kito1	90 _97th
Brilliant and funny.
1	SlrSoapbox	80 _75th
I would say that the big star of this film is its screenplay. It juggles three separate yet related storylines, plays with film narrative conventions, and has a very unique way of conveying information (i.e. talking to the camera, getting celebrities to explain financial terms). The Big Short is very clearly politically liberal in its outlook (even if the characters are morally charcoal grey) but I'm a dirty pinko so it appealed to me anyway.
1	DMCrimson	77 _38th
This might be the worst directed movie to ever be nominated for the Best Director Oscar. Choices behind the editing/directing/acting try to replicate The Wolf of Wall Street's energy but it comes off incredibly cheesy. "The book is better" rings true here: the story is the reason this works. The shotgun-wide attacks on everyone responsible are gratifying to witness.
1	wayofthegun	80 _66th
A little hard to follow at times, as well as intense, but a very smart and well-acted film.
1	robe	90 _97th
educational video.
1	yoohoo	80 _68th
A "fun" movie about economics and the housing market crisis.
1	Kavu	85 _85th
McKay isn't quite the director he thinks he is, but the script works and the cast performs. The narration grew on me too as the movie went along.
1	TheDiceman	80 _95th
Excellent.
1	HP_Buttcraft	90 _91st
Wonderfully made to make something depressing and dull as entertaining and tense as possible.
1	bizort	83 _86th
An intelligent and entertaining reminder
1	timmo	70 _28th
It has the gliding-over-everything perspective of PAIN & GAIN, but without being mean-spirited. Unfortunately, it's also missing real or even semi-original style--like a lot of the budget went into the actors, and not the production. It's Scorsese without the wit, and Michael Bay without an aesthetic palette. I appreciate its populism, but it's too much like a know-it-all sophomore in an introduction to macroeconomics class to take too seriously. Carell is incredible, though.
1	Difontaine	91 _97th
The best film about the financial crisis, and it's a comedy. A really funny comedy, which you need once you get to the crushing finale. It captures the surreal feeling generated by the financial industry "suddenly" imploding brilliantly. I have to mention Carrell, he is amazing as someone on the very edge of rage at the idiocy on show.
1	Cowman	70 _56th
Interesting, but plagued by headache-inducing editing. So many, many shots of pointless shit. Calm down!
1	bowfinger	75 _76th
"If you can't explain it to a six year old, you don't understand it yourself." -Margot Robbie in the bubble bath.
1	Vassago	87 _94th
A great take on a subject which is very very depressing. Perfect editing job and perfect directing. My Oscar winner for this year without a doubt.
1	msprague	80 _85th
I didn't like the insertion of assorted "celebrities" to explain the financial terms. Was everyone back then orange or was that just my tv/imagination? What the hell have you done to yourself Ryan Gosling!!? An excellent film providing another view of how the financial industry without any oversight will take us on a dangerous ride to ruin if allowed to. All those who don't see them doing it again please raise your hands. Not one? Didn't think so.
1	Icarus	50 _14th
The Big Short, AKA Modern Mortgage Economics for Idiots. I think the film wants to tell a truthful story, but I'm not sure the condescending method in which it tells it actually helps its cause. Furthermore, the film seems to me to lack the kind of emotional resonance that connects this to the people outside the industry--the impact of the crisis is blunted, with only brief glimpses of a struggling family or a few blurbs to open and close the film.
1	ktappe	93 _81st
Nicely done.
1	Duder	80 _95th
10.9.17: This is such a better film on a second watch. To summarise such a complex issue and explain it to dummies, is a masterpiece. Old: This was a really well directed, really well edited and acted film. The only downside I could say, is that you need to understand the financial system a little to understand what's going on exactly. I always understood that shit was hitting the fan, just not exactly sure how.. Even with all the celebrity metaphores.. Which were fun.
1	ChrisPalm	80 _84th
As this is the only book I've read since school, I'm a little disappointed. Although they capture the mood quite well
1	andayb	70 _80th
more of a infomercial than a movie, the big short adeptly manages a very serious and boring subject fun to watch. didn't quite buy Bale's performance though, it feels like he's playing the same character over and over in each movie.
1	geohawk	93 _88th
An interesting celebration of misfits and slicksters who can sense catastrophe looming, and, in some cases realizing that they can do nothing to stop it, hope to profit on it instead. Potentially a romp, it sometimes stumbles when it attempts to remind us of the human cost behind the story.
1	Vandelay1	72 _81st
good movie
1	Ofterdingen	84 _96th
Remove the celebrity explanations, the "breaking the fourth wall", and you have a perfect film.
1	Blockrocker	85 _68th
Important topic, good information and a different from usual Hollywood movie. Purely as a movie it could be better though.
1	Zealot185	90 _90th
Must-watch for anyone that still doesn't understand what led to the 2008 crash; leagues more entertaining than any documentary or book. Although Lewis' book was an entertaining breeze to me, McKay's adaptation is geared for mass consumption: funny, insightful, and powerful. Carell is the standout.
1	Obdurate	85 _80th
Great ensemble cast, especially Carrell and Bale. They managed to make a movie about mortgages and banks incrediblyexciting. That is in large part to the energy of the editing, which is frantic and unsubtle (in an entertaining way). It has some humour but isn't really a comedy by any means. I enjoyed the celebrity cameos explaining everything and they didn't go overboard, which I thought they might when they went back to the well the second time. Plus, Mastodon in a film about economics.
1	TheRealJ-Ro	80 _70th
A trio of really good performances buoy this to both a solid score and an enjoyable watch. It's easy to get bogged down in the math, the specifics of it all, but at the end of the day, shit went super-sideways in 2008 and the people who should have paid the price for it, didn't. From a filmmaking perspective, it's risky in a mostly-serious movie to break the fourth wall as much as this movie does, just for fear of your point being lost on the audience, but this does so in a smart, effective way.
1	DougCollins	100 _93rd
Even after watching it, I don't fully understand it.
1	chemical404	55 _47th
A bunch of A-list stars in the movie that will go over the heads of the most cinema-goers. It's much more fun to watch than you would expect from the film about credit and housing bubble collapse. The off-beat style to explain complex economics doesn't really work. I can't say I left the cinema more informed than I came, but at least it wasn't boring. It made me want to read the book it is adapted from.
1	topaz420	75 _37th
The message is so important, but the presentation is not very accessible, despite how hard it tries.
1	elmakebabi	60 _39th
Why every actor looks different and weird? Pitt, Carell, Gosling, Bale etc... They all look like they had face surgery.
1	WWallce4prez	77 _64th
While watching The Big Short, I realized it was infected with the "Smoking Aces Syndrome." A so-so movie edited at such a frantic and energetic pace that one can't help but like it. At its core, the film is disorganized and sloppy, but all the other jazz and fascinating characters definitely make it entertaining.
1	ABUNCHOFCATS	80 _52nd
A little too all over the place but it's a fun movie about a decidedly not subject.
1	fenixdown	76 _58th
Can't believe I got wrapped up in the story and was actually cheering for these scumbags.
1	yesistasty	81 _44th
Manages to wring quite a bit of drama out of an arcane subject. I enjoyed the performances.
1	Judge Holden	4 _51st
Has its moments but it's just so fucking patronizing with its cameo explanations.
1	snbutler	75 _86th
Only the Margot Robbie scene seems like a mis-step. An excellent companion to Margin Call and 99 Homes as GFC films go.
1	chemtrails	80 _90th
Lots of interesting places to have a phone conversation in
1	kgbelliveau	80 _51st
The Big Short makes a tragedy that made very little sense finally make sense to the general public. It does so through wild cameos (Margot Robbie in a bath tub) and fourth wall breaking from some of the main characters. It is an enjoyable film that tries to bring a more comedic approach to one of the most important things to happen in America in the past 30 years. It glosses over some things and leaves the rest to be explained through various text additions on the screen during crucial scenes.
1	shalev	87 _89th
Great intelligent film, that manages to convey complex ideas in an accessible way, while staying enjoyable and exciting. Also great cast and soundtrack elevate it even higher.
1	VinegarBob	80 _79th
Not as measured as the cold Margin Call, or as fun as the darkly satirical Wolf of Wall Street (Scorsese is an obvious influence), but it gets its point across - albeit in a remonstrative and far from subtle kind of way. Those unfamiliar with the causes of the most recent financial crisis may be surprised by the fact that in a broad sense everything in this film is true, and those familiar will surely have their hackles fully raised by the end.
1	mandy	7 _73rd
An entertaining and revealing account of the financial crisis.I wasn't sure about the editing but still enjoyed.
1	axleblaze	90 _77th
I have never seen a movie that was so sure I was going to be bored by it's subject matter but still really good despite that
1	redacted	83 _79th
It does say something about Western society when you realize the perceived protagonists in this film, the so called 'system haters' profit as gratuitously from the ensuing GFC as the various bailout bank heads. TBS is is an accessible, insiders look into the financial/housing sector leading up to the collapse of LB's.
1	PetrosTser	70 _67th
Probably Adam McKay's most serious movie, "The Big Short" is fast-paced, funny, not always entirely comprehensible, well-acted (Steve Carell stands out in my opinion) and all-around very well-made. It tries to strike the difficult balance between being accessible and lightweight enough so that everyone can watch, and realistic enough at the same time (financial terminology and all) in an attempt to recreate actual facts. It doesn't succeed completely but remains a strong watch.
1	Syntheseizur	76 _47th
As self-aware and necessary as it may be, the film's reliance on financial jargon and exposition is tiring, especially as it tries to involve it in moral, ethical, and emotional themes. Attempts to liven up the admittedly dry material with energetic editing and sometimes out-of-place humor have their up-and-downs, but the prevailing poignancy is nonetheless the film's greatest (and most moving) asset. The story it has to tell is important, and, to its credit, it's made as accessible as possible.
1	doughbaron	82 _86th
The Big Short is a delicious treat that richly satisfied my cynicism.
1	jlewis	88 _66th
Good film for entertainment + a little intro to 21st century human nature as it is expressed in macro finances. For the curious, the film piques interest by painting the arena in which a trillion dollar fraud occurred but then not even touching the question of who the perpetrators really were, leaving a void of answers and justice for the watcher to consider.
1	Jerky	70 _89th
Think I might need some more Margot Robbie in a bathtub to dumb things down for me. Easy pick for Best Adapted Screenplay come Oscar season.
1	mattornot	18 _98th
Scarier than a horror flick. Combines the educational grounding of "Inside Job" with the high octane insanity of "Wolf of Wall street" to create an amazing portrayal of the 2008 financial crisis. Probably the best representation of the purveying cynicism our modern world seems to be producing. Both funny in its dark comedy and depressing in the realisation that this is all very real.
1	lethias	87 _74th
It made me sad as everybody's got this feeling that nobody wants to learn from the mistakes. Banks are doing it again and what can you do, eh? The movie is chaotic in a way but characters are very watchable and well written. I didn't laugh while watching, I couldn't. You and me, we are paying the price.
1	frnk23	70 _70th
perfectly fine
1	MontyCircus	60 _68th
Very good. A spoonful of sugar helps the financial crisis information go down. A good real-life issue drama with some humour thrown in. Makes me want to run out and read the book! Break up the banks Bernie!
1	auhasarderik	8 _79th
A bit less editorializing would have been just fine. It's facile politics allright, but well written, edited, and actors are better than fine. Not a serious take on the matter, it just wants you to feel smart and angry about what it denounces.
1	BeautyBliss	90 _91st
Amazing in that I learned (or at least I feel as if I have) something about finance, and at the same time, I was thoroughly entertained. Amazing.
1	xacviant	88 _87th
The collapse of the housing market in 2007, as seen through the eyes of several investors who sought to bet against the market. Their vindication comes at a dear price. Razor-sharp dissection and digestion of a vital but convoluted chapter in recent history, using everything from Jenga to celebrity cameos to make its points--and succeeding at most every turn. At times it can't help but be muddled, but such was the situation. Fine acting, strong direction, brilliant writing, magnificent editing.
1	ribcage	80 _77th
The cast and the style make it awesome and one of a kind. Fabulous breakneck pace.
1	chmul_cr0n	80 _90th
Great movie. Great score. Great Carell.
1	myfavchords	78 _69th
This is an interesting film that takes a look at a few people that saw what was coming. The film has a good ensemble cast. The script has some funny moments and some good dramatic ones. Overall I would recommend this film.
1	mattorama12	79 _87th
It dumbed things down the exact right amount to keep the story as true as possible without getting bogged down. The leads all really ham it up, and it keeps the whole thing entertaining, despite the depressing subject matter.
1	thorn969	60 _58th
It wasn't a bad movie... almost a documentary and a bit hyperbolic retelling of real events. Hopefully it brings more attention to the issue and helps prevent it from happening again.
1	hamstercan	55 _35th
Fourth wall, boring? percent. Bored? Housing. Fourth wall, guns, cdo, boring? Selena Gomez, rates, bored.
1	o_rety	65 _37th
Solid, but too modern. All the usual suspects are present. Hip editing - check, 4th wall-braking winks - check, non-existent story/characters - check. The theme is both interesting and important, but all you're gonna get is only a slick, MTV treatment of it.
1	Goldbluming	82 _70th
Fairly entertaining faux-documentary about a very interesting subject.
1	fra paolo	59 _66th
An attempt at making the world of finance fun a la the much more approachable Moneyball. A longer review would look at the contradictory ideology of the film, which still valourises its protagonists' achievements by means of their profits.
1	PUNQ	70 _96th
Lovely, because it mocks those Wall Street brats and their ignorance. Stellar cast, making the boring world of banking enjoyable for the novice. But no matter how much fun it has at their expense, it's bitter how much the political/financial world mafia get away with. And that's the real truth The Big Short (2015) signals. A mark which won't make a bit of difference, because money rules.
1	PluggedIN	20 _12th
For me, the movie's name really says it all. Sure, it's a big movie. An important movie, perhaps. But it left me feeling seriously shorted. (pluggedin.com)
1	filmseeking	70 _72nd
McKay manages to boil down a complex and difficult topic so we all understands what's going on. Pretty impressive. Overall very entertaining thanks to some clever editing techniques and an authentic cast. And of course Margot Robbie in a bathtub.
1	qwershady	0 _0th
1 is too much for this shit!
1	okayfrog	65 _60th
A writer/director known for his sophomoric comedies writes/directs a mature and sobering film. Who'da thunk? Well not me for a good 3/4 of the film, yet that last quarter really puts the first 3/4 in a new light. Still wasn't all that fun to sit through, however. The fourth-wall breaking and editing were a tad annoying, and the overall writing is nothing special. But I really think this film would be better with a second viewing. Still, good.
1	amazedemon	67 _75th
Although a dramatisation, The Big Short feels like a doc about the greed, stupidity and all round failure that led to the financial crisis. As a doc, the stylised ways in which concepts are explained were novel and well done, as was the injection of humour into an o/w dry subject. As a film, the weaving of the 3 stories into a single narrative was well-handled; and the performances (especially by Bale and Carrell) were great. However, its reaffirmation of a rigged system is a bit unsatisfying.
1	andreaslutro	80 _78th
The 3 parallel stories work less than a single story would have, but there's a lot of powerful writing and good cinematography on display. Overall, the movie is very emotionally impactful.
1	mooper	90 _97th
Really great movie with really no faults I could point out. Suggest everyone to see it.
1	backwardsuit	76 _69th
A film seeped in anger and helplessness that cleverly masks its emotional core with absurdist comedy & post-modern cynicism. It successfully pulled the tonal rug from under me and made me feel profoundly uncomfortable by the end. There are a lot of famous actors doing a lot of Acting. The pacing & self-referential style do get a bit tiring after the first hour or so. Most of it hits the nerve however and it wields its dramatic crowbar with rightfully zealous & bitterly wrathful determination.
1	IeuanDP	65 _48th
Don't think this would have worked without the cast. Those analogous breakdowns of economic jargon were novelties that got tedious really quickly.
1	Rafael Reis	88 _64th
Pay attention to the songs, the references, the details and you'll see that this movie is masterfully directed.
1	Boxcars	8 _71st
McKay creates in 'The Big Short' a picture that is both hilarious and sobering in how it takes viewers on a tour through the American financial system and the late-aughts financial crisis. The movie does this through clever pop-cultural references and cameos that work to both highlight how the public allows media to distract them as big bankers worm into their wallets and to operate as transparent exposition.
1	IceStark7	30 _9th
What is one word to describe The Big Short? Terrible. It is such an awful movie. It had a bad plot, bad acting, pointless uses of sex and profanity, unlikable characters, and had no effect on the me after watching it. Will I remember it in a week? No I will not. How could a movie with Steve Carell and Christian Bale be so bad? That I will never know. All I know is that you should stay clear of this piece of garbage.
1	Yedi	100 _70th
the movie is like a documentary that shows us how the finance world works in wall street and it's very bad man. the movie requires that you should familiar with the some expression about finance and specifically mortgage. i don't get the most of the terms and my major is economics :) overall, it's worth to see though
1	War Machine	90 _92nd
disgusting how they got away with it
1	CStewart64	12 _55th
W4E1P2S1V1M0A2R1. Smart and riveting, though probably not as clever as it thinks it is.
1	seenmany	90 _84th
lot to learn
1	Salba	76 _64th
Excellent acting by Christian Bale in particular. Wasn't crazy about the form of narration, with Ryan Gosling's character talking to camera...felt a bit clunky. It broke down the crisis into something a lot more manageable though, but a lot of it went over my head still. Managed to create a great sense of drama out of a topic I imagine is challenging to do so. I did find it a stretch that these guys found the system unethical, though understand this is what makes for good protaganists.
1	ptravers2	7 _81st
I'd call it a Restoration comedy for right the fuck now, a farce fueled by rage against the machine that relentlessly kills ethics, and a hell of a hilarious time at the movies if you're up for laughs that stick in your throat.
1	TimeCapsule	84 _88th
An interesting mix of narrative and documentary styles used to try and wrangle the complicated mess that is The Wall Street and economic collapse of 2008. Adam McKay deftly incorporates a dark humor into the maddening world of corruption, greed, and stupidity that is big banking. The film helps audiences to better understand the cause of the financial disaster, but like my understanding of economics; the film leaves a little room for something to be desired.
1	SageSledge	85 _67th
Very few films have made me truly, passionately angry before. Many have caused me to direct anger at them, certainly, but none have made me furious at the subjects it depicted. "The Big Short" is a movie that made me yell at the screen, pause it to compose myself, and then find my jaw hitting the floor all over again, enraged once more. It makes finance understandable, funny, and infuriating, and it's unlike any film I've ever seen, in that respect. An absolute must see, for just about anyone.
1	AnttiR	90 _74th
Would have been 95 if they did not cut the female character from the script.
1	dinomite00	18 _64th
The Big Short remains in my mind, not because of its brilliance, but because it is one of the most entertaining dramas imaginable in a genre that is usually bogged down by grimy, slow action and dialogue.
1	luord	64 _54th
Dense to a fault, it's still pretty entertaining, choke-full of witty dialogue, great performances and timely (not that that matters) themes.
1	reecedolan	70 _35th
'The Big Short' shows how depressingly corrupt the whole thing was while still being funny. Christian Bale does a fantastic job of acting the smart oddball without being overbearing.
1	JPFerguson	70 _72nd
“Until recently, I thought that there would never again be an opportunity to be involved with an industry as socially destructive and morally bankrupt as the subprime mortgage industry. I was wrong. The for-profit education industry has proven equal to the task.” These are the words of Steve Eisman in 2010 (aka Mark Baum aka Steve Carrell), let them sink in; an education system founded on synthetic CDOs. The situation is even worse now with ALL education systems corrupted by fraudsters.
1	jbutler2021	8 _64th
being totally honest i haven't watched it since release but in my memories it was a good movie all around. maybe someday i'll rewatch and give a sharper rating instead of trying to remember it

Average Percentile 62.95% from 4912 Ratings