Welcome to Oscar season, the awards show that launched a thousand memes, outfits, and Best Picture debates.
The nominations come out on January 24, and like most years, the top films are all over the map. But we almost always watch a movie about money—a universal theme that most of us can relate to. this year, Everything Everywhere Everything at Oncea sci-fi adventure featuring the most terrifying of villains: an IRS auditor.
Wall Street, Margin Call, Wolf of Wall Street all attracted the attention of the Academy—and the audience. But which movies about money stick with us the most? We decided to ask some top executives about the finance-oriented films that helped shape their lives and careers. Here’s what they had to say.
Sallie Krawcheck
Co-founder and CEO, Ellevest
Favorite money movie: Working Girl
20th Century Fox Film Corp./Everett Collection
“It’s a late ’80s movie about Wall Street investment bankers. I grew up in Charleston, SC, so I never knew Sigourney Weaver or Melanie Griffith or Harrison Ford, but I really wanted to be them .
“Melanie Griffith is a working woman from Staten Island, who ends up taking Sigourney Weaver’s job and doing it well—and Harrison Ford wins, too. In that way, it’s a little bit of a problematic movie, which -face women against women.
“But the important lesson of money is that hard work pays. You can overcome any boundary—whether you’re from Staten Island or from Charleston—as long as you work hard.”
Daymond John
Co-founder and CEO, FUBU; ABC star Shark Tank
Favorite money movie: Places of Sale
“That movie is everything. I must have watched it 50 times. It makes me think, it makes me laugh.
“It touches on the titans of industry, on capitalism at its core, on bigotry and the advantages some people have. It teaches that we have more in common than our differences, whether you’re a whore, or a butler, or someone from the hood, or someone who went to Harvard.
“I’ve always been afraid of that famous phrase in the movie: ‘Margin call, gentlemen!’ That was the first time I heard those words. Then came the pandemic, and it was time to call the margin, all over the world. “
Ndamukong Suh
Defensive tackle, Philadelphia Eagles; founder, Suh Family Foundation
Favorite money movie: The Great Brief
“It’s an amazing movie, especially in times like these. It shows how we got into the real estate crash—the mistakes people made by not understanding what they were getting into, of particular types of loans.
“If you don’t have financial literacy, the wool can easily be pulled over your eyes, and you will find yourself in trouble and over leveraged. That’s where the world has gone. Too many people are exploited—but if you’re educated enough, you won’t be exploited.”
Reid Hoffman
Co-founder, LinkedIn; mate, Greylock
Favorite money movie: The Hudsucker Proxy
Warner Bros./Everett Collection
“In the beginning of The Hudsucker ProxyNorville Barnes (played by Tim Robbins) stands at the foot of New York City’s tallest skyscraper, holding what he believes is his ticket to the top, a simple circle sketch he’s been working on for two or three years. .’
“It turned out that Norville’s circle sketch was a big idea—the Hula Hoop. Its launch led to record profits for Hudsucker, success for Norville, and inevitably, complications and Norville’s fall from grace. .
“In the end, business innovation and integrity triumphed over financial manipulation and greed. Norville retained control of Hudsucker Industries. He took the girl.
“Yes, it’s a simple story. But as the Hula Hoop and Frisbee prove, sometimes the simplest ideas are the most powerful. And the most fun.”
Dan Chung
CEO and CIO, Alger
Favorite money movie: The Color of Money
“Great cast, great music, great director. Paul Newman is the retired legendary pool player, who passes his wisdom on to Tom Cruise, the super talented (but has no idea how to channel it) young hustler.
“Investment management has that element, which requires talent and experience to deliver great long-term results and build a great company.
“It’s a story about the importance of doing what you do best, and what you love, in order to truly live.”
Pam Habner
CEO of US branded cards and lending, Citi
Favorite money movie: HAPPINESS
“It follows the story of real-life entrepreneur Joy Mangano as she sets high goals, bets on herself, juggles the struggles of her family life, and works hard to succeed in business.
“These life skills are what I focus on every day in my career and, like Joy, they are what I teach my mentees and aspiring entrepreneurs as they build their careers. I recommend anyone working mom to watch this film for a realistic reminder that, while imperfect, there are paths to finding career success and personal fulfillment.
“As a mother of twin boys, I quickly embraced the idea that my career is like a highway. Actually, I drive in the fast lane—but it’s good to move the car to the slow lane to manage my whole life. There have been long periods in my career where my work came first. When I had children and my family started to become the most important thing for me, I was able to move in and out of the lanes when needed.
“Being a working mom like Joy is a master class in not agonizing over the little things, allowing yourself to achieve all of your goals without saying, ‘I have to leave my career to be a good parent.'”
