15 Hollywood Movies with Life-Changing Financial Messages

Hollywood movies to take notes from!

Movies are not only for entertainment and escapism; they are powerful mediums for storytelling that can also help us gain a different, more accessible perspective on important aspects of life, such as our personal finances. The visual narrative of a film can make complex or dry subjects feel immediate and relatable. Some of the lessons you glean might work perfectly for your situation, while some might not, but it’s always a good thing to keep an open mind and see what you can learn from the silver screen.

That being said, read on to find out xx of the smartest money lessons that films have given us over the years. From blockbuster dramas to feel-good comedies, these cinematic stories are packed with valuable insights into spending, saving, investing, and the true meaning of wealth. It’s up to you if you want to follow any of them or not, but they will certainly give you plenty of food for thought.

The Hunger Games – self-sufficiency can help you save money

Before becoming a major player and a symbol of rebellion in the infamous Hunger Games, the main character, Katniss Everdeen was simply a resourceful young woman from the impoverished District 12. She was hunting wild animals and foraging for edible plants not as a hobby, but to provide critical food for her family and survive. We’re not saying you should start hunting for wild boars in your local park, but you can think about ways to become more self-sufficient as well. This mindset extends beyond just food. Consider learning basic home repair to fix a leaky faucet instead of calling a plumber, or mending clothes instead of buying new ones. You’ll be surprised by how much money you could save in the long term, just by growing your own chickens, herbs or vegetables, or mastering a few practical DIY skills.

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Photo by Kraft74 on Shutterstock

The Full Monty – you’re never too old to learn a new skill

The six main characters in the movie, former steelworkers in Sheffield, England, find themselves without jobs and, consequently, without money or prospects. Their life-saving and highly unconventional solution to being broke and unemployed is to form a male stripping act. The lesson that one should take from this hilarious and heartwarming feelgood movie is that even if you’re past your younger days, it’s never too late to learn a new skill, especially one that might bring you profit. It’s a powerful reminder that our ability to adapt and acquire new talents doesn’t have an expiration date, and sometimes the most creative solutions come from the most desperate situations.

The Money Pit – if it seems too good to be true, it probably is

In this popular and cautionary comedy of the 1980s, married couple Walter and Anna, played by Tom Hanks and Shelley Long, seem to have made the deal of their lives by buying an extremely cheap and beautiful mansion. The situation quickly and hilariously goes downhill when the house starts falling apart in spectacular fashion, from the staircase collapsing to the bathtub crashing through the floor. The moral? Don’t be too quick to pay a lower price until you carefully and thoroughly assess the item you intend to buy, especially for major purchases. In many situations, unbelievably low prices hide some sort of serious problems, scams or defects. Always perform your due diligence: get a professional inspection, read all the fine print, and ask plenty of questions. Double check everything. Better safe than sorry!

The Devil Wears Prada – the importance of a healthy work/life balance

In this 2006 comedy-drama, Anne Hathaway plays the bright and ambitious Andy Sachs, a character who puts her personal life, relationships, and even her own values on hold to cater to and impress her super-demanding, tyrannical boss Miranda Priestly, played by Meryl Streep. It’s not a bad thing to be ambitious and work hard to get what you want, especially when you are young, but everything has a price. The film powerfully illustrates how a dream job can turn into a nightmare if it consumes your entire identity. If you have to sacrifice other aspects of your life, important ones, against your will, then the sacrifice might not be worth it in the end.

To avoid work burnout as well as doing irreparable damage to your personal relationships and mental health, the best way is to find a sustainable balance between your career and private life. This isn’t a sign of weakness, but a strategy for long-term success and happiness. There’s no clear recipe for everyone, but with conscious effort, trial and error, and setting firm boundaries, you will find the balance that works for you.

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Photo by Tada Images on Shutterstock

Wall Street – greed isn’t the way

The illegal insider trading schemes of the charismatic and ruthless corporate raider Gordon Gekko, played by Michael Douglas in an Oscar-winning performance, is discovered and exposed by his ambitious protégé Bud Fox, played by a young Charlie Sheen. While Gekko’s famous line, “Greed, for lack of a better word, is good,” has become iconic, the film’s ultimate message is a stark warning against this philosophy. Some might say there’s no harm in wanting to be rich, but evading authorities and breaking all moral and legal rules to get that status is never a good idea. The film shows that such a path almost always leads to ruin, not just legally but personally.

Confessions of a Shopaholic – if necessary, seek professional help with your credit card spending

This romantic comedy released in 2009, based on the popular novels, shows us that overspending can be a real, destructive problem, affecting multiple aspects of one’s life. The main character, Rebecca Bloomwood, played by Isla Fisher, is a financial journalist who paradoxically cannot control her own credit card spending, even if this means accumulating massive debts and having collectors constantly on their tail. The film, while lighthearted, astutely portrays the compulsive nature of a shopping addiction and the anxiety and denial that come with it.

If you find yourself in a similar situation, where your spending feels out of control and is causing you distress, it’s crucial to recognize it and ask for a financial advisor’s help to curb your credit card spending. Addressing the underlying issues, creating a realistic budget, and learning healthier coping mechanisms are key. With the right guidance, you can regain control and reach financial balance all over again.

The Pursuit of Happyness – when you hit rock bottom, the only way to go is up

Based on a powerful true story, this movie presents entrepreneur Chris Gardner’s incredible journey from rags to riches. With unwavering strength, determination, and perseverance, Gardner, portrayed by Will Smith, manages to achieve his goals and create a multi-million-dollar brokerage company. His success, however, does not come easily; it comes after going through unimaginably tough times, such as homelessness and having to care for his young son while sleeping in public transit stations and shelters.

The message behind this movie is that there is always a solution, even if the situation seems impossible to solve. It teaches us about resilience and the power of a positive mindset in the face of overwhelming adversity. Rock bottom is not the end, it’s the beginning of a new foundation, one built on grit and the hard-won knowledge that you can survive anything.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens – one man’s trash is another man’s treasure

In this episode of the legendary Star Wars saga, the protagonist, Rey, makes ends meet on the desolate desert planet of Jakku by salvaging valuable parts from the wreckage of old starships. This gritty work helps her lead a self-sufficient life and showcases the value of finding utility in what others have discarded. If you’re also thinking of saving some dollars, repurposing certain items can do the trick. The principle applies directly to our own world. For instance, if you’re thinking of redecorating your home, finding some quality furniture on freebie or vintage sites, or at yard sales, can be a major help. You’ll be surprised by the quality of items that people throw away or sell for peanuts money, often needing just a little bit of care to be brought back to life.

Groundhog Day – try not to make the same money mistakes time and time again

Bill Murray’s cynical character, Phil Connors, wakes up on the same day, experiencing the same situations over and over again in a seemingly endless loop. He goes through stages of confusion, hedonism, and despair before he realizes that the only way to escape is to change himself. Until he changes his overall attitude towards life, learns new things, and starts helping the people around him, he is stuck in an endless cycle of repetition.

If you think you’re in a similar situation from a financial point of view—perhaps stuck in a cycle of debt, or consistently overspending your budget each month—it might be time for a fundamental change. The change comes from within you. Repeating the same habits will only yield the same results. Therefore, think of ways to shift your attention and your attitude, learn from your past mistakes by identifying the patterns, and take the reins of your financial freedom with a new strategy.

Wolf of Wall Street – don’t be fooled by smooth talkers

In one of his most memorable and energetic roles, Leonardo DiCaprio portrayed Jordan Belfort, a real-life financial scammer who succeeded in fooling hundreds of finance-savvy people with his incredibly smooth talk and grandiose promises of turning their dreams into reality. Belfort and his team were masters of high-pressure sales tactics, creating an intoxicating environment of urgency and guaranteed wealth that was impossible to resist.

The takeaway should be that salespeople, especially in high-stakes environments, are trained to tell you exactly what you want to hear to make you seal the deal. No matter how trustworthy and respectable a person might seem, or how impressive their pitch sounds, always tread with caution. Don’t trust everything you hear, especially when it involves your hard-earned money. Always do your own independent research and trust your gut if something feels off, even if it sounds even better than you’ve pictured it.

Jerry Maguire – starting a business on your own can be very profitable

“Show me the money!” is the iconic line that Jerry Maguire, played by Tom Cruise, yells on the phone to convince a popular football player, Rod Tidwell, to become his client. In the movie, Maguire, a successful sports agent, grows a conscience. Disappointed by the unethical, money-over-everything methods employed by people in the industry, he writes a mission statement advocating for fewer clients and more personal integrity. He is promptly fired, gives up his profitable sports agency job, and sets out to become a freelancer. It turns out his decision, while terrifying and fraught with risk, changed his life for the better.

If you also have considered starting a solo business or a new venture based on your principles, trust your instincts but also your experience and expertise. The film shows that the path isn’t easy, but it’s rewarding. If you play it right, a new beginning, such as a new business, can prove to be more profitable and personally fulfilling than your current 9-to-5 job.

Speaking of jobs, check out who lost their high-profile roles: 13 Actors Who Were Fired from Blockbuster Movies

The Net – protect yourself against identity theft

In this prescient 1995 thriller, Sandra Bullock plays a young systems analyst whose life becomes a complete nightmare when, after discovering something off about her company’s activities, her digital records are deleted and her identity is completely replaced with that of a criminal. Suddenly, she has no money, no home, and a police record.

You might say this only happens in the movies; however, with today’s technology, sophisticated AI, and the vast amount of personal data online, it’s easier now more than ever to become a victim of identity theft. The financial and emotional fallout can be devastating. To protect yourself from such unwanted situations, be proactive: use strong, unique passwords and two-factor authentication, always delete your spam and phishing emails without clicking links, shred your bank statements and other sensitive documents, and make online credit card payments with extreme caution, ensuring the site is secure.

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Photo by Viacheslav Lopatin on Shutterstock

Cast Away – get creative with what you have

Tom Hanks’ character, a FedEx systems analyst named Chuck Noland, gets stranded on a deserted island for several years following a plane crash. All this time, with no help whatsoever from technology or other modern inventions, he is forced to abandon his old life and learn to survive. He succeeds in finding incredibly resourceful ways to live, from creating a fire to performing his own dental surgery with an ice skate, until he is finally rescued and brought back to civilization.

The lesson to be learned from this gripping survival story is that all it takes is a little bit of creativity and willingness to find the right resources for a positive outcome. When faced with a financial crisis, it’s easy to feel like you have nothing. But like Chuck on the island, you need to assess what you *do* have. Whether it’s negotiating a remortgage, radically reducing expenses for your weekly groceries, or bartering your skills, there are ways you can achieve your goals, even if it doesn’t seem that you have much to work with.

Indecent Proposal – one’s value cannot be priced

Demi Moore’s and Woody Harrelson’s characters are a loving but financially struggling married couple. Their lives are turned upside down when a billionaire, played by Robert Redford, makes a startling offer: one million dollars for a single night with the wife. This severely affects her relationship with her husband, eroding their trust and intimacy in ways the money can’t fix.

The film poses a difficult moral question about the things we hold sacred. Putting a price on your dignity, your relationships, and not following your core principles is just not worth it. You might be making money a lot faster than the usual way, but at what cost? True wealth includes self-respect and integrity, which are priceless commodities.

Read also: 4 Reasons Women Need More Money Than Men in Retirement

The Social Network – protect your ideas properly

Everyone knows how the ultra-popular social media platform Facebook appeared. Or at least we think we know, largely thanks to this film. The movie called The Social Network presents the controversy and legal battles behind this social networking site, whose creator, apparently was not solely Mark Zuckerberg but also involved the Winklevoss twins, who had hired him to build a similar site for them called ConnectU.

The lesson to be learned from all of this, regardless of the historical accuracy, is that if you think you have a good idea, you must safeguard it as best as possible. A brilliant concept is vulnerable until it’s protected. Either patent it, get a copyright, use non-disclosure agreements, or don’t talk about it in detail until it is official and legally secured. In today’s fast-paced world, an unprotected idea can be taken and monetized by someone else before you even get started.

Check this out: The 12 Most Expensive Celebrity Divorces of All Time

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