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The Big Short

Play trailer 2:04 Poster for The Big Short R 2015 2h 10m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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89% Tomatometer 325 Reviews 88% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
In 2008, Wall Street guru Michael Burry realizes that a number of subprime home loans are in danger of defaulting. Burry bets against the housing market by throwing more than $1 billion of his investors' money into credit default swaps. His actions attract the attention of banker Jared Vennett (Ryan Gosling), hedge-fund specialist Mark Baum (Steve Carell) and other greedy opportunists. Together, these men make a fortune by taking full advantage of the impending economic collapse in America.
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The Big Short

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Critics Consensus

The Big Short approaches a serious, complicated subject with an impressive attention to detail -- and manages to deliver a well-acted, scathingly funny indictment of its real-life villains in the bargain.

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Critics Reviews

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Candice Frederick Reel Talk Online 09/01/2017
D
... it wreaks of self-important pseudo-commentary that is more hollow and garishly humorous than it cares to admit. Go to Full Review
Sara Michelle Fetters MovieFreak.com 08/16/2016
3/4
While The Big Short is hardly uplifting, it still manages to tell a rambunctiously funny tale that's as informative as it is entertaining, humor walking hand-in-hand with tragedy to ultimately craft a comedy that's impossible to dismiss. Go to Full Review
Max Weiss Baltimore Magazine 06/12/2016
3.5/4
Adam McKay's The Big Short plays like an elaborate con, albeit one that uses its powers for good. Go to Full Review
Grant Watson Fiction Machine Jun 24
10/10
This is such an improbably brilliant film. Go to Full Review
Don Shanahan Every Movie Has a Lesson 02/16/2024
5/5
Headlined by a star-studded cast, this legitimate must-see film tip-toes audaciously between biting satire and topical cautionary tale. You won't know whether to be pissed or be entertained and that's a powerful quality to pull off. Go to Full Review
Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand 08/27/2023
'The Big Short' is the film that we needed at this time. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Jack D @henlo3101 15h This movie was simply a masterpiece with a cast that could kill Hollywood. It was heavily technical and did require a small, basic knowledge of stock market terminology, (though it was explained well with examples in the film). Fourth wall breaks by characters helped lead to a feeling of being 'in-the-know' all throughout ending up being a genius move as feeling disconnected and unknowing probably would've led to a large loss in audiences. The idea of the movie and acting skills by Steve Carell, Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling and Brad Pitt, once again, made this a masterpiece and entirely worth the long watch time. Good intelligent, semi-fast paced movie highlighting the many holes in the world and American economies which have harrowing similarities to today's issues. It also promotes social empathy as their profits would come at the expense of millions. See more Thyaagu C @Thyaagu 2d Must’ve been a feast for economics nerds, but it was good enough for me too. The way these guys simplified all those messy market details and financial terms made it easy to stay locked in. See more Will L @Will05 Mar 10 Presents some serious and complicated topics in a very manageable and easy to understand format. If you aren’t a little bit experienced in the stock market and its terms youll be a little confused. Overall though: stellar acting, strong cast, brilliant cinematography. Like all good movies, it is bigger than itself and leaves the viewer with the uncomfortable reality: if it happened once it can happen again. See more Pongo K @RT48921889 Mar 9 A really good and meaninful movie. Pay close attention and enjoy! See more Brandon T. @brandontuley43 Feb 28 I would give it 6 stars if I could. See more Par H @Parhwy Feb 25 The Big Short is glitzy, savvy, fast paced and hard-hitting documentary masquerading as a movie to assuage your fear that the true horror behind the scary clown mask, and that horror is: this will not only happen again, it IS happening again. Casting is schmick. Carrell and Pitt are excellent for being unexpected opposites to their stereotypical characters: they look different, they act different. On this subject, and to acknowledge a sharp embarrassment: I only realised while researching for this review that Gosling is Vennett. I have watched this film seven times and never could place the actor. Obviously, I never fussed enough to investigate it. That’s unreal. Apparently, Michael Burry is shorting AI. Rewatch: Yes. Should you watch it? Definitely. See more Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis In 2008, Wall Street guru Michael Burry realizes that a number of subprime home loans are in danger of defaulting. Burry bets against the housing market by throwing more than $1 billion of his investors' money into credit default swaps. His actions attract the attention of banker Jared Vennett (Ryan Gosling), hedge-fund specialist Mark Baum (Steve Carell) and other greedy opportunists. Together, these men make a fortune by taking full advantage of the impending economic collapse in America.
Director
Adam McKay
Producer
Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Arnon Milchan
Screenwriter
Adam McKay, Charles Randolph
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Plan B Entertainment
Rating
R (Some Sexuality/Nudity|Pervasive Language)
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 23, 2015, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 7, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$70.2M
Runtime
2h 10m
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