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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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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 ... it wreaks of self-important pseudo-commentary that is more hollow and garishly humorous than it cares to admit. Rated: D Sep 1, 2017 Full Review Sara Michelle Fetters MovieFreak.com 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. Rated: 3/4 Aug 16, 2016 Full Review Max Weiss Baltimore Magazine Adam McKay's The Big Short plays like an elaborate con, albeit one that uses its powers for good. Rated: 3.5/4 Jun 12, 2016 Full Review Grant Watson Fiction Machine This is such an improbably brilliant film. Rated: 10/10 Jun 24, 2025 Full Review Don Shanahan Every Movie Has a Lesson 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. Rated: 5/5 Feb 16, 2024 Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand 'The Big Short' is the film that we needed at this time. Aug 27, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Christian M A surgery—with humor—of the greatest financial catastrophe. 'The Big Short' is a clear example of how cinema can transform a complex and dry subject, like the 2007 financial crisis, into a dynamic, understandable, unsettling, and humor-driven narrative. It doesn’t just recount events; it also works as a lesson in economics, using banking jargon in a didactic way and breaking the fourth wall to explain key concepts from within. The use of financial terminology can be challenging, but the film strives to make it accessible through direct explanations with clear examples. Understanding concepts like "CDOs" becomes a natural part of the narrative process, and the film rewards that engagement with a deeper comprehension of what’s happening on screen. It shows how greed and voluntary blindness led to the 2007 financial collapse. While most people ignored the warning signs, a few were able to see the reality hidden behind a corrupt and overvalued banking system. The film exposes the fragility of a market polished and manipulated for personal gain, and how greed can cloud collective judgment. It portrays the dehumanization within finance, where systemic errors hide beneath the illusion of prosperity. In the end, it reflects that the truth—no matter how uncomfortable—will always find someone willing to uncover it. The script is precise in its structure: a balance of information, dramatic tension, and dark humor. Everything is measured with a pace that keeps attention without sacrificing depth, which is difficult because this type of film either captivates you or feels unbearably boring. Ultimately, it depicts the cruel and ugly reality that emerges after the collapse. The viewer is left with a sense of alarm and even goosebumps from the sheer astonishment. The musical selection is deliberate, using well-known songs to amplify emotions and create a sense of everyday life, nothing out of the ordinary. It blends thematic rigor, bold storytelling, and memorable performances to deliver a sharp critique of greed, collective blindness, and broken financial systems. A film that educates, entertains, and provokes reflection, making it one of the most intelligent and necessary cinematic representations in recent history. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 11/19/25 Full Review Nolan S Legitimately top 5 movies I want to watch again. That damn good. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/02/25 Full Review Griffith J The unquenchable greed of the upper class American is despicable & the consequences are depressing. The ensemble cast is excellent with career highs from many of them as they blend emotional stress with blunt humor. The editing is eye catching & grounds the story to a relatable reality. Yet despite the clever exposition, the subject matter is too dense to follow clearly. But even with complex details, the message & impact are clear & hold my attention consistently. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/26/25 Full Review Matheus F Adam McKay made a delightful and clever script. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/22/25 Full Review Mark B Stellar cast. Don’t let the subject matter put you off. I found it well explained, funny, shocking, and slightly depressing knowing nothing has really changed. A favourite movie. Loved the soundtrack. I understood the ideas after a second viewing probably because I was flabbergasted at how it all happened. Definitely rewatchable. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/03/25 Full Review Les N Amazing that this happened and the people at fault got heavily rewarded. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/29/25 Full Review 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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