5 Documentaries To Watch if You Loved Our Fraudsters Article
Everyone loves a good fraud mystery — well, apart from the people being defrauded. Today, we’re sharing 5 fraud documentaries you don’t want to miss. After that, we’ll go over the main events you can trade this week. Ready, steady, go!
#1 The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley (2019)
IMDB: 7.2 ⭐️
Rotten Tomatoes: 79% 🍅
Where to watch: Apple TV+
This documentary tells the story of Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of Theranos, a company that claimed to have developed a revolutionary blood-testing technology. Holmes was a young, charismatic entrepreneur who was hailed as a visionary by many. However, it later emerged that Theranos’ technology was never actually viable, and Holmes was running a gigantic fraud operation.
The documentary covers all the ins and outs and is a must watch if you like this sort of thing.
#2 WeCrashed (2022)
IMDB: 7.3 ⭐️
Rotten Tomatoes: 65% 🍅
Where to watch: Apple TV+
WeCrashed tells the story of WeWork, a shared workspace company that went from a $47 billion valuation to bankruptcy in just a few years.
WeCrashed stars Jared Leto and Anne Hathaway as the co-founders of WeWork, Adam Neumann and Rebekah Paltrow Neumann. The show details how WeWork’s success was built on a foundation of hype and ambition, covering up the fact that the company was actually losing billions of dollars each year.
In 2019, WeWork attempted to go public, but the IPO was a failure. This leads to a series of events that ultimately results in Adam Neumann’s resignation from the company.
A riveting story and great acting combine to leave you on the edge of your seat!
#3 Rogue Trader (1999)
IMDB: 6.4 ⭐️
Rotten Tomatoes: 30% 🍅
Where to watch: Prime Video
A bit of an oldie, but a goodie!
This 1999 film tells the story of Nick Leeson, a British trader who caused the collapse of Barings Bank, one of the oldest and most respected banks in the world. Leeson climbs the ranks, but his success is built on a foundation of fraud and deception…and loads of unauthorised trades.
When things go south, he begins to hide his losses in a secret account. This account hid the billions of dollars that were being wiped off Barings’ books by Leeson.
In 1995, Leeson’s luck runs out. The Japanese earthquake causes the Nikkei stock market to crash, and Leeson’s unauthorised trades are exposed. Leeson flees Singapore, but he is eventually arrested and extradited back to the UK.
Leeson is charged with fraud and sentenced to six and a half years in prison. He is released from prison in 1999 and goes on to write a book about his experience, which the film is later based on.
#4 Wolf of Wallstreet (2013)
IMDB: 8.2 ⭐️
Rotten Tomatoes: 80% 🍅
Where to watch: Netflix / Prime Video
The Wolf of Wall Street, co-produced and directed by Martin Scorsese, is based on Jordan Belfort’s 2007 memoir. The multi-Oscar-winning story recounts Belfort’s career as a stockbroker in New York City and how his firm, Stratton Oakmont, engaged in rampant corruption and fraud on Wall Street, leading to his downfall.
The film follows Belfort as his lifestyle becomes increasingly extravagant, as he spends his money on vices and develops a gambling problem, which impacts his personal relationships. Eventually, the FBI and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) catch up with Belfort and arrest and charge him with fraud.
He pleads guilty and is sentenced to four years in prison, but only serves 22 months before being released on parole.
#5 Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street (2023)
IMDB: 7.3 ⭐️
Rotten Tomatoes: 90% 🍅
Where to watch: Netflix
This four-part true crime documentary series follows the rise and fall of Bernie Madoff…which you probably guessed by the title! Madoff was a successful investment advisor and stockbroker who ran a Ponzi scheme for decades, defrauding thousands of investors out of billions of dollars.
Madoff’s Ponzi scheme continued for so long because he’d cultivated an image of success and trustworthiness. However, in 2008, the scheme began to collapse.
In December 2008, Madoff was arrested and charged with multiple counts of fraud. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 150 years in prison. He died in prison in 2021 at the age of 82.
The episode marks one of the biggest financial scandals in history.
What are you going to watch?
Have you seen any of these? Let us know which one is your favourite!
Top fundamental events week commencing 18.09.23
Ready for the week ahead? Here’s everything you need to know about.
Monday
No specific events are planned.
Tuesday
● AUD — RBA Meeting Minutes
● CAD — Inflation Rate YoY
● USD — Building Permits Prel
Wednesday
● JPY — Balance of Trade
● GBP — Inflation Rate YoY
● USD — Federal Funds Rate; FOMC Economic Projections; Fed Press Conference
Thursday
● GBP — Official Bank Rate
Friday
● JPY — Inflation Rate YoY; BoJ Interest Rate Decision
● GBP — Retail Sales MoM
● EUR — German HCOB Manufacturing PMI Flash
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Speak soon!
The Contentworks team
