Economics Movie Theatre

It is nearly a couple of years since we had a blog on movies with an economics connection. I have pushed my original blog back into focus and invite suggestions for new films to add to the list! Please add your ideas via the comments box! Several of the movies have specific clips available through You Tube. And the movie trailer websites are often great for showing to students as a taster!

A Beautiful Mind (2002) – starring Russell Crowe and a drama based loosely on the life of John Nash the Nobel-Prize winning mathematician and economist

A Crude Awakening – The Oil Crash (2006) - investigation into peak oil theory

A Good Year” (2006) - starring Russell Crowe as an investment banker who inherits his uncle’s chateau in France, deciding to live there after being suspended from his job because of fraud. Food for thought for M. Kerviel (thanks to George Buckley for this idea!)

Amelie (2002) – a cartoon delight that says much about human behaviour and maximising utility!

Black Gold (2006) - a 78-minute documentary feature from Mark and Nick Francis which provides an vivid insight into the lives and challenges facing coffee farmers in Ethiopia

Brassed Off (1996) or the Full Monty (1997) - both looking at the effects of industrial decline

Cast Away (2000) - the Tom Hanks FedEx executive “must transform himself physically and emotionally to survive a crash landing on a deserted island” - for teaching motivation theories especially Maslow, fun to act it out in the classroom! Recommended by Penny Brooks

City of God (2003) – highlighting poverty and the value of human life in Brazil

Darwin’s Nightmare (2005) is a startling look at the impact of multinational organisations such as the IMF and the World Bank together with EU commissioners and Russian airline pilots on the economic and geographic landscape of Uganda and Tanzania – excellent for examples of the tragedy of the commons, the destruction of natural resources

Dirty Pretty Things (2002) – a gritty drama directed by Stephen Frears which is centred around the illegal trade in human organs

Erin Brockovich – great for externalities (contaminated water causing a devastating illness amongst residents of a small town in the USA. Thanks to John Richards for this one!

Gold Finger (film released in 1964, new DVD version in 2006) – built around the plot to bomb Fort Knox and destroying the Federal gold so Goldfinger’s gold becomes relatively more valuable!

Goodbye Lenin! (2002) – examining the economic and social impact of a change from state planning to a market economy

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) – beloved film starring James Stewart – ideal for showing a run on a bank – you might use it when discussing the Northern Rock saga!

Kinky Boots (2005) – this Nick Frost movie about a failing shoe business that diversifies and explores issues such as redundancy, motivation, production operations.

La Haine (1995) – a classic documentary in which disenfranchised and bored French youths patrol Paris’ suburban housing estates due to lack of government interest and attempts to create employment or education.

Life and Debt (2004) – looks at the issue of fair trade, inequality and economic growth in Jamaica.

Of Mice and Men (1992) could be used as a backdrop to talk about the great depression - the use of migrant workers, the lengths people would go to find a job, and how a purely financial crisis can hit rural workers too – highlighting multiplier effects.

Rogue Trader (1999) - the events surrounding Nick Leeson and the collapse of Baring’s Bank - very topical today

Rounders (1998) and Dr Strangelove: Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1963) the classic film starring Peter Sellers both include clips and themes that illustrate game theory, risk aversion and behavioural economics.

Start-up.com (2001) – a documentary which follows two New Yorkers who quit their day jobs to focus on their entrepreneurial online business, govWorks.com. The two men receive venture capital, grow the business, and then watch it fall apart.

The Corporation (2005) and Enron - The Smartest Guys in the Room (2006) both have great potential for students wanting to unearth the darker side of corporate power, greed and fraudulent behaviour.

The Insider (2000) – starring Al Pacino and Russell Crowe, this might be used to illustrate business ethics in tobacco and broadcast journalism

The Life of Brian (1979) – including the classic the haggling scene involving Eric Idle – an example of first-degree price discrimination!

The Meaning of Life (1984) - especially the scene with Mr Creosote - externalities from consumption!

Walmart – the High Cost of Low Price (2006) – which seeks to undermine the business practices allegedly used by the world’s biggest retailer.

When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts (2007) - great documentary from Spike Lee

Withnail & I (1986) – a classic British film dealing perhaps with the economics of happiness!

American Psycho (2000), Barbarians at the Gate (1993), Boiler Room (2000) and Wall Street (1988) - all great for financial intrigue

The Internet Movie Database and the New York Times website might be used to generate interest and excitement among students even without the expense of buying the film outright