As noted in our very entertaining podcast with Charles Lee and Ted Yu, this 4-page essay from Dr. Loren Miller recaps how the US financial markets are portrayed in motion pictures – from the earliest films in the 1910s through 2023. Here’s an excerpt:

While scholarship continues to discuss the historical affects of films on the American public, there is little exploration of the portrayal of U.S. financial markets in motion pictures. Financial markets are a large part of the American economy and culture. Moreover, movies have depicted markets, misdeeds, and regulation since the invention of silent film. By studying the various ways American movies have shown the image of the markets, nature of financial misdeeds, and the role of regulation over the past century, people can begin to consider how film may have reflected and shaped public perception of financial markets.

Dr. Miller calls on scholars to reflect on and synthesize how films about financial regulation reflect and shape public views. I can’t promise “scholarship,” but maybe we’ll do another podcast at some point! Also check out this page from the SEC Historical Society – with film, radio, and tv clips through the years of the SEC and financial markets in action.

– Liz Dunshee