10 Must-Watch Biopics on Debt and Financial Struggles

Description: This inspiring biopic follows Chris Gardner, who, despite facing homelessness and financial ruin, pursues a career in stockbroking, showcasing his struggle with debt and his eventual triumph.

Fact: Will Smith and his son Jaden played father and son in the film, mirroring their real-life relationship.

Description: This film chronicles the rise and fall of Jordan Belfort, a stockbroker who amassed a fortune through fraudulent practices, leading to his eventual downfall due to massive debts and legal issues.

Fact: The film was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and Leonardo DiCaprio's performance as Belfort was widely acclaimed.

Description: This film examines the lives of three men who lose their high-paying jobs during corporate downsizing, leading to personal financial crises and the struggle to regain stability.

Fact: The film features a strong ensemble cast including Ben Affleck, Tommy Lee Jones, and Chris Cooper.

Description: Based on the 2010 book by Michael Lewis, this film explores the build-up to the 2007-2008 financial crisis, focusing on the individuals who predicted and profited from the housing market collapse, highlighting the debt crisis.

Fact: The film uses a unique narrative technique, breaking the fourth wall to explain complex financial terms in an accessible way.

Description: Set during the early stages of the 2008 financial crisis, this film depicts a fictional investment bank's response to the realization that their firm is on the brink of collapse due to massive debt exposure.

Fact: The film was shot in just 17 days, and its script was inspired by real events but fictionalized for dramatic effect.

Description: This HBO film provides an insider's view of the 2008 financial crisis, focusing on the key players in government and finance who dealt with the massive debt and economic fallout.

Fact: The film was based on the book by Andrew Ross Sorkin and features a large cast portraying real-life figures involved in the crisis.

Description: A documentary that follows Jackie Siegel, the wife of billionaire David Siegel, as their plans to build the largest private home in America are derailed by the 2008 financial crisis, showcasing their debt and lifestyle changes.

Fact: The film was initially intended to be a light-hearted look at wealth but evolved into a poignant examination of economic disparity.

Description: Joy Mangano's journey from a struggling single mother to a successful entrepreneur involves navigating through financial difficulties and debts to bring her inventions to market.

Fact: Jennifer Lawrence won a Golden Globe for Best Actress for her role as Joy Mangano.

Description: While not directly about debt, this film explores Ray Kroc's acquisition of McDonald's, which involved significant financial maneuvering and debt to expand the franchise.

Fact: Michael Keaton's portrayal of Ray Kroc was critically acclaimed, earning him a Golden Globe nomination.

Description: Set in the 1960s, this film tells the story of two African American entrepreneurs who devise a plan to circumvent the racial limitations of the banking industry, leading to their own financial challenges.

Fact: The film was initially set for a theatrical release but was released on Apple TV+ due to the global health crisis.