If you enjoyed the gripping tension and psychological depth of 'Owning Mahowny' (2003), you'll love these 10 similar movies and shows. This article explores films and series that delve into themes of addiction, crime, and high-stakes deception, offering the same intense storytelling and compelling character studies that made 'Owning Mahowny' a standout.
Wall Street (1987)
Description: A seminal film about corporate raiders and insider trading that became a cultural touchstone for 1980s financial excess and moral compromise.
Fact: The famous 'Greed is good' speech was partly improvised. The film's release coincided with a real-life insider trading scandal on Wall Street.
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Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
Description: A blistering examination of desperation and moral compromise among real estate salesmen, featuring intense performances and razor-sharp dialogue.
Fact: The film was adapted from David Mamet's Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Alec Baldwin's famous motivational speech wasn't in the original stage version.
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The Insider (1999)
Description: A tense corporate thriller about whistleblowing and journalistic ethics, focusing on a tobacco industry insider who risks everything to expose the truth.
Fact: The film is based on a landmark 60 Minutes episode that was initially censored. It features one of the most detailed portrayals of TV news production in cinema.
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Boiler Room (2000)
Description: A tense exploration of ambition and corruption in the world of stock brokerage, where young brokers are seduced by quick wealth through unethical practices.
Fact: Many real-life brokers reportedly used the film as a training tool for new employees. The script was inspired by director Ben Younger's experiences observing brokerage firms.
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Catch Me If You Can (2002)
Description: A gripping tale of deception and fraud, centered around a young con artist who successfully impersonates various professionals while evading law enforcement.
Fact: The real-life Frank Abagnale Jr., on whom the film is based, worked as a consultant during production. The story spans multiple countries and identities.
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The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
Description: A high-energy portrayal of financial excess and moral decay, focusing on a charismatic yet deeply flawed protagonist who becomes entangled in white-collar crime.
Fact: The film is based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, whose memoir inspired the screenplay. It features one of the longest uses of the word 'fuck' in cinema history.
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The Informant! (2009)
Description: A darkly comedic true story about corporate whistleblowing gone awry, featuring an unreliable narrator whose lies spiral out of control.
Fact: The real-life Mark Whitacre served as a consultant on the film. The quirky soundtrack was composed by Marvin Hamlisch, known for his work on classic comedies.
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The Big Short (2015)
Description: A sharp, darkly comedic look at the 2008 financial crisis, exposing the greed and systemic failures that led to economic collapse through multiple interconnected stories.
Fact: The film uses unconventional techniques like celebrity cameos to explain complex financial concepts. It's based on Michael Lewis's nonfiction book of the same name.
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Margin Call (2011)
Description: A gripping, dialogue-driven drama set during the early hours of the 2008 financial crisis, examining the human decisions behind economic collapse.
Fact: The entire film takes place over about 36 hours. Many cast members took significant pay cuts to appear in the independent production.
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American Hustle (2013)
Description: A stylish period piece about con artists and FBI stings, blending dark comedy with dramatic tension as characters navigate layers of deception.
Fact: The film's elaborate hairstyles and 1970s costumes became iconic. It was loosely inspired by the ABSCAM operation of the late 1970s.
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