The granddaddy still absolutely holds up.
Michael Douglas’ Gordon Gekko — a slick-haired, cold-blooded embodiment of Wall Street greed — is an all-time movie villain whose every line is quotable. “Ever wonder why fund managers can’t beat the S&P 500? Cause they’re sheep, and sheep get slaughtered,” is a personal favorite of mine.
Young Charlie Sheen is excellent as Bud Fox, the ambitious trader pulled into Gekko’s insider-trading orbit. The plot — Gekko’s plan to raid an airline’s pension fund — can be a little far-fetched, but the mechanics of trading, corporate control, and takeover tactics remain remarkably clear and credible. That accessibility helps explain its enduring Wall Street appeal.
The period details are fun, too: landlines on the floor, brick-sized cell phones, loose-leaf paper everywhere. Gekko even has a treadmill in his office.
Oh, and one last thing … the next time you’re hanging out with someone in finance, casually drop the line “Blue Horseshoe loves Anacott Steel” and watch them go nuts. You can thank me later.
