The Wolf of Wall Street

Jordan Belfort starts out as an ambitious young broker and quickly builds a high-flying brokerage that turns small investors into big commissions. With partner Donnie Azoff he pushes speculative stocks, funds a life of endless parties, drugs and private jets, and marries Naomi as his profile rises. As regulators and federal agents close in, his choices set off a chain of excess, loyalty tests and legal peril, with consequences radiating through his personal and professional circles. The film follows the momentum of his ascent and the unraveling that follows, showing the mechanics of the schemes and the lifestyle that sustained them, while keeping the ultimate outcomes out of view.

Released in 2013, the film was directed by Martin Scorsese and adapted by Terence Winter from Jordan Belfort's memoir. The cast is led by Leonardo DiCaprio, with Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie, Matthew McConaughey and Kyle Chandler in key roles.

The movie earned five Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor for DiCaprio, Best Supporting Actor for Jonah Hill, and Best Adapted Screenplay. It also received numerous other nominations from critics groups and industry bodies, with attention focused on the performances and the screenplay.

Several sequences and images from the film entered pop culture, from its ostentatious party scenes to portrayals of aggressive sales tactics. Performances and specific moments have been parodied and referenced in discussions about excess in finance, and the film's tone and style have influenced subsequent portrayals of white collar crime in film and television.

Critics generally praised the energy of the filmmaking and the lead performances, while some reviewers debated whether the movie glamorizes wrongdoing. Major themes include unchecked ambition, moral compromise, and the corrosive effects of wealth and power, presented through a blend of sharp humor and darker dramatic beats that keep the story lively and provocative.