Wall Street

Young stockbroker Bud Fox climbs the ladder in the fast paced New York trading world and believes the only thing that matters is winning. He looks up to corporate raider Gordon Gekko, a man who seems to own the street with his blunt talk and ruthless deals. Bud crosses lines to gain access to inside information, hoping favors and status will follow, and soon becomes entangled in a high stakes game where influence and money blur the rules. Meanwhile his father Carl, a principled veteran of the office, watches with concern as the cost of ambition climbs ever higher. The film probes how temptation, loyalty, and ambition collide in a system hungry for profit. The city hums with neon risk.

Released in 1987 and directed by Oliver Stone, Wall Street was written by Stone and Stanley Weiser; it isn't based on a single source but draws on 1980s market excess, corporate culture, and the mood of city obsessed with money.

It grossed roughly 43.9 million worldwide against a 15 million budget, delivering a solid return and helping cement Wall Street as a defining late 80s look at money and power, with audiences drawn to its brisk storytelling and lasting impressions.

Its most enduring moment is Gordon Gekko's 'Greed is good' speech, which entered the lexicon of business culture and symbolized 80s excess. The movie helped popularize a critical view of corporate raiders and sparked debates about ethics in finance and leadership. Its influence extends to films and television and beyond.

Critics praised its brisk pacing and Michael Douglas's performance, though some called it sensational. The film examines wealth and temptation, loyalty costs, and the clash between personal ethics and the pressure to win in a money driven era, prompting ongoing debate about responsibility in the world of business globally today.