WALL STREET: MONEY NEVER SLEEPS
In greed we trust — a sharp, morally complicated financial drama.
Should You Watch It?
This is one of Oliver Stone’s best movies, according to the source review. Its script is well written, with tremendously well-crafted dialogue and action points. It also presents family positively, giving its financial drama an emotional center.
The cost is substantial. The movie presents people as deeply flawed, evolved beings whose greed produces repeated financial disasters until government intervenes. Its socialist message may be subtle enough to miss, especially because Wall Street can still look glamorous. The film also includes strong language, suicide, sexual material, brief nudity, drinking, smoking, and other objectionable content.
If you are a discerning adult who can engage those ideas and mature content thoughtfully, this is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESGordon Gecko leaves prison in 2001 with no possessions, no friends, and no relationship with his estranged daughter, Winnie. Seven years later, Winnie runs a progressive website and lives with Jake Moore, a rising Wall Street trader.
When Jake’s investment firm collapses after being sabotaged, he turns to Winnie’s infamous father. Jake wants revenge, reconciliation, and help for an alternative-energy project. But dealing with Gordon Gecko always has a price.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is an unusually strong film by the source review’s standards. The script is well written, and the dialogue and action points are tremendously well crafted. The movie is also much cleaner than the first film, aside from brief foul language.
Its subtle ideological messaging may be easy for many viewers to overlook. The story can make Wall Street seem glamorous even while criticizing greed, and its political argument may not land as intended. Still, the review calls this one of Oliver Stone’s best movies.
The Worldview
The film presents a strong humanist and evolutionary view of humanity. People are portrayed as flawed, greedy, selfish, and dysfunctional, with evolution helping explain why they act as they do. The story also treats socialist government intervention and nationalization of banks as necessary to rescue Wall Street from its own greed, without asking who will rescue people from government.
At the same time, the movie offers a surprisingly positive portrayal of family. It explores resentment between parents and children, the damage caused by adultery and greed, and the possibility of reconciliation. Corporate intrigue, fraud, and stock manipulation are eventually rebuked, even as the free market and the pursuit of wealth remain attractive.
The film’s central question is where we place our trust: in wealth, government, family, or something greater. Scripture gives a clearer measure: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Very strong humanist, strong evolutionary worldview with a surprisingly positive portrayal of family and a plot device that involves a sonogram of a baby in the womb and a very positive portrayal of socialist government interference in the marketplace with several strong statements that men and women are greedy, selfish, dysfunctional, good and bad, as a result of evolution and can’t help themselves; 30 obscenities and nine profanities and a dollar bill in the credits replaces “In God We Trust” with “In Greed We Trust”; man throws himself in front of a subway to commit suicide, motorcycle race where one cyclist forces the other cyclist to slow down so they can go through a narrow gate; unmarried couple in bed together, woman gets pregnant but couple then gets married, reference to father’s extramarital affairs; very quick full male nudity as man pulls comforter over himself but not completely shown; drinking, sometimes to excess; smoking; and, resentment of parents, rebuke of mother, lying, and corporate intrigue, fraud and stock manipulation but some of it rebuked.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The film portrays greed as a force that damages both people and institutions. What does Scripture say about the love of money, and how can we guard our hearts?
1 Timothy 6:9–10 · Matthew 6:19–21The movie treats government intervention as necessary to restrain selfishness. What responsibilities do rulers have, and what limits should Christians remember?
Romans 13:1–4 · Psalm 146:3–5Winnie’s relationship with her father is shaped by resentment, betrayal, and the hope of reconciliation. What does forgiveness require when trust has been broken?
Ephesians 4:31–32 · Colossians 3:12–13Jake must decide whether revenge or integrity will direct his choices. How does Scripture distinguish justice from personal vengeance?
Romans 12:17–21 · Micah 6:8The Final Word
This is a rare four-star film from Oliver Stone: sharply written, skillfully crafted, and positive about family. Its socialist worldview and mature content require a clear-eyed adult viewer. For discerning adults, the answer is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY.
