This biographical film follows stockbroker Jordan Belfort as he builds a brokerage firm through aggressive cold calling, market manipulation and fraud. It shows extreme sales culture, heavy substance abuse and systemic misconduct, culminating in regulatory investigation and imprisonment.
Use in class
The film is useful for advanced discussions of ethics, sales culture and regulatory enforcement. In the classroom it can serve as an exaggerated but instructive case of how norms drift, how group behaviour normalises illegality and how lifestyle aspirations influence professional choices. It also opens questions about compliance and deterrence.
Trailer
