The entertainment industry has always found ways to enlighten us about different subjects and work sectors. We’ve seen movies centered around the music industry, health, business, and finance. It appears that the Chinese film industry is not missing in this action. Over the years, viewers have been able to watch movies based on several economic and financial realities in China and learn a thing or two from them. Here’s a list of the top ten movies in this category, including what you might gain.
Hello, Mrs. Money (2018)
Hello, Mrs. Money is a romantic comedy set in the very heart of China. It stars Li Cha (Yang Song) as the main cast and a man highly desperate to win over the woman he loves. To do this, he seeks help from his mysterious millionaire aunt, whom he has never met. Does he get the girl or get caught in a lie? Find out when you watch this movie.
The China Hustle (2017)
The China Hustle is a 2017 finance documentary featuring one of the biggest heists in China. The movie unveils some deep-rooted secrets and eye-opening gist about some hotshot Chinese companies and the American stock market.
The stocks and foreign exchange market is one of the most dominating sectors in the global financial sector, especially with leading forex platforms like TradingView in the mix. If you’re wondering what trading platforms are, they are the digital spaces where investors get to trade, research, analyze, and get valid information on the current happenings in the forex market.
China Hustle is a movie that appeals to the money market despite the large audience base. It is an eye-opener, an economic insight, and a glimpse into what happens behind closed doors in this sector. It has a 79% rating on rotten tomatoes.
No More Bets (2023)
No More Bets is one of the most recent movies about finance in the Chinese entertainment industry. It is a crime thriller that tells the story of Programmer Pan Sheng and Model Liang Anna, who get trafficked overseas in the hope of a supposed high-paying job. It turns out the job is far from what they expected, with people being forced into committing cyber fraud. This film covers the leading actor’s descent into gambling and addiction, as well as his rescue mission.
Hello Mr. Billionaire (2018)
Although the title here is similar to the first movie mentioned in this list, the plot is distinct. However, it holds one similarity: it is also a comedy. Hello, Mr. Billionaire tells the tale of a minor league soccer goalkeeper, Shen Teng, who is given an unusual task: spend 1 billion yuan in 30 days. The deal is that he will get 30 billion yuan if he succeeds by the end of the month without telling anyone or owning any valuables.
Animal World (2018)
Kaisi (Li Yi Feng) is a man with debts dangling about his neck and the lead character of this action/thriller. To lead a better life and clear off his debt, he embarks on a journey to a gambling party organized by a mysterious man called Anderson (Michael Douglas). A game of luck, wagers, and bets turns into a bloodbath as every player racks up dangerous ways to emerge victorious.
Tiny Times (2013)
Tiny Times covers the life ordeals of four close friends in search of a better life and more income. They face life situations that bring them to realize how difficult it is to be successful and wealthy in the high fashion world of Shanghai. It stars Mi Yang, Amber Kuo, Haden Kuo, Kai Ko, and many other talented actors.
Huang Jin Fu Jiang (Money Game 2015)
Money Game is a Chinese comedy released in January 2015. Hyun Seung Lee, a wealthy man who has gotten to the pinnacle of success, is betrayed by his best friend and loses all his money. His ex-girlfriend shows some compassion and allows him to stay with her. While trying to get his life together, he discovers that his mother hid money in a mysterious location. He must follow clues from three of his mother’s previous patients to retrieve this money.
Money and Love (2016)
Money and Love tells a tale of lovers from different financial backgrounds. A poor noblewoman finds a rare connection with a wealthy heir who finds interest in her and falls in love. This movie highlights the twists and turns they must take to secure their love and find their place in this complex world.
Easy Money (2024)
Easy Money is one of the newest Chinese series related to money. In this film, a taxi driver, Cao Xi Qing, finds a large sum of money at a time he never expected to. It turns out the money belongs to superstar Xiao Xiong, the husband of the woman Cao Xi is having an affair with. The story covers Xiao’s gruesome method of recovering his money and several investigative approaches from the cops while Cao goes on the run to keep his money and his life.
Return The Money (2013)
Lady Wang has a shopping addiction and a terrible spending habit. She finds a Hermes bag filled with cash and keeps the money, but her husband borrows it. While trying to find a possible way out, she returns to the seller only to discover the bag is fake. Wang struggles to make sense of it all while trying to get the cashback from her husband.
Show Me the Money!
Excluding the entertainment and comic relief these movies offer, there is also a lot of financial advice in the storylines if you’re listening. If you ever need to learn more about financial-related topics and can’t face a deep dive into serious research, consider watching one or more of these movies while catching up with friends or relaxing on a weekend.