The Big Short: A Review of the Movie and Book (What You Need to Understand Before Watching the Movie or Reading the Book)

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Warning: This is an independent analysis of the 2008 financial crisis and is intended as an introduction to the complicated financial environment leading up to the 2008 housing and stock market crash, as depicted in the book, The Big Short. I encourage you to purchase the original book by Michael Lewis, as well as see the movie, directed by Adam McKay and starring Christian Bale and Brad Pitt, for a detailed investigation of this fascinating and economically devastating time in American history.

In the Fall of 2008, the world’s financial markets were on the brink of collapse. The leading cause of this financial crisis was the fall of the U.S. housing market, and how Wall Street manipulated the mortgage backed security market.

Michael Lewis is a great writer, and reveals the undercurrents and shenanigans that culminated in one of the worst financial disasters since the Great Depression. However; to get the most out of his book, and the movie tie-in, you need to understand a few things about the stock market, the housing market, and the various players involved in The Big Short.

This guide to the 2008 Financial Meltdown is a summary and analysis of the book and movie, The Big Short, written by Michael Lewis. It is not intended as a replacement to either the book or the movie, but as a supplement to help the reader and viewer better understand the environment leading to the collapse of the housing and financial markets in 2008. The content of this text contains original commentary and opinions relevant to the housing and stock market crash of 2008 and contains no quoted material from the book by Michael Lewis.

While I highly recommend you read the original book by Michael Lewis, and watch the movie based on his book, this concise guide to the 2008 financial crisis and the ensuing stock market crash can help you put together some critical elements that are easily missed by just viewing the movie.