Wall Street

Name: Wall Street
Genre: Drama, Crime
Released: December 11, 1987
Duration: 126 min
Rating: 56
Cast: Charlie Sheen, Michael Douglas

1987

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Mixed or average reviews based on 16 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 139 Ratings

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8.4

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8.4	User Score Universal acclaim based on 139 Ratings

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Wall Street

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Movie Details & Credits

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation | Release Date: December 11, 1987 | R

Starring: Charlie Sheen, Michael Douglas

Summary: Bud Fox has his sights set on conquering Wall Street. When legendary broker, Gordon Gekko, takes him under his wing, Fox figures he's on his way. But the road to success is paved with all sorts of corrupt acts that compromise his integrity and sense of self. Will he be able to get out before it's too late, that is, if Gekko will let him out?

Director: Oliver Stone

Genre(s): Drama, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 126 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Mike Clark

It's slick, melodramatic, even inherently trashy - but a blue-chip moviegoer investment. [11 Dec 1987, p.1D]

Empire Angie Errigo

As with Platoon, Stone captures the horrific essence of an environment and transfers it to us without the need for prior knowledge. Dazzling filmmaking. Read full review

Dave Kehr

The world of Wall Street is that of a lush soap opera-"Dynasty" with a moral. It gets the barn burning, all right, but it has no impact. [11 Dec 1987, p.A]

Rita Kempley

Douglas plays Gekko with a terrible intensity. He raves and rants, but he has a rascal's humor. Read full review

Julie Salamon

Wall Street is a silly, pretentious melodrama that panders to the current fascination with insider trading. [10 Dec 1987, p.1]

Sheila Benson

Wall Street wants to be a shrewd piece of movie making, our own insider's tip, but it's tinny and thin and close to moral bankruptcy. As for its veracity, it's probably no closer to Wall Street than "The Bad and the Beautiful" was to the skills of movie making. And it's a lot less fun. [11 Dec 1987, p.1]

Peter Stack

For all its hip, rat-a-tat dialogue and a sharp photographic look that give Wall Street a feeling that something exciting is happening, the movie's a bankrupt deal. [11 Dec 1987, p.E1]

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User Reviews

sup3rm4rio

Jul 10, 2020

Fantastic movie! The best photography of 80s aggressive business world. The only reason why it's a 9 and not a 10 for me is that you can easily see the ideological footprint of the director. Masterpieces have a deeper level of storytelling and if you can tell where the director stands onFantastic movie! The best photography of 80s aggressive business world. The only reason why it's a 9 and not a 10 for me is that you can easily see the ideological footprint of the director. Masterpieces have a deeper level of storytelling and if you can tell where the director stands on issues then it's not good. Also, Gekko makes the zero-sum game quote which is completely false and comes just from a misunderstanding of economics which a character like him should not have. That entire speech is technically speaking wrong and it's a weak defence for the vulture capitalist which has a very important role in society. Of course, Gekko is a financial criminal and there is no one in the movie who represents the vast majority of the financial professionals who are among the most diligent people in the world (if you think about it, they have all the savings of the world in their hands and still the scandals are extremely limited while other sectors people steal for much less). However, his speech at the shareholders annual meeting is accurate despite harsh, no wonder he won the vote in that instance!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

CRL

Jul 28, 2011

Wall Street combines one of the most interesting and deepest villains ever in Gordon Gekko with an interesting and emotionally-charged plot as well as a great performance by Charlie Sheen to make one of my all-time favorite films.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

DawdlingPoet

Nov 24, 2021

The plot is a bit predictable nowadays but the theme is certainly still relevant and indeed I'm not at all surprised that a sequel film was made a few years ago (I haven't seen that yet). This is quite a watchable film and I felt Michael Douglas did particularly well portraying the obviouslyThe plot is a bit predictable nowadays but the theme is certainly still relevant and indeed I'm not at all surprised that a sequel film was made a few years ago (I haven't seen that yet). This is quite a watchable film and I felt Michael Douglas did particularly well portraying the obviously greed motivated 'bad guy', Gordon Gekko. I thought it was interesting seeing all the old technology and what-not, given the film dates from the 1980s - its clearly very dated - it couldn't not be! so that amused me a bit but, sadly, some peoples motivations hardly change, hence me saying the themes are still relevant.

I have to say, the sheer conept of Charlie Sheen having some (or any) link to morality seems a bit unlikely nowadays but there you go(!). Its an interesting film, not a bad one but its certainly dated and it undoubtedly has some cliches. I suppose if this film were made nowadays, viewers would expect more in the way of a shock value, such as the more graphic aspects of 'Wolf of Wall Street' etc. but personally I'm ok with the way it is. I also enjoyed noticing that one of Bud's colleagues was played by John V. McGinley, who is probably better known for playing the janitor in the US sitcom Scrubs. Overall, I'd recommend it as a fairly decent film of its type, with the caveat that it is visually quite dated and there are some cliches present but it doesn't take away from the main theme of corporate greed.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

imthenoob

Jan 24, 2012

I liked the film. It was driven by Douglas's amazing performance through out and the rest of the cast was solid as well. I did not like Charlie Sheen at all in this film and thought he was terrible for this kind of role. The film is interesting and definently worth the watch but dont expectI liked the film. It was driven by Douglas's amazing performance through out and the rest of the cast was solid as well. I did not like Charlie Sheen at all in this film and thought he was terrible for this kind of role. The film is interesting and definently worth the watch but dont expect it to be the greatest film you have ever seen.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Compi24

Nov 16, 2018

Let's be honest -- you're here for Michael Douglas's legendary turn as Gordon Gekko, aren't you? Well, you very well should be. The performance that got the actor his first and only Oscar as an actor is more than worth the watch. But there's also a lot of other fantastic work surroundingLet's be honest -- you're here for Michael Douglas's legendary turn as Gordon Gekko, aren't you? Well, you very well should be. The performance that got the actor his first and only Oscar as an actor is more than worth the watch. But there's also a lot of other fantastic work surrounding him, namely Charlie and Martin Sheen, who play a terrifically dynamic and meaningful father and son onscreen. Who would've thought, eh? Beyond that, though, you also have a screenplay here that's as worth its salt as you'd expect an Oliver Stone script to be worth. And on the subject of Stone, the movie is framed, shot, and stylized particularly well overall. An enjoyable watch.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Spangle

Jul 20, 2014

Overall, not many complaints here. Michael Douglas is phenomenal here and really commands your attention when he is on the screen. Heck, he commands it even when he is not on screen. The film as a whole is also very interesting. It feels a bit rushed in the beginning, which can lead toOverall, not many complaints here. Michael Douglas is phenomenal here and really commands your attention when he is on the screen. Heck, he commands it even when he is not on screen. The film as a whole is also very interesting. It feels a bit rushed in the beginning, which can lead to confusion, but as it slows down and settles in, things improve. However, the film still requires that you know at least a little bit about the stock market and even then, there will be things that will be confusing for many. But, the story is well-written and well told thanks to solid direction from Oliver Stone. Aside from Douglas, the acting is also pretty solid, though there are some moments of very poor acting from some of the supporting members and Charlie Sheen just never really works too well for me here. He is alright, but gets outclassed by Douglas. Overall, this film is made by Douglas and has a pretty effective story surrounding him that never really fails to have you attention. In spite of its negatives, the overall product is pretty good and enjoyable.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

amheretojudge

Nov 5, 2018

to dive into this professional building..

Wall Street Stone's mean corporate world is unfortunately way too mechanical for it to be cinematic. But within these mundane textbook formula, he does manage to install tiny bits of delightful packets for us to enjoy. These are the bits thatto dive into this professional building..

Wall Street

Stone's mean corporate world is unfortunately way too mechanical for it to be cinematic. But within these mundane textbook formula, he does manage to install tiny bits of delightful packets for us to enjoy. These are the bits that survives upon performance. It isn't independently a good movie. It relies a lot upon other factor, which often or not, aren't in its favor. And then, to fill in that void grows impossible even by a skillful filmmaker like Stone. It cannot be completely crafty. It does and ought to be commercial; the script is weaved out accordingly. Wieser and Stone, the writers, fails to keep the crisp alive. It isn't complex as the writers think.

In fact, the structure of the script is something that we have seen earlier too. But the only thing that makes it stand alone, is its characters. The characters are immensely intriguing and are three dimensional. The perspective may stay on a single point, but the way the makers fiddle with the characters is what helps them keeps the audience tangled in its world. The performance is the soul reason why is it worth to dive into this professional building.

And holding the crown at the center of the stage, Douglas is at his best in here. His monologues, speeches, ideologies and the way he looks at the black and white's of the world; every tiny aspect of it is appealing. His body language and dialogue delivery is what amps up this electrifying tale to a whole new level. Sheen has a parallel role to fill in, but he fails to live up to the power that Douglas oozes in front of him on the screen. Wall Street is a one way street, it doesn't care for the outcome of its methods, similar to its character, unfortunately the repercussions are catastrophic and inevitable.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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