The Wolf of Wall Streettells the story of Jordan Belfort, one of Wall Street’s most notorious men, but there was another film that came out 24 years ago that beat Scorsese’s epic to the punch. Before theLeonardo DiCaprio-led moviebecame a smash-hit, there was a memoir of the same name based on the story of Jordan Belfort. His memoir,The Wolf of Wall Street,chronicled his professional life and how he co-founded (alongside Danny Porush) the notorious brokerage firm Stratton Oakmont, which eventually shuttered in 1996 after several executives were arrested for fraud, including stock market manipulation and scams.
These arrests included Jordan Belfort, of course, but he only spent 22 months in jail, eventually writing his memoir and becoming a motivational speaker despite everything. This all led to the legendaryMartin Scorsese tackling Belfort’s story, but long beforeThe Wolf of Wall Streetwas released, another movie was made that Jordan Belfort claims was about his own life; the underrated film,Boiler Room.
The Wolf Of Wall Street Made Jordan Belfort’s Story Strangely Aspirational
Scorsese’s Grotesque Tale Of Excess Made Crime Seem Appealing
A lot can be said aboutThe Wolf of Wall Streetand the film’s portrayal of Jordan Belfort. Although, it wasn’t likely Martin Scorcese’s intention for the movie to be sort of a rallying cry for those similar to Leonardo DiCaprio’s Belfort, and most of the other cast members featured throughout. Because of this idea,The Wolf of Wall Streetcomes off strangely aspirational no matter the intention behind it, and despite it exploring the life of Jordan Belfort, which shouldn’t serve as inspiration for anybody.
There are people that see a film likeThe Wolf of Wall Streetand immediately want to emulate everything Belfort does.
Quite whyThe Wolf Of Wall Streetfeels that way while watching the movie isn’t so clear cut, and is part of Scorsese’s genius long con. Leonardo DiCaprio is undeniably charming as Jordan Belfort, and the supporting characters prop up him like he is a god, but there is no world where anyone should see a film likeThe Wolf of Wall Streetand immediately want to emulate everything Belfort does. It’s a strange phenomenon, and something Martin Scorsese has dealt with at various points in his career, especially with the idea some have aboutGoodfellas' glorification.
Boiler Room Told The Same Story Of Trader Corruption
Ben Younger’s Reflections On Financial Industry Crime Came First
13 years beforeThe Wolf of Wall Street, though, there was another film released that was supposedly based on Jordan Belfort’s story. Written and directed by Ben Younger,Boiler Roomis the story of trader corruption in a similar vein toThe Wolf of Wall Streetor evenWall Street, which the latter is referenced during the film. The underrated American drama revolves around young men working as shady stockbrokers, whose actions border on predatory and illegal activity, and push their luck a little too far in the end.
25 Movies To Watch If You Love The Wolf Of Wall Street
The Wolf of Wall Street showcased Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese at their best, and there are other great movies out there for fans to enjoy.
In fact, Jordan Belfort has said thatBoiler Roomis also based on his own story, though Ben Younger never confirmed that this was the case, insteadpulling from his own experiences. In a2002 Forbes article, Younger’s inspiration forBoiler Roomwas discussed; the director was a former trainee at a Long Island-based brokerage, which turned out to be a pyramid scheme. Following that experience, Younger wroteBoiler Roomand then went on to direct the film himself.
Why Boiler Room Deserves More Attention In 2024
A Drama Gem That’s Only Grown In Stature Since
The Wolf of Wall Streetdominates so much of the cinematic narrative revolving around Jordan Belfort that a film likeBoiler Roomgets lost in the shuffle, especially alongside even more films likeWall Street, or evenThe Big Short,which all focus on similar themes revolving around different events. Seemingly underrated compared to the rest of them,Boiler Roomabsolutely deserves more attention over twenty years later, especially with how it explores the corruption within stockbrokers.
Vin Diesel was just coming off ofSaving Private RyanandThe Iron Giantwhen he starred inBoiler Room.
On top of the stellar premise, which may be based on Jordan Belfort, though never actually confirmed,Boiler Roomfeatures a stacked cast of younger actors that were continuously working to make a name for themselves.Among them are Giovanni Ribisi, Vin Diesel, Ben Affleck, and Nia Long. The performances across the board are great, with these actors playing characters seemingly without remorse, consumed by greed and the money they desire to hoard to give their lives any sort of purpose.
Jordan Belfort is undeniably an interesting person, despite how terrible he is, and his story does lend itself well to film.The Wolf of Wall Streetis one of Leonardo DiCaprio’s biggest hits, and his performance as Belfort is one of the main reasons for its success. Alongside that,Boiler Roomalso takes an interesting look at the world of stock market trading, but is not nearly as grand as Scorsese’s three-hour epic, about corruption in the American Dream.
Boiler Room
Cast
Boiler Room is a gripping drama set in the high-stakes world of underground stock trading. Giovanni Ribisi stars as Seth Davis, a college dropout who becomes entangled in an illegal brokerage firm that promises instant wealth but at a moral cost. The film explores themes of greed, corruption, and the pursuit of the American Dream, showcasing the consequences of unethical business practices.
