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8/10 Digits: The Revenge of the Retail Investor


[Editor's Note: Because these movie reviews are written entirely by AI, they typically contain factual errors about the film under review. It is HIGHLY recommended that you read a review of the film from a professional reviewer before making a decision on any film reviewed here. These reviews STINK! (But not too bad on this one, GPT.]


Dumb Money is a 2023 American biographical comedy-drama film directed by Craig Gillespie and written by Lauren Schuker Blum and Rebecca Angelo. It is based on the 2021 book The Antisocial Network by Ben Mezrich and chronicles the GameStop short squeeze of January 2021. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Paul Dano, Pete Davidson, Vincent D'Onofrio, America Ferrera, Nick Offerman, Anthony Ramos, Sebastian Stan, Shailene Woodley, and Seth Rogen.

Dumb Money is a timely and entertaining film that tells the story of one of the most remarkable financial events in recent history. It is also a cautionary tale about the dangers of addiction, the greed of Wall Street, and the inadequacies of our regulatory system.


The film begins with a title screen that includes an asterisk stating that "Dumb Money" is the true term of what Wall Street refers to as retail investors -- everyday people. This sets the tone for the movie, which is that everyday people who invest are often at a disadvantage to the wealthy and powerful institutions that dominate the financial markets.


The film then follows the story of several individuals who were involved in the GameStop short squeeze. These include David Portnoy (Dano), the founder of the popular financial website Barstool Sports; Ryan Cohen (Stan), the chairman of the GameStop board; and Keith Gill (Woodley), a Reddit user who became known as "Roaring Kitty."


The film does a good job of explaining the complex financial concepts involved in the GameStop short squeeze in a way that is easy to understand. It also shows how social media played a key role in the event, as retail investors used platforms like Reddit to share information and coordinate their trading strategies.

Dumb Money is not just a financial thriller, however. It is also a film about addiction. The film shows how both retail investors and institutional investors can become addicted to the gambling thrill of the stock market. The film also explores the dark side of Wall Street, showing how some hedge funds use unethical and predatory tactics to make money.


Another important theme of the film is the inadequacy of our regulatory system. The film shows how Wall Street is able to operate with little oversight, and how retail investors are often left vulnerable to fraud and abuse.


Dumb Money is a well-made and entertaining film that tells an important story. It is a must-see for anyone who is interested in the stock market, social media, or the future of finance.

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