The Big Short movie quotes bring the 2010 novel The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis to life in a feature film. The comedy-drama, which highlights the subprime housing market crash and subsequent financial crisis of 2007 to 2010, was adapted into a screenplay and directed by Adam McKay. The Big Short opened in theaters in the United States on December 11, 2015.
In The Big Short, Dr. Michael Burry (Christian Bale) isn't the typical Wall Street influencer in both his attitude and wardrobe. So when he discovers that the subprime market, fueled by banks offering risky mortgages, will soon crash and lead to a massive financial crisis, his reports of this (including to Tracy Letts) are brushed off as ridiculous. The bankers might not listen but Burry finds some who will.
Joining up with Mark Baum (Steve Carell), Jared Vennett (Ryan Gosling), Ben Rickert (Brad Pitt) and others, this team of Wall Street outsiders do the unthinkable. They bet against big banks, wagering that these banks will fail, and make oodles of money in the process. It certainly doesn't make everything right in the end, but it's a unique way to deal with their anger about the situation while making bank for themselves in the process.
The Big Short is just one of several highly anticipated late 2015 movies along with Creed, The Danish Girl, The Good Dinosaur, and The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 2.
The Big Short Movie Quotes,
We Can Profit Off of Their Stupidity
Mark Baum: The banks got greedy and we can profit off of their stupidity.
Knowing that the housing bubble is about to burst in spectacular fashion, Mark sees an opportunity to profit from others' loss. It might not be too ethical, but neither is what the banks have been doing either.
More Incentives Than Greed
Georgia Hale: I'm sure the world's banks have more incentives than greed.
Mark Baum: You're wrong.
Whether she believes it or not, Georgia Hale puts on an innocent face when telling Mark that banks care about more than just making money. Either way, Mark is not buying it.
The Banks Have Trained Us to Trust Them
Mark Baum: Banks have trained us to trust them. They've given us 25% interest rates, student loans.
Mark puts the situation simply and bluntly. Banks conditioned Americans to trust them, then they screwed the Americans and profited gloriously.
The Difference Between Stupid and Illegal
Mark Baum: Fraud has never ever worked. Eventually, things go south. When the hell did we forget all that?
...
Danny Moses: How can the banks let this happen?
Jared Vennett: It's fueled by stupidity.
Mark Baum: But that's not stupidity. That's fraud.
Jared Vennett: Tell me the difference between stupid and illegal and I'll have my wife's brother arrested.
Mark tries to argue that bankers knowingly caused the financial disaster through fraudulent activity. But as Jared and others point out, there is a fine line between fraud and stupidity.
You Want to Bet Against the Banks?
Charlie Geller: You want to bet against the banks?
Ben Rickert: I think we're either high or having a stroke, kind of brilliant.
Betting against big banks was not just a bizarre idea, but an idea seen as ludicrous at the time. Then again, knowing what Ben knows, it might just be brilliant.
We Could End Up Making a Fortune
Mark Baum: I think the economy may collapse and we could end up making a fortune.
As Mark explains, the economy is about to collapse under the weight of the subprime market. While others will lose immeasurable fortunes, if they bet against the banks, they could make big bucks.
Strippers with Bad Loans
Mark Baum: We target strippers with bad loans?
...
Mark Baum: You're not going to be able to refinance.
Dancer: On all my loans?
Mark Baum: What do you mean, all your loans?
Dancer: I have five houses and a condo.
Mark speaks to an exotic dancer about how her loan will be impacted by the crashing housing market. She does not take this news well, especially as she has multiple loans on six properties, rather than just one as Mark assumed.
The Housing Market is Rock Solid
Lawrence Fields: Michael, how are you?
Michael Burry: I found something really interesting. The whole housing market is propped up on these bad loans. They will fail.
Lawrence Fields: The housing market is rock solid.
Michael Burry: It's a time bomb.
...
Porter Collins: So Mike Burry, who gets his hair cut at Supercuts and doesn't wear shoes knows more than the federal government?
Michael Burry: Dr. Mike Burry, yes, he does.
Dr. Michael Burry tries to report on the trend he found for the housing market and bad loans but he is ignored. While Burry might not wear shoes and fail to conform to the financial industry appearance norms, he's still brilliant and spot on right about this trend.
A Few Outsiders Saw What No One Else Could
Jared Vennett: While the banks were having a big old party, a few outsiders saw what no one else could.
As Jared explains, the bankers were too busy getting rich to see what a select few could. Those insiders took advantage of the situation and were perhaps the only winners at the end of the day.
American People are Getting Screwed by the Big Banks
Mark Baum: You know what? I'm pissed off! American people are getting screwed by the big banks... And I am getting madder and madder... Then this guy walks into my office and says
Jared Vennett: There's some shady stuff going down.
Mark Baum rants about how banks are taking over and taking advantage of the American people using shady tactics. It doesn't take long for his anger to turn into an idea to get even.