Movies offer more than just entertainment, they are often packed with wonderful wisdom about our own lives. The great ones have the power to change the way we think and exist from day to day, including the way we spend our cash. In this article, we’ll explore ten Hollywood movies and the money lessons they’ve taught us.

1. The Money Pit

The 1986 movie featuring Tom Hanks and Shelley Long is a story about a couple who fall victim to home scammers. They are conned into buying a house that is falling apart, earning its nickname “The Money Pit”. The lesson from this movie: don’t fall for slick stories from desperate home sellers, and always do an estimate of the expenses before signing any contracts for house remodeling.

2. The Wolf of Wall Street

The 2013 movie based on a true story of Jordan Belfort, a wealthy stockbroker who becomes involved in illegal activities that land him in prison, teaches us that coveting all that cash doesn’t pan out as planned. Money doesn’t come without consequences, and gaining funds by any means necessary may lead to ruin.

3. Bridesmaids

The 2011 comedy starring Kristen Wiig illustrates how income levels can bond or break apart friendships. The main character, Annie, hangs out with her best friend, Lillian, and they bond over being broke. When Lillian meets a wealthy woman named Helen, who tries to buy her friendship away from Annie, we see how friendships can be tested by people with financial incentives. The lesson learned is not to let money become a wedge between friends.

4. Casino

The 1995 movie based on a non-fiction book by Nicholas Pileggi tells us that marrying for money instead of love is a recipe for disaster. Sam “Ace” Rothstein, played by Robert DeNiro, proposes marriage to a Las Vegas hustler, Ginger McKenna, who honestly confesses that she’s not the marrying kind. Rather than accepting her truth, Sam urges her to “learn to love” and promises to take care of her monetarily. Their marriage becomes a business deal gone wrong.

5. The Great Gatsby

In this 2013 adaption of the classic F. Scott Fitzgerald novel, millionaire Jay Gatsby falls in love with Daisy, who he loved and lost twice in his life. Gatsby had previously confessed to Daisy via letter, “The truth is I’m penniless”. His love for Daisy drives him to vow to win both massive amounts of wealth and the woman he loved. The lesson learned is saving for a rainy economy and not being able to pay for the affections of another person.

6. Sunset Boulevard

This 1950 Hollywood classic, Sunset Boulevard, shows us how selling our soul to hang out with someone wealthy can lead to unnatural control over your life. The on-screen Hollywood writer, Joe Gillis, is a starving artist who meets the wealthy and older Norma Desmond. Joe takes the bait, but it ends up being a fateful decision.

7. The Passion of the Christ

In The Passion of the Christ, Judas Iscariot receives 30 pieces of silver for betraying Jesus, but he realizes too late that money isn’t everything. The lesson learned is that a life is worth much more than money.

8. It Could Happen to You

This 1994 romantic comedy-drama starring Nicolas Cage and Bridget Fonda reminds us that gaining income can be a matter of changing the way we think. Money doesn’t make you, but it amplifies what is already inside of you.

9. Moneyball

This 2011 film starring Brad Pitt as the Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane shows us that changing our mental process can bring wealth and riches. Thinking differently about baseball statistics, or any aspect of our lives, can bring success.

10. 12 Years a Slave

The 2013 film based on the real-life 1853 book teaches us about the greed of slave masters. The lesson here is that sometimes wealth can only be achieved at the expense of others.

In conclusion, movies aren’t just fun distractions. The good ones can pass on valuable lessons about our own lives. The great ones can change the way we exist from day to day, including the way we think about and spend our hard-earned cash.