At Cambridge Finance, we believe learning about real estate goes beyond spreadsheets and models. Stories — whether in books, case studies, or films — give us the chance to reflect on the forces that shape markets, investments, and the people behind the numbers.
This week, we’ve selected five films that provide powerful lessons for real estate professionals. Each touches on a different dimension of our industry: from finance and risk, to human impact, to sales psychology, to tenancy management. Together, they offer a well-rounded view of real estate in practice.
The Big Short (2015)
Directed by Adam McKay
Perhaps the most famous film about the 2008 financial crisis, The Big Short explains how risky mortgages and flawed assumptions led to a global collapse. For real estate professionals, it is a striking reminder of why robust modelling, careful stress testing, and transparency are essential. Behind every financial innovation lies a simple question: are the cash flows real and sustainable?
Available to stream on Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video. Also available to rent or buy on Apple TV and Sky Store.
99 Homes (2014)
Directed by Ramin Bahrani
This gripping drama follows families caught in foreclosure during the US housing crash. It shows the personal cost of debt, default, and leverage, reminding us that every row in a financial model represents real people, homes, and communities. For those working in real estate finance, it underscores the responsibility that comes with investment decisions.
Streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Also available to rent or buy on Apple TV, Amazon Video, and Rakuten TV.*
Margin Call (2011)
Directed by J.C. Chandor
Set inside an investment bank during the first hours of the 2008 crisis, this film depicts the moment professionals realise their mortgage-backed securities are worthless. It raises a central question for anyone building or using financial models: what do we do when the data tells us something uncomfortable? For modellers and decision-makers, it is a lesson in risk management, accountability, and integrity.
Available to rent or buy through Sky Store, Rakuten TV, and Amazon Video / Prime Video.*
Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
Directed by James Foley, based on David Mamet’s play
A classic film about high-pressure real estate sales, persuasion, and the psychology of closing deals. While dramatic and cynical, it captures the incentive-driven behaviours that influence transactions. For real estate professionals, it’s a reminder that models begin with assumptions — and those assumptions are shaped by human motivations and market pressures.
Available for purchase or rental on Amazon Video and Apple TV. Also free with ads on ITVX and Pluto TV.*
Pacific Heights (1990)
Directed by John Schlesinger
This thriller tells the story of a landlord facing a nightmare tenant who exploits legal loopholes. While dramatized, it reflects real concerns around tenancy risk, property management, and the complexity of landlord–tenant law. It shows why financial models must always account for the unpredictable elements of real estate ownership.
Available to rent or buy through Sky Store, Rakuten TV, and Amazon Video / Prime Video.*
🎥 Why these films matter
Together, these five films remind us that real estate is never just about numbers. It is about markets, risk, incentives, laws, and — most importantly — people. At Cambridge Finance, our financial modelling training gives professionals the tools to master the technical side. But we also encourage our community to think broadly, critically, and contextually about the world in which those models operate.
Which of these films have you watched? More importantly, how do you connect lessons from cinema to your professional practice? If you’d like to explore how Cambridge Finance can help you strengthen your financial modelling skills, let’s have a conversation!
*Availability on streaming platforms may vary depending on your country.
