Wall Street 1987

In 1985, the ambitious Junior Stockbroker, Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen), is consumed by an insatiable desire to rise to the top ranks of Jackson Steinem & Co. His ultimate goal is to gain the respect and mentorship of his idol, Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas), a calculating and formidable corporate raider whose values are antithetical to those of Bud’s father Carl (Martin Sheen), a blue-collar maintenance foreman at Bluestar Airlines and union president, who believes success stems from hard work and providing value, not speculating on the goods and services of others.

Undeterred by his initial rejection, Bud seizes the opportunity to pitch Gekko stocks on his birthday, even offering inside information he had gleaned in a casual conversation with his father. Although Gekko is unimpressed at first, Bud’s desperation piques his interest, and he agrees to consider the proposal. Later, Gekko places an order for Bluestar stock, becoming one of Bud’s clients, and entrusts him with some capital to manage. Initially, Bud selects stocks based on thorough research, only to see them lose value. However, Gekko takes a different approach, compelling Bud to uncover new information by any means necessary.

Bud’s first assignment is to infiltrate the inner circle of British corporate raider Sir Lawrence Wildman (Terence Stamp) and discover his next move. Through his undercover efforts, Bud uncovers Wildman’s plan to acquire a steel company, allowing Gekko to capitalize on the situation and reap substantial profits. As Bud’s wealth grows, so do his perks, including a luxurious penthouse on Manhattan’s Upper East Side and a stunning trophy girlfriend, interior decorator Darien (Daryl Hannah). His newfound success earns him a promotion, complete with a coveted corner office boasting a breathtaking view.

Unbeknownst to Bud, several of his trades have caught the attention of the Securities and Exchange Commission, setting the stage for a series of events that will challenge his values and test his integrity.

Bud (pitches) a revolutionary idea to Gekko - acquire Bluestar Airlines and expand the company, with himself as president, utilizing the cost-cutting measures achieved through union concessions. Bud’s persuasive abilities prove sufficient to sway his father, despite their dislike for Gekko, into securing union support and pushing for the deal. However, this newfound optimism is short-lived, as Bud soon discovers that Gekko’s true intentions were far more sinister than he initially suspected. In a shocking betrayal, Gekko plans to dissolve Bluestar and liquidate its assets to access the company’s overfunded pension plan, leaving Carl and the entire staff facing unemployment. Although this would have made Bud an extremely wealthy individual, his sense of morality is outraged by Gekko’s deceit, and he is wracked with guilt for being complicit in the destruction of Bluestar, especially after his father suffers a heart attack.

As a result of this revelation, Bud finds himself torn between his loyalty to his mentor and his responsibility to his family. He chooses to prioritize the well-being of those closest to him, resolving to thwart Gekko’s plans and disrupt his scheme. This decision comes at a personal cost, as he must end his relationship with Darien (who refuses to turn against her former lover and the architect of her career) and confront the possibility of being estranged from her.

Bud concocts a plan to artificially inflate Bluestar’s stock price before deliberately manipulating it downward. He then secretly meets with Wildman, arranging for him to purchase controlling interest in the company at a significantly discounted rate. Gekko, realizing his stake in the company is plummeting, eventually dumps his remaining shares on Bud’s advice. However, when Gekko learns through the evening news that Wildman is acquiring Bluestar, he realizes that Bud orchestrated the entire scheme. Undeterred by this setback, Bud triumphantly returns to work at Jackson Steinem the following day, only to be confronted by the authorities and arrested for his role in insider trading.

Later, Bud confronts Gekko in Central Park, where the latter berates him for his involvement with Bluestar. The tension escalates as Gekko strikes Bud, accusing him of ingratitude for their previous illicit financial dealings. Following this encounter, it is revealed that Bud had been wearing a wire to record his meeting with Gekko. He subsequently hands over the wire recordings to the authorities, who offer to reduce his sentence in exchange for his cooperation in building a case against Gekko.

As the truth begins to unravel, Bud’s parents drive him to the courthouse, where Carl offers words of wisdom and reassurance, acknowledging that while Bud may still face legal consequences, he did the right thing by saving the airline. The film concludes with Bud ascending the courthouse steps, ready to face justice for his actions, yet now freed from the burden of guilt and complicity in Gekko’s nefarious plans.