Watch Boom Bust Boom

Boom Bust Boom is a 2015 documentary film exploring the ongoing issue of economic and financial crises throughout history. Directed by Terry Jones, the film features interviews with a variety of experts in the fields of economics, psychology, and sociology, including renowned economists George Magnus and Robert Shiller. The movie provides a unique and thought-provoking look into one of the most pressing social and economic issues of our time, touching on everything from the 2008 global financial crisis to the role of human behavior in market fluctuations.

The movie starts with Jones delving into stock market crashes, credit bubbles, and financial disasters to understand why they keep happening. Going back to the 17th century economics in the Netherlands, Jones unravels the fundamental patterns of boom and bust economics, and the speculative behavior that underpins them. He also narrates a humorous fictional story, with puppets to explain how the economic bubbles are created.

From there, the story shifts to modern-day, featuring interviews with economists, experts, and academics to explore the causes and effects of market crashes, from the 1929 Wall Street Crash to the recent 2008 financial crisis. For instance, market psychology and herd mentality are discussed in detail. The film also looks at the effects of financial crises on society, including rising income inequality and the threat of economic collapse.

Boom Bust Boom also features animated sketches that recount significant events of the past, such as the Congress of Vienna or the Gold Standard system, which allows the audience to better understand the economic concepts being discussed. Interviews with well-known figures such as Paul Volcker, John Cusack, Andy Haldane, and Daniel Kahneman, among others, lend credibility and depth to the narrative. The experts share their insights and opinions on the global economic system, as well as the problems and challenges faced by policymakers and institutions worldwide.

In addition to this, the movie also explores the history of economic thought, introducing economic theories like the Quantity Theory of Money and monetarism, while delving into the manipulation of benchmarks like LIBOR, finding flawed models in the ratings system that corporations use, and credit rating agencies that make errors in assessing securities value.

The movie concludes on a positive note, focusing on the adoption of new economic theories and security measures to prevent such financial catastrophes in the future. Terry Jones suggests that lessons can be learned from the past, and that individuals, companies, and governments have the power to make a difference in the economic landscape. He advocates for a more transparent banking and financial system, better regulation of the markets, and education that teaches people from all walks of life about the dangers of excessive financial speculation and the fundamental concepts of sustainable growth.

Overall, Boom Bust Boom is an engaging, entertaining, and informative documentary that provides a critical analysis of the causes, effects, and solutions for the current financial crises. Terry Jones' storytelling techniques, coupled with the insightful commentary from some of the world's leading economists, make this movie an enjoyable and enlightening experience for anyone interested in understanding the workings of the global economy.

Boom Bust Boom is a 2016 history movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 14 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1 and a MetaScore of 68.