The Best Rags to Riches Movies

scarface2

Everyone loves a good rags to riches story, when someone starts out at the bottom of the world and rises to the top. Some of these tales come from real life, and have been adapted into film. Others are invented by Hollywood itself, and become myth after release. The following films are some of the most classic and beloved examples of our love affair with getting rich, and all can be watched way more than once. If I’ve forgotten any that are close to your heart, feel free to suggest them in the comments.

[Photo via Universal]

annie

Annie

I believe this is the only movie on this list with an out-and-out remake on the way, but it’s so classic, it’s no surprise Hollywood decided to go that route. There are few more rags to riches stories more treasured than the tale of little orphan Annie who is scooped up from her life of being a street urchin and given the world by generous magnate Daddy Warbucks. This new version may not have her iconic red curls, but it’s the story that needs to be carried on.

[Photo via Columbia]

wall street

Wall Street

While Annie wasn’t necessarily about greed, the same can’t be said for Wall Street. The movie had a pre-crazy Charlie Sheen under the mentorship of the now-iconic Gordon Gekko, caught up in the shady world of Wall Street, doing anything and everything, including many highly illegal things, to get rich. And still, it’s a film that inspired many to cast in their lot and become a trader on Wall Street all the same. The sequel, Money Never Sleeps, wasn’t quite as iconic, but it was a return to form for Michael Douglas’s Gordon Gekko.

[Photo via FOX]

forrest gump

Forrest Gump

Everyone loves Forrest Gump not because he clawed his way to the top, it’s because he tripped and stumbled there. Despite his best efforts, Forrest becomes a hugely successful shrimper, than accidentally invests in Apple early on and ends up being massively rich as a result. Wealth is not really the focus of the film, but it’s certainly a key point in the story as you realize that Forrest simply trying to always do the right thing has brought him cosmic success.

[Photo via Paramount]

pursuit of happyness

The Pursuit of Happyness

One of the more touching films on this list, Will Smith gives a powerful performance as a dad doing whatever it takes to find success in a harsh world. Based on the real life story of Chris Gardner, who struggled on the streets for a year until he managed to land himself a real job and eventual wealth. Today, Gardner is 60 and a hugely successful entrepreneur and investor. But no matter how touching the story, the “y” in the title always bothers me.

[Photo via Columbia]

wolf of wall street

The Wolf of Wall Street

Naturally we have to head back to Wall Street for Martin Scorsese’s recent film, The Wolf of Wall Street, showcasing Leonardo DiCaprio as disgraced broker, Jordon Belfort. Belfort starts with nothing but a phone, but eventually rises to fame and fortune selling penny stocks to rich folks. Unfortunately, he does a few shady things along the way that catch the eye of the federal government, and his hard partying lifestyle doesn’t do him any favors either.

[Photo via Paramount]

scarface

Scarface

What, drug lords can’t have rags to riches stories too? Scarface became an iconic for gangsters all over the world when the story of Tony Montana was told. He started out in Cuba, then arrived in Miami washing dishes. But a few power play moves and Montana was a fixture in the drug scene. Eventually, he had dispatched most of his rivals and was running it. But people tend to tune out before learning the ultimate lesson of the film, one where Tony doesn’t exactly get to retire and live off his piles of money.

[Photo via Universal]

limitless

Limitless

Definitely not based on a true story, Limitless tells the story of one man who takes a drug that allows him to use the full capacity of his brain. Using the new gift, he transforms himself from a loser and a slacker into a best-selling author and prophetic investor. He recognizes patterns in the stock market no one else can see, and manages to quadruple his money time and time again as a result. It may be science fiction, but it’s one of the best films on this list, in my opinion.

[Photo via Relativity]

the social network

The Social Network

Heading back to reality, we have the story of Mark Zuckerberg as told by David Fincher. No, I suppose I can’t really say that starting at Harvard is “rags,” but given that Zuckerberg went from not rich to a billionaire, I still think it deserves a spot on this list. Particularly so, because this film showcases the corruptive effects of money on friendships, something that not many other films listed here address quite as acutely. Zuckerberg is still going strong in real life, but his fictional version did seem rather lonely by the end.

[Photo via Columbia]

Written by Paul

Paul lives in New York with his beautiful and supportive wife. He writes for Forbes and his work also appears on IGN, The Daily Dot, Unreality Magazine, TVOvermind and more. It's a slow day if he's written less than 10,000 words.