In 2023, audiences were introduced to the dramedy film Dumb Money, starring Paul Dano and Seth Rogen. Inspired by the real-life events of Redditors capitalizing on GameStop's stock market fluctuations during the COVID-19 pandemic, the movie gained renewed interest after its release on Netflix.
Dano portrayed Keith Gill, a financial analyst and investor who spotted the shifting value of GameStop stocks, while Rogen took on the role of Gabe Plotkin, the founder of Melvin Capital Management. Although Dumb Money initially struggled at the box office, earning only $20.7 million against its $30 million budget, it has found a second chance through its streaming numbers on Netflix.
According to Netflix's Global Top 10 list for the week of January 22 to January 28, Dumb Money attracted an estimated 3.5 million views, ranking at No. 8. Impressively, the movie garnered 6.1 million hours of viewing time. This resurgence on the streaming platform has breathed new life into the film's reception.
While Dumb Money may not have achieved financial success, it was positively received by audiences and critics alike. For Dano, the movie adds to his list of celebrated performances, following his work as The Riddler in The Batman and Burt Fabelman in The Fablemans in 2022. His next role is in Johan Renck's upcoming sci-fi drama Spaceman, where he lends his voice to Hanus, a large arachnid extraterrestrial. Additionally, Dano is set to make a guest appearance in an undisclosed role in Prime Video's reimagining of Mr. & Mrs. Smith, alongside Donald Glover and Maya Erskine.
Rogen, Dano's co-star in Dumb Money, is also keeping busy. He is set to reprise two of his previous voice roles in Kung Fu Panda 4 and Mufasa: The Lion King. Rogen is also delving into TV projects, developing a Darkwing Duck remake and a TV spin-off of 2016's Sausage Party. Furthermore, he served as a producer on the recent black comedy Miller's Girl, starring Jenna Ortega and Martin Freeman.
Despite the star power and talent in the cast of Dumb Money, the film struggled to make a mark at the box office. This was surprising, especially considering the buzz surrounding the GameStop Reddit saga. However, with its newfound success on Netflix, the acclaimed but underperforming movie is finding redemption.
Dumb Money, based on the novel 'The Antisocial Network' by Ben Mezrich, tells the story of the GameStop short squeeze that perplexed Wall Street. It follows a small group of investors and Reddit users from the WallStreetBets subgroup as they exploit a loophole, resulting in chaos and a desperate scramble by one of the most powerful hedge funds. The film has recently signed on Sebastian Stan and Seth Rogen to star in undisclosed roles and is slated to begin production in late 2022.
If you missed the theatrical release of Dumb Money, fear not. The film is currently streaming on Netflix, giving viewers a chance to explore this captivating tale rooted in a transformative moment in Wall Street's history.
