User Score
8.0 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 66 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 61 out of 66
  2. Negative: 4 out of 66

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  1. Nov 14, 2010
    8
    This is a well-organized an compelling documentary, and everyone should see it. In fact, they should teach it in schools. But if you don't know already that the financial services industry has captured the US government, then you have been asleep for ten years. I wish it were more shocking! I wish a few of those who declined to be interviewed had actually come clean and admitted they are inhuman dirtbags. Nevertheless, this one should go into the time capsule, just so our impoverished descendants (few though they will be) will know what happened to the America they will have heard about. Expand
  2. Nov 7, 2010
    10
    Excellent review of events leading up to and persons causing the crisis. Most important is raising the question of accountability. Don't see this if you like living in a fog ... it will affect your perspective.
  3. JRE
    Oct 11, 2010
    10
    The film revealed some fascinating aspects of the economic melt down that have not been shown in the main stream media. This film is well worth watching just to watch Fred Mishkin, Glenn Hubbard and John Campbell have "Ralph Kramden" moments when confronted with tough questions.
  4. Nov 27, 2010
    8
    This is a very strong, well-done documentary that really has the power, emotional weight, and logic to upset people and ignite a fire within it's audience. The topic is one that is constantly on the tip of everyone's tongue: the financial crisis our country went/is going through. The film is powerful because i gathers high ranking officials in the political and banking industries partially responsible for the crisis, and then not letting them take the easy way out by throwing them softball questions or sugar coating issues. The director is direct, forceful, and unwavering in his quest to get answers from some of the people who did our country wrong. Sometimes the pace and immense amount of detail can be a little overwhelming, but it really just makes you sit up, pay attention more, and actually use your brain. Inside Job does what every good documentary should do: induce an emotional reaction. The reaction from this film just happens to be extreme anger. Expand
  5. Nov 16, 2010
    10
    This is simply the best film of the year and the best documentary since Fahrenheit 9/11. I was captivated and in awe. Instruction and informative, this really is a must see to those who want to think and learn. I rarely rate a film a 10 but this deserves it. I need to see it again to just absorb what is going on. It is what "Capitalism: A Love Story" wanted to be . A must see!
  6. Nov 12, 2010
    9
    What an excellent documentary, very well done and accurate. A must for free-thinkers and truth-seekers. The Wall Street Casino is widely exposed here!
  7. Nov 22, 2010
    10
    I found this documentary very disturbing to watch, yet, I knew that I had to. Several times during the movie I found myself uttering, OMG, Holy s__t! I can't believe the depth and pervasiveness of the greed and corruption in all strata of American society. I left the theater feeling totally impotent because I too voted for Barak Obama. I really believed he would/could change the status quo. But its obvious he can't/won't. I agree with Ashesndiamonds "every one should see this". But, better yet whats to be done? Expand
  8. Dec 18, 2010
    10
    An excellent documentary - well organized. And a good looking film also. You do have to concentrate, as one question is answered by someone, then a cut to someone else who contradicts the first person. This juxtaposition happens often in the film and on occasion is hard to catch. Everyone in America should see this. With Wall St., who needs Al Qaeda!!
  9. Dec 30, 2010
    1
    An interesting film, and great plot; however, it was under-researched and logically flawed. Nothing more than an abecedarian bashing of the financial world from those who have never taken a class on Economics nor Finance. See it for the great fallacies which are conjured up--or rather the inherent stupidity of those who would be moved by such a production--but if you are looking for substance, I would recommend reading a book on economics and GSEs/interventionist policies to see how this financial crisis was set into motion. Instead of watching Matt Damon, pick up one of Thomas Sowell's books. Expand
  10. Apr 17, 2011
    5
    a well made movie but seriously haven't we heard this all before and done nothing about it? wall street and the top one percent of the wealthy have rigged the system to screw the the rest of us. oh, and washington's in on it. depressing.
  11. Jan 16, 2011
    0
    I looked at all of the reviews that each reviewer in this list had on file here in metacritic. When I did this, over half of the reviewers had only one or two reviews, at most. So the extremely high score represented in the user score is misleading at best and self-serving propaganda at worst. I wonder how many of the film's crew and their families are the source of these "objective" reviews for this factually challenged piece of agitprop? Just look up the director's political contributions to know all you need to know about this "documentary" film. http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=251649 Expand
  12. Oct 19, 2011
    7
    I think we all know the story by now, and the documentary explains the problem well. The problem is that it spends no time offering viable solutions. Well directed and narrated.
  13. Dec 11, 2010
    9
    More of a horror film than a documentary, this film should be seen by every American to better understand this absolutely **** economic climate we are apart of. Absolutely one of the best docs of 2010, if the not the very best.
  14. Mar 26, 2011
    0
    Interesting, but utterly boring and overgeneralizing. Nothing new is being revealed, by now, we all know what happened. In addition, there is no way to regulate the economy anyway, people will always find ways to make money.
  15. CBZ
    Oct 15, 2011
    10
    A must see for all of those who want to understand the crisis a little better. This doesn't mean everything is exactly how they say it is or that that's all there is to the crisis. Obviously their point of view is skewed but so is everyone else's. Very recommended, it brings up some facts that people might not know, especially who worked where and what laws are they pushing now.
  16. Nov 27, 2010
    9
    What the movie does for the viewer is to tie all all the ugly loose scraps together, so you see how "securitization", lack of regulation, insider double dealing and all the elements fit. Recent poll, cited in the New York Review of Books, indicates that 32% of Democrats and 37% of Republican voters blame Wall St. for the economic collapse. You wonder who ELSE could possibly be blamed by the other 68% of Democrats and 63% of Republicans. These bipartisan dipsticks should see the film. For a totally asinine review, check the New York Post's somewhere else on these pages. I tried to access the Post to register and counter the review. After 4th attempt to enter my birth date and being told that it was wrong each time, I settled for the bleak knowledge that general incompetence pervades this once-great daily, from its movie reviewer all the way to its website. Expand
  17. Apr 23, 2011
    10
    A must see documentary. The only thing more amazing than what this film reveals is that nobody takes any notice to what it reveals. A true expose on the corruption in banking and politics that is so well delivered that I'm shocked that it was allowed to be made and released. If this film doesn't want to make you stand up and shout then you need to grow a brain. I'm sorry I'm coming across so strong but I feel the need to emphasize how important it is to open your mind to fact that everything we are being told is wrong! This has to be in my top documentary of all time list. Expand
  18. Aug 5, 2011
    9
    Bail out, the bubble, CDO, subprime mortgage, and whatever whatever... Inside Job is brilliant, tells us the shocking truth behind economic crisis of 2008. Instead broaden our knowledge, the movie itself worth many accolades.
  19. Mar 7, 2011
    6
    It is good. Very nice to watch, like a glossy magazine, with Matt Damon coddling us through the tricky stuff, with the help of sexy graphics. But really all it is a **** you. I don't want to hear about all the people who wouldn't talk to you. Fine tell me one or two, but the constant "... wouldn't talk to us" doesn't prove much of a point. This is just another documentary that makes you think very hard while you watch it, but like any other movie you walk out with no need to do something. After The Cove winning the Academy Award last year I thought they had sorted their **** out. But no, this is just a movie. Expand
  20. Feb 26, 2011
    10
    Very good documentary about some of the issues that caused the financial collapse. I thought the manner i which credit default swaps and derivatives was explained was great. I wish it would have had more interviews with people involved in washington at the time and asked more questions about regulation.
  21. Mar 15, 2011
    8
    A film that definitely aids in understanding some of the main causes of the financial collapse. More interviews with major players would have made this better. Some of those interviewed, such as George Soros really were not needed. He didn't add anything to it, but probably help fund it so gave him a very cameo appearances. The film should be taken as an analysis into some of the causes and effects and not as a definitive work on the financial collapse. Issues with parts of the film is valid, but I believe a few on here gave it a 0 or a 1 just to bring the overall average down. The explanation of the legislative changes regarding regulation and lack of oversight was well done and very valuable. That on it's own makes the film worth seeing. It brings some good thoughts to the surface and fosters some dialogue on the topic, thus I recommend seeing it. Expand
  22. Apr 12, 2011
    10
    I am not a big fan of documentaries, but "Inside Job" was absolutely FANTASTIC!!! I really praise Ferguson's courage to hit really hard one of the several "beasts" (=corporations) who get bigger and bigger every day by depleting people's pockets and pushing them into more misery. Other beasts are oil cartels, insurance giants (AIG is one), pharmaceuticals, auto makers, health-care providers, communication (including wireless) companies, and other greedy huge corporations, which through their virtually infinite lobbying power, rule our politicians, and therefore, rule our nation. Unfortunately their only goal is to get richer and richer, and they don't care if that goal only becomes possible through destroying people's jobs, lives, and happiness. Expand
  23. May 28, 2011
    8
    A great documentary that affects one in a detached and personal manner at the same time. In a detached sense, the facts are presented in a clear, entertaining way. The viewer is able to understand mostly, if not completely, the ticking time bomb that became an economic crisis. The personal affectation occurs when one realizes that all these actions actually occurred. The documentary does become a little one-sided as it steers the viewer down an assumed single solution path of "regulation". It opts not to explore how the Free Market could have corrected herself by allowing all the corporations (and people) involved to fail, and as a result would have naturally, yet harshly, changed everything from bank lending to credit default swaps. Expand
  24. Jan 21, 2012
    7
    I don't usually watch this kind of film but I did it now. I like the concept and found it fascinating but I do not understand why they could not stick to the relevant facts. e.g. The main point is that.. etc.
  25. Jul 11, 2011
    8
    THUMBS UP "THIS IS NOT A DEPOSITION SIR! I WAS POLITE ENOUGH TO DO THIS INTERVIEW, YOU HAVE 3 MORE MIN.....GIVE IT YOUR BEST SHOT!" Where do i begin..... i guess a good start would be that i am happy not to be American. it is amazing how this film makes you feel about a country i don't live in or have any transactions with. it is frustrating and made me feel very claustrophobic, there are more slime balls and leech's in this movie than in any Hollywood horror movie. it is so hard to understand how the American government even functions, and how much government heads are nothing more then puppets and figure heads. the question i had/have is how can a group of people, and i mean group in the context of 20 to 25 people, completely destroy a planetary financial system on purpose to make upwards of 400 plus million dollars each while Americans lost their jobs, houses, cars. while American families were devastated and destroyed, and not only did they get away with any prison time, not only did they get away with not being fired, but get they got massive payouts,they got their companies bailouts so they can make more money and then leave there jobs and move into the highest financial consultation jobs in the American government. it is clear why this movie is an Oscar winner, even though the anger most Americans must feel when the truth is reveled like that must be tough to watch. yet it seems that nobody can do anything about the "situation" they are in, America has a rope around its neck and if they try to left it off it tightens and cuts off circulation. it is impossible to see an exit plan for America. the American dream of freedom and liberty, the rights to education and health care is all nothing but a dream. a dream fabricated by the wealthy 1 percent to keep the 99 percent a zombie, labor intensive nation. to make them believe that one day they too can own that yacht, that mansion, that holiday home. this is a must watch, it is a movie that clarify's what happened and just how widespread the ripple effect was, and how the few got away Scott free., it is completely entertaining and mesmerizing "for the first time in history, the average American has less education and are less prosperous than their parents." Expand
  26. j30
    Sep 20, 2011
    9
    Movies like this need to keep being made until some real political action is made. I know a lot of this stuff already and it's sad that people in these big corporations are not being held accountable for their actions.
  27. Nov 12, 2011
    10
    amazing, shocking, true! As Former head of a capital market department of a large European bank I totally agree to the statements given. Greed and high-level betting at the cost of taxpayers was clearly the flavor of the 80ies, 90ies and first decade of 2000. Consequences: well, none as everyone made their money.
  28. Feb 7, 2012
    7
    Seven out of 10 is all I give this film despite its quality mainly due to the fact I would never watch it again. A great film if you feel in the need to become angered, frustrated and apoplectic with the world. Damn yuppies!
Metascore

Universal acclaim - based on 27 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 27
  2. Negative: 1 out of 27
  1. Reviewed by: Damon Wise
    Feb 14, 2011
    80
    A sharp study of corporate greed for those who felt Michael Moore pulled too many punches.
  2. Reviewed by: Richard Corliss
    Dec 14, 2010
    100
    This is a true-life heist movie, and the thieves not only got away with their billions, they're still doing business. Pay attention and blow a gasket.
  3. Reviewed by: Shawn Levy
    Oct 28, 2010
    67
    As a film, Inside Job is polished enough, and fueled by piquant indignation, but it's also often scattershot and meandering.