ThestoryfollowsBudFox(CharlieSheen),ayoung,strugglingstocktrader,lookingforshortcutsinthemarketandwaystogetrichquick.Heworksthephones,tryingtofindnewclientswhohavethemoneyandthewherewithalltomakehimwealthywithoutgettingoldintheprocess.GordonGeckoisthemaninthisworldofmakebelieveandmoney.Geckohasitallandmoreimportantlyhasitalltooffer.GeckoteachesBudFoxjusthowtheworldworks,howpeoplelikehimgobbleupentirecompanies.HeprovidesFoxwithatall,blondegirlfriendbywayofDarylHannahandevenmanagestomakehimbalancehisbestfriend(JamesSpader)bywayofhisslightofhandbusinessdealings.ThemostprominentthemethroughoutOliverStone'sfilmisgreedanditiswhatbindseveryoneinthefilm.
Theperformancesarebrilliant,obviouslyDouglas'characteristheonethatcomestomind,butalsoistheunderratedandarguablythebestperformancebyCharlieSheenwhoreallyproveshisactingchopswiththischallengingrole.Themessageofthisfilmisextremelyimportantandwillbeaslongasmankindwilllivefor.