The Wolf of Wall Street

The Wolf of Wall Street has quietly become one of the more dependable comedies currently available in Australia on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, and in the US on Amazon Prime Video and Hulu. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. An 8/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Watch it for Leonardo DiCaprio — stay for everyone else around them. Start it on Netflix whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

The Wolf of Wall Street is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that focus is exactly what makes it work. The jokes in The Wolf of Wall Street land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. A New York stockbroker refuses to cooperate in a large securities fraud case involving corruption on Wall Street, corporate banking world and mob infiltration. Based on Jordan Belfort's autobiography. Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill lead a cast with the timing to make it work. The Wolf of Wall Street came out in 2013. The timing in The Wolf of Wall Street is precise enough that even the throwaway lines land on a second watch. It rarely drops the ball, and when it does, it recovers fast.

For viewers who want something light without wanting something stupid, The Wolf of Wall Street respects your intelligence. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Leonardo DiCaprio is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.