Movies About Oil Tycoons

From Paul Thomas Anderson, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, Ciarán Hinds, Martin Stringer
Rated R

There Will Be Blood is a 2007 drama film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and starring Daniel Day-Lewis. The story follows a silver miner-turned-oilman on a ruthless quest for wealth during Southern California's oil boom of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As his business drives him further and further away from his family, his destructive ambition leads him into a violent conflict with a preacher who is determined to make him pay for his sins. The movie is a psychological character study exploring the complexities of morality, ambition, family, faith, and greed.

From Henri-Georges Clouzot, starring Yves Montand, Charles Vanel, Peter van Eyck, Folco Lulli
Rated Not Rated

The Wages of Fear is a 1953 French film directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot, starring Yves Montand, Charles Vanel, Véra Clouzot, and Folco Lulli. The film follows a group of desperate men who are hired to transport a volatile cargo of nitroglycerine across a treacherous mountain road in South America. With their lives at stake, the men must race against time and the dangers of the terrain in order to reach their destination. The film was nominated for two Academy Awards and won the Golden Bear at the 1954 Berlin International Film Festival. It is considered to be one of the greatest films in the history of cinema.

From Sidney Lumet, starring Faye Dunaway, William Holden, Peter Finch, Robert Duvall
Rated R

Network is a 1976 satirical drama film directed by Sidney Lumet, written by Paddy Chayefsky, and starring Faye Dunaway, William Holden, Peter Finch, and Robert Duvall. The film follows the story of a fictional television network and its struggles with poor ratings. The film centers around news anchor Howard Beale, played by Peter Finch, who suffers a mental breakdown on live television and begins to rant about the injustices of the world. His rantings become popular, and the network executives decide to use his antics to boost ratings. The executives hire a young programmer, Diana Christensen, played by Faye Dunaway, to take control of the news program, and she quickly realizes the potential of sensationalizing news. The film follows the struggles of each character as the network's ratings skyrocket, yet the ethics of the network's practices come into question. In the end, the network is successful, but the audience is left feeling morally compromised. Network ultimately serves as a commentary on the power of television and the manipulation of public opinion.

From Lars von Trier, starring Emily Watson, Stellan Skarsgård, Katrin Cartlidge, Jean-Marc Barr
Rated R

Breaking the Waves is a 1996 drama film directed by Lars von Trier and starring Emily Watson. The film tells the story of Bess McNeill, a devoutly religious young woman living in a Scottish coastal village whose life is shattered when her husband, Jan, a Norwegian oil-rig worker, is paralyzed in an industrial accident. Believing that her love can heal Jan and restore him to health, Bess begins a series of sexual relationships with other men, believing that with each union, Jan will be one step closer to recovery. The film examines issues of faith, love and sacrifice, and is full of symbolism and breathtaking imagery. It is considered one of von Trier’s greatest works and was nominated for several Academy Awards.

From William Friedkin, starring Roy Scheider, Bruno Cremer, Francisco Rabal, Amidou
Rated PG

Sorcerer is a 1977 American thriller film directed and produced by William Friedkin and starring Roy Scheider, Bruno Cremer, Francisco Rabal, and Amidou. The story follows four desperate men from different parts of the world who are forced to transport volatile explosives across dangerous terrain in two dilapidated trucks. If they succeed, they will each receive a large payoff – but if they fail, the consequences will be catastrophic. With the stakes so high, the men must use their skills and their wits to survive their treacherous journey, all the while facing hazards unseen in their everyday lives. The film is a remake of Henri-Georges Clouzot's 1953 classic The Wages of Fear (Le salaire de la peur).

From George Stevens, starring Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, James Dean, Carroll Baker
Rated G

Giant is a 1956 American epic Western drama film directed by George Stevens, with a screenplay written by Fred Guiol and Ivan Moffat. The film stars Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, and James Dean in his final film role. Giant is an epic tale set in the sprawling Texas ranch lands in the years following World War II. It follows the story of Jordan "Bick" Benedict, a wealthy Texas rancher (Rock Hudson), who returns home from a business trip to Maryland with his new wife, Leslie (Elizabeth Taylor), a socialite from Virginia. When they return to Reata, the Benedict family ranch, they find that the once glorious estate has fallen into disrepair and that Bick's cousin, Jett Rink (James Dean), has discovered oil nearby, transforming him into an instant millionaire. As Bick and Leslie's relationship grows, so does their family, with the arrival of their son and daughter. Meanwhile, Jett's newfound wealth leads to a power struggle between him and Bick. The competition between the two men leads to a series of conflicts, with the families of Reata caught in the middle. Giant is an American classic, highlighting the human struggle between wealth and power. It is also

From David Mackenzie, starring Chris Pine, Ben Foster, Jeff Bridges, Gil Birmingham
Rated R

Hell or High Water is a 2016 American neo-western heist film directed by David Mackenzie and written by Taylor Sheridan. Set in West Texas, the story follows two brothers, Toby (Chris Pine) and Tanner (Ben Foster), who plan to rob branches of the bank that is foreclosing on their family's land. They must also contend with a Texas Ranger (Jeff Bridges) determined to stop them. The film is a modern-day western crime drama with themes of brotherhood, family, justice, and morality. On a mission to save their family's ranch, Toby and Tanner must outwit the lawman hot on their trail and the corrupt bankers who threaten to take away their home. Through the siblings' journey, the film examines the consequences of choosing a life of crime and the bond of family and how far one must go to protect it.

From George Miller, starring Mel Gibson, Bruce Spence, Michael Preston, Max Phipps
Rated R

The Road Warrior is a 1981 Australian post-apocalyptic action film directed by George Miller. Starring Mel Gibson, the film is set in a dystopian future Australia where fuel is scarce and the world is populated by gangs of criminals and scavengers. Max Rockatansky, a former police officer, is a lone warrior who travels the outback in search of gasoline. Along the way, he is recruited by a small group of settlers to help protect their isolated refinery from a marauding gang of motorcycle-riding bandits. Through a series of epic battles and high-speed chases, Max ultimately helps the settlers defeat the bandits, restoring order and hope to a lawless land.

From James Cameron, starring Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Michael Biehn, Leo Burmester
Rated PG-13

The Abyss is a 1989 science fiction film written and directed by James Cameron. The movie follows a team of underwater experts, led by a former Navy SEAL and a civilian oil-rig manager, who are sent to the bottom of the ocean to investigate the sinking of a nuclear submarine. As the team begins its mission, they discover a mysterious alien presence beneath the depths of the ocean, and are forced to work together to survive. Along the way, they must face a variety of challenges, from hostile military forces, to a race of unknown creatures, to the dangers of living and working under extreme pressure. In the end, they must make a difficult choice that could decide the fate of the world.

From Sydney Pollack, starring Robert Redford, Faye Dunaway, Cliff Robertson, Max von Sydow
Rated R

From Bob Rafelson, starring Jack Nicholson, Karen Black, Billy Green Bush, Fannie Flagg
Rated R

From Douglas Sirk, starring Rock Hudson, Lauren Bacall, Robert Stack, Dorothy Malone
Rated Not Rated

From Bill Forsyth, starring Burt Lancaster, Peter Riegert, Fulton Mackay, Denis Lawson
Rated PG

From David O. Russell, starring George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Ice Cube, Spike Jonze
Rated R

From Peter Berg, starring Mark Wahlberg, Kurt Russell, Douglas M. Griffin, James DuMont
Rated PG-13

From Stephen Gaghan, starring George Clooney, Matt Damon, Amanda Peet, Kayvan Novak
Rated R

From Ridley Scott, starring Michelle Williams, Christopher Plummer, Mark Wahlberg, Romain Duris
Rated R

From Joe Carnahan, starring Liam Neeson, Dermot Mulroney, Frank Grillo, Dallas Roberts
Rated R

From Michael Bay, starring Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, Ben Affleck, Liv Tyler
Rated PG-13

From Gus Van Sant, starring Matt Damon, Frances McDormand, John Krasinski, Hal Holbrook
Rated R

From Alan J. Pakula, starring Julia Roberts, Denzel Washington, Sam Shepard, John Heard
Rated PG-13

From Jean-Jacques Annaud, starring Tahar Rahim, Antonio Banderas, Mark Strong, Freida Pinto
Rated R

From Guy Hamilton, starring Sean Connery, Jill St. John, Charles Gray, Lana Wood
Rated PG

From James Bridges, starring John Travolta, Debra Winger, Scott Glenn, Madolyn Smith Osborne
Rated PG

From Michael Apted, starring Pierce Brosnan, Sophie Marceau, Robert Carlyle, Denise Richards
Rated PG-13