The Big Short is a 2015 American drama film directed and co-written by Adam McKay. It is based on the non-fiction 2010 book The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis about the financial crisis of 2007-2008, which was triggered by the United States housing bubble. The film stars Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, and Brad Pitt.
Distributed by Paramount Pictures, the film began a limited release in the U.S. on December 11, 2015, followed by a wide release on December 23, 2015. The film was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor for Bale, and won in the category of Best Adapted Screenplay.