Common Sense Media Review
By Tom Cassidy
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Biopic of convicted trader includes language, booze, sexism.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Rogue Trader
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
ROGUE TRADER is the true story of Nick Leeson (Ewan McGregor), a successful British trader in Singapore who commits fraud to cover up a mistake. Leeson continues to gamble with a secret account and feels the pressure as questions are asked and his losses get out of control.
Is It Any Good?
Biopics based on material written by the subject are hard to take at face value. In Rogue Trader, disgraced trader Leeson is portrayed as a hero, who only started his illegal stock gambling and fraud to help cover a team member's mistake and earn back the money. Regardless of his motivation, Leeson is played enthusiastically by McGregor, who puts across the thrill of fast success and then the physical and mental toll of a frantic scramble to cover up crimes with more crimes. Don't expect to come out of this an expert in the complicated world of stock trading. However, through the whirlwind trading floor sequences, viewers can get an understanding of how quickly fortunes can be made or broken and the real-world stakes at play.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the behavior of Nick Leeson in Rogue Trader. Why did he do what he did? Can you sympathize with him? Why, or why not? What larger consequences do you think his actions had on people?
The movie is based on a book by the real Nick Leeson. Knowing this, what do you think viewers should keep in mind when watching a dramatization of real events like this?
Talk about some of the language used. Did it seem necessary, or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie? Is a certain level of language expected in a film like this?
Many of the characters drank alcohol. What were the reasons they were drinking so much? What are some healthier ways to respond to stress?
How were women portrayed in the movie? Did you find this portrayal problematic? Why, or why not? What did it suggest about the culture depicted in the film's setting?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : June 25, 1999
- Cast : Ewan McGregor , Anna Friel , Tim McInnerny
- Director : James Dearden
- Studio : Cinemax
- Genre : Drama
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language and some sexuality
- Last updated : May 19, 2025
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