Brick-and-mortar banks can send an architectural message of safety and soundness to the communities they serve. Hollywood has found they can also be quite cinematic, providing engaging backdrops for drama, intrigue and even comedy. The following bank-related movies contain memorable scenes set in financial institutions. To keep the topic light, out-and-out bank heist films — plentiful in Hollywood — were omitted.
It’s a Wonderful Life, 1947
In the fictitious small town of Bedford Falls, NY, lender George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) faces a Christmas Eve crisis. Facing his annual audit, he discovers a shortage in his accounts, owing to his uncle’s mishap at the town’s bank. Assisted by his guardian angel (Henry Travers) and the community, George is restored familially and financially. Once televised almost nonstop during the holiday season owing to a copyright lapse, It’s a Wonderful Life generally airs on network TV once each December, making it all the more treasured.
Mary Poppins, 1964
Young Michael Banks (Matthew Garber) and his sister Jane (Karen Dotrice) accompany their father, George (David Tomlinson), on what was supposed to be an informative outing to his workplace, an imposing British bank. Onsite, Michael inadvertently triggers a run when the bank founder, Mr. Dawes. Sr. (Dick Van Dyke), snatches his tuppence to open an account. Winner of 5 Oscars, Mary Poppins, lost the 1965 Best Picture award to My Fair Lady.
Big Hand for a Little Lady, 1966
In this western comedy, Mary, a widow played by Joanne Woodward, seeks a loan to stay in a poker game with a substantial pot. The kitty is more than enough for her to purchase a home and farm for her and her son. As the game proceeds, Mary is dealt a surefire winning hand, but she lacks the cash to stay in the game. She exits the table, takes herself to the community banker and asks for a loan — collateralized by her cards — to continue to play. Whatever she’s got (it remains unseen to the audience) is enough to gain the banker’s approval. A favorite by old school poker players across the country, Big Hand for a Little Lady, is a must watch for the inspired Doyle Brunsons of the future.
Brewsters Millions, 1985
Based on a 1902 novel of the same name, Brewster’s Millions has been a Broadway play and the basis of 10 films. Its universal plot involves an inheritance that must be spent within a limited timeframe before being rescinded. In the 1985 version, the challenge for Brewster (Richard Pryor) kicks off in a bank across the street from the law office in which the will is read. Further, he rents a vault there, using it as a repository for the $30 million in cash he’s got to use up.
Did you know: In the earlier incarnations of Brewster’s Millions, the hero was required to spend only one million dollars?
They Live, 1988
Nada (Roddy Piper) is a drifter whose use of special sunglasses reveals that Los Angeles has been overtaken by aliens plotting the total subservience of humans. In seeking safety, he ducks into a bank. It is overrun with monsters posing as employees and customers. The heavily armed Nada goes on the offensive, announcing: “I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass. And I’m all out of bubblegum.”
Big, 1988
Twelve-year-old Josh Baskin (David Moscow) tires of his status as a preteen. He makes a wish at a carnival to be “big,” and the request is granted. Although the transformed Baskin (Tom Hanks) is the size of a grown-up, he still thinks and acts his chronological age. Baskin gets a job with a toy company and, upon receiving his first paycheck, he and his best friend rush to the bank to cash the $187. The patient teller begins doling out the requested denominations: “Three dimes, a $100 bill and 87 ones.”
Ghost, 1990
To thwart the theft of $4 million from a bank, Oda Mae Brown (Whoopi Goldberg) poses as a fictious bank client to withdraw the funds. With her accomplice, the ghost of Sam Wheat (Patrick Swayze), Brown drains the account before banker Carl Bruner (Tony Goldwyn) can launder it and use the funds to pay off a drug dealer. The bank scene in which she requests the withdrawal is a comedic masterpiece.
The Little Rascals, 1994
Seeking capital to build a new clubhouse, Spanky (Travis Tedford) and Stymie (Kevin Jamal Woods) visit a neighborhood bank. Disguised as adults, they face questioning from the loan officer played by Mel Brooks. He asks them skeptically, “What is your account number?” Spanky replies, “Uh … seven?” This entry may have the youngest customers among all the bank-related movies noted.
Fun fact: In the scene where Spanky is dressed in a tutu and wig trying to distract Butch and Woim so Alfalfa can escape, you can hear Spanky humming The Little Rascals’ theme song.
Tommy Boy, 1995
Tommy Callahan (Chris Farley) is fighting for the survival of his deceased father’s auto parts factory. A chase scene brings him into a bank branch, where he calls out:
“Listen up, everybody! This will only take a second!”
The staff and customers, believing Callahan is robbing the bank, hit the floor. He exits quickly, but on the street, a boy recognizes him, saying:
“It’s the guy who robbed the bank!”
Callahan: “I didn’t rob any bank!”
Boy: “Oh, yeah, right. Like it was some other real fat guy with a tiny head.”
Callahan: “I got a tiny head?”
Casino, 1995
Money and other valuables in a bank vault and safe deposit box become one of several plot drivers in this tale of gambling expert Ace Rothstein (Robert DeNero) running a Las Vegas casino. When he entrusts his lover Ginger McKenna (Sharon Stone) with the only key, she sets out to get the assets she believes are rightfully hers. The film also features one of Rothstein’s associates, Sam (Joe Pesci), confronting a banker. Within the list of bank-related movies, most are on the lighter side. Casino, however, has its blacker moments.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows, Part 2 (2011)
The centuries old Gringotts Wizarding Bank appeared only in two films based on the Harry Potter series: The Sorcerer’s Stone and Deathly Hallows, Part 2. In the latter, Harry, Hermoine and Ron access the vault room using a rollercoaster-like tram.
Minions: The Rise of Gru, 2022
As can be inferred from the title, Minions: The Rise of Gru, is the backstory of Felonious Gru (Steve Carell), an evil mastermind turned secret-agent good guy. In this installment, Gru is 11 years old and is being schooled in the ways of villainy by a disco-era criminal. An early lesson for Gru is bank vault thievery, in which he successfully swipes the Mona Lisa. In the genre of bank-related movies, this one makes the most of its animated format to play its financial services setting for a laugh.
Sources for this list of bank-related movies included IMDB.
