Over a decade on, The Wolf of Wall Street keeps climbing the all-time lists. In 2025 it was ranked No. 20 in The New York Times' 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century, a big moment for a film that sparked plenty of debate when it arrived.
Martin Scorsese's fifth film with Leonardo DiCaprio is a three-hour black comedy about excess, and it became the director's highest-grossing film. Browse more classics in our movies collection.
The Wolf of Wall Street Fact File
| Title | The Wolf of Wall Street |
|---|---|
| Released | 2013 (US 25 December 2013; UK 17 January 2014) |
| Director | Martin Scorsese |
| Screenplay | Terence Winter |
| Based on | Jordan Belfort's 2007 memoir of the same name |
| Studios | Red Granite Pictures, Appian Way, Sikelia Productions, EMJAG Productions; distributed by Paramount |
| Main cast | Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie, Matthew McConaughey, Kyle Chandler, Rob Reiner, Jon Bernthal, Jean Dujardin |
| Runtime | 180 minutes |
| Budget | $100 million |
| Box office | $407 million worldwide |
| Setting | Long Island and New York, late 1980s and 1990s |
Key Cast and Crew
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Leonardo DiCaprio | Jordan Belfort |
| Jonah Hill | Donnie Azoff |
| Margot Robbie | Naomi Lapaglia |
| Matthew McConaughey | Mark Hanna |
| Kyle Chandler | FBI Agent Patrick Denham |
| Rob Reiner | Max Belfort |
| Jon Bernthal | Brad Bodnick |
| Jean Dujardin | Jean-Jacques Saurel |
| Joanna Lumley | Aunt Emma |
Principal cast with their characters. The box office figure includes a 2022 re-release in the Asia-Pacific region.
From Memoir to Movie
The film is based on the 2007 memoir by former stockbroker Jordan Belfort, whose firm was at the centre of a securities fraud case in the 1990s. Terence Winter, writer on The Sopranos and creator of Boardwalk Empire, adapted it for the screen.
DiCaprio, who also produced through Appian Way, won a bidding war for the rights to the book in 2007.
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A Star-Making Ensemble
DiCaprio gives one of the most physical performances of his career, while Jonah Hill earned an Oscar nomination as his right-hand man Donnie. Matthew McConaughey's short lunch scene became one of the most talked-about cameos of the decade.
Margot Robbie made a huge impression as Naomi, and British fans spotted Joanna Lumley as Aunt Emma.
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Release and Reaction
Shooting began in New York in August 2012, with scenes also filmed in New Jersey and Harrison, New York. Released on Christmas Day 2013, it ran to three hours and set a widely reported record for profanity in a mainstream film.
It took $407 million worldwide, earned five Oscar nominations and won DiCaprio a Golden Globe.
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Awards and Nominations
Academy Award Nominations (2014)
- Best Picture
- Best Director (Martin Scorsese)
- Best Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio)
- Best Supporting Actor (Jonah Hill)
- Best Adapted Screenplay (Terence Winter)
Golden Globes
- Won: Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy (Leonardo DiCaprio)
- Nominated: Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
Other Recognition
- Four BAFTA nominations
- No. 20 in The New York Times' 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century (2025)
Behind the Scenes
The film premiered at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York on 17 December 2013. In the UK it was released by Universal with an 18 certificate. It was the fifth feature collaboration between Scorsese and DiCaprio, following Gangs of New York, The Aviator, The Departed and Shutter Island.
FAQs
Is The Wolf of Wall Street a true story?
It is based on Jordan Belfort's memoir about his career as a stockbroker in the late 1980s and 1990s, though the film dramatises events.
How long is The Wolf of Wall Street?
About 180 minutes, or three hours.
Who plays Naomi in The Wolf of Wall Street?
Margot Robbie plays Naomi Lapaglia.
Did The Wolf of Wall Street win any Oscars?
No. It was nominated for five, including Best Picture and Best Actor, but did not win.
How much did The Wolf of Wall Street make?
Around $407 million worldwide on a budget of about $100 million.
Where was The Wolf of Wall Street filmed?
In and around New York City, with locations in New Jersey and Harrison, New York.
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