Story Overview

Money Monster unfolds in real time inside a New York television studio, where flamboyant financial TV host Lee Gates (George Clooney) presents a live broadcast that turns into a high-stakes crisis. Known for his flashy style and simplified investment advice, Gates becomes the unexpected focal point of a violent act broadcast to millions.

Behind the scenes, the program’s calm and highly competent producer Patty Fenn (Julia Roberts) struggles to maintain control as a desperate investor storms the studio. Having lost everything due to a mysterious market crash, the intruder demands answers, transforming the show into a tense hostage situation under the unblinking eye of live television.

As the crisis escalates, Gates and Fenn are forced to confront not only the armed man’s anger, but also their own complicity in a media system that prioritizes entertainment over accountability. The investigation into the financial collapse unfolds live on air, exposing corruption, greed, and the fragile line between information and manipulation.

Directed by Jodie Foster, the film delivers a sharp critique of financial media, corporate irresponsibility, and the spectacle-driven nature of modern news. With mounting tension and moral ambiguity, Money Monster questions who truly bears responsibility when trust in the system collapses—and who ultimately pays the price.