In the climax of the movie, the main characters—Michael Burry (Christian Bale), Mark Baum (Steve Carell), Jared Vennett (Ryan Gosling), and Ben Rickert (Brad Pitt)—witness the financial collapse unfold as their bets against the housing market start to pay off.
The housing bubble bursts, leading to widespread financial chaos, bank failures, and economic downturn. While their financial bets result in significant profits, the characters are conflicted about the larger impact on the economy and the lives of ordinary people who are severely affected by the crisis.
In the resolution, the characters grapple with the moral implications of their financial success at the expense of others. Mark Baum, in particular, is deeply affected by the realization that the collapse of the housing market and subsequent financial crisis had devastating consequences for millions of people.
The film ends with a text overlay explaining the aftermath of the financial crisis, highlighting the lack of significant consequences for those responsible and the continued challenges faced by the global economy.
“In the Heart of the Sea” concludes with a sense of irony and frustration, as the characters who foresaw the crisis and profited from it are left questioning the system that allowed such a disaster to occur.
In summary, “The Big Short” concludes with a portrayal of the financial crisis and its aftermath, emphasizing the moral dilemma faced by those who saw the collapse coming and capitalized on it. The film uses dark humor and a documentary-style approach to shed light on the complexities and ethical questions surrounding the 2008 financial meltdown.