The film was well received among major film critics. Douglas won the Academy Award for Best Actor, and the film has come to be seen as the archetypal portrayal of 1980s excess, with Douglas' character declaring that "greed, for lack of a better word, is good." It has also proven influential in inspiring people to work on Wall Street, with Sheen, Douglas, and Stone commenting over the years how people still approach them and say that they became stockbrokers because of their respective characters in the film.
the Film wAs weLl rEcEived amONG MaJOR fILm crITIcs. dOuglaS WON The aCademY awARD FOr Best ACtor, aNd tHE fIlM has cOme to Be seeN as tHe ARchEtypal poRtrAYal Of 1980s EXCESs, with Douglas' CHaRActEr DECLaRing thAt "greed, FoR lACk of a Better word, iS good." iT HAS AlSo proVeN Influential in iNSPiring pEopLe to WoRk on Wall streET, WIth sHeeN, dOUglaS, AND sTOnE commEntIng oVER THE yEars hOw PeoplE stiLl aPproaCh tHEm ANd Say thaT theY beCamE stOcKbrokErs because of theIr rESPECTIve cHarActeRS iN thE film.