New movie The Big Short has been nominated for five Oscars and five BAFTAs and sees Hollywood stars such as Brad Pitt, Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling and Steve Carell teaming up to make this drama.

The film, which is out in cinemas on Friday January 22, is focused on America's famous Wall Street financial crash of 2008 and won Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Comedy at the Critics Choice Awards, with Christian Bale also winning Best Actor in Comedy for his role in the film.

But is it worth a watch? Here is everything you need to know about The Big Short (15).

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What is it about?

Director Adam McKay draws inspiration from Michael Lewis' non-fiction account of the housing and credit bubble to dramatise the incredible true story of the men who made a killing by wagering against the US economy.

It’s 2005, and the housing market is booming. But four outsiders see what no one else can: the whole thing is a time bomb. The Big Short is their story.

Hedge fund manager Michael Burry (Christian Bale) predicts the crash and informs his incredulous boss (Tracy Letts) and bets against the housing market.

Jared, a bond salesman at Deutsche Bank with a keen nose for profits, gets wind of the deal and follows suit, drawing in deeply cynical hedge fund manager Mark Baum (Steve Carell) and his team: Danny Moses (Rafe Spall), Porter Collins (Hamish Linklater) and Vinnie Daniel (Jeremy Strong).

Inexperienced investors Charlie Geller (John Magaro) and Jamie Shipley (Finn Wittrock) use personal ties to get retired banker Ben Rickert (Brad Pitt) to orchestrate their own high-risk bets as financial authorities ignore warning signs and Lehman Brothers prepares to fall.

Who is in it?

The Big Short's actors Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, Marisa Tomei and Steve Carrell

The Notebook's Ryan Gosling plays a salesman at Deutsche Bank, Batman's Christian Bale plays hedge fund manager Michael Burry, Brad Pitt plays retired banker Ben Rickert and The 40-Year-Old Virgin's Steve Carell plays hedge fund manager Mark Baum.

Other stars include Prometheus' Rafe Spall, The New Adventures of Old Christine's Hamish Linklater, Not Fade Away's John Magaro, American Horror Stories' Finn Wittrock, August: Osage County's Tracy Letts and My Cousin Vinny's Marisa Tomei.

Is it worth a watch?

Brad Pitt plays a retired banker in the movie

5/5

Stepping away from the Will Ferrell Anchorman comedies that have made his name, McKay's film is a blisteringly funny and provocative portrait of irresponsibility, fraud and gaudy excess, brought vividly to life by a superb ensemble cast.

Carell and Bale shine brightest in the glittering firmament, imbuing their socially awkward oddballs with vulnerability, guilt and regret.

McKay's film is acutely aware that most of us don't speak the Wall Street lingo, so the writer-director cutely interrupts the wheeler dealing with glossy edutainment spots. Wolf of Wall Street star Margot Robbie appears sipping champagne in a bubble bath to explain subprime mortgages.

We might not always keep up with McKay's dazzling film and its rapid-fire, whipsmart dialogue, but by the end credits, we're not far behind.

Where can I buy tickets?

Christian Bale accepts the award for best actor in a comedy for The Big Short at the annual Critics' Choice Awards

Odeon , Cineworld , Vue and Reel cinemas now taking bookings for the first showings on Friday.