Major geopolitical events have often been followed by volatility in the economy and financial markets.

World War II helped to shake the US out of the Great Depression. The Civil War set the economy of the Southern US back for generations.

Now you can add to those annals of financial catastrophes the Rebel Alliance's destruction of the Galactic Empire's Death Star.

Zachary Feinstein, a professor at Washington University in St. Louis, published a study of the financial impact of the events in the Star Wars films on the economy of the fictional galaxy.

With tongue almost certainly in cheek, Feinstein wrote the paper exactly as you would any other academic finding.

"In this paper we study the financial repercussions of the destruction of two fully armed and operational moon-sized battle stations (“Death Stars”) in a 4-year period and the dissolution of the galactic government in Star Wars," began the abstract of the study.

"The emphasis of this work is to calibrate and simulate a model of the banking and financial systems within the galaxy. Along these lines, we measure the level of systemic risk that may have been generated by the death of Emperor Palpatine and the destruction of the second Death Star."

With full on footnotes and in-text citations to "Lucas" and "Kershner" (the screenwriters of Star Wars, George and Irvin respectively), Feinstein found that the destruction of the Death Stars and collapse of the Galactic Empire would throw the galactic economy into chaos.

"In this case study we found that the Rebel Alliance would need to prepare a bailout of at least 15%, and likely at least 20%, of [Gross Galactic Product] in order to mitigate the systemic risks and the sudden and catastrophic economic collapse," said the study. "Without such funds at the ready, it likely the Galactic economy would enter an economic depression of astronomical proportions."

The scale of the Galactic economy, as modeled by Feinstein, is massive. Average Gross Galactic Product, similar to our GDP, during the 20 year reign of the Empire is around $4.6 sextillion a year. For reference, a sextillion is a 1 followed by 21 zeros (in the US) and 59 million times the Earth's 2014 GDP.

Feinstein estimates that based on the cost of building the Death Stars, loans from the Galactic Banking system and a fiscally conservative Emperor, the government would default on $515.5 quintillion (1 and 18 zeroes in the US) in bonds.

This would then cause the galactic banking system to collapse, necessitating a bailout as over 1,700 banks would be "too big to fail."

As mentioned by Feinstein, this would again be a problem as the central government structure would most likely collapse after the death of the Emperor and the "scrappy underdogs", as Feinstein says, of the Rebel Alliance would be unlikely to pick up the slack.

Based on all of this analysis, maybe we should have been rooting for Darth Vader after all.

SEE ALSO: From Mariah Carey to 10-month-old pizza sauce — here are the oddest things execs told investors

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: What it's like to fly on North Korea's one-star airline

It’s time to take a look at how digital innovation is transforming what we do and how we do it.

Mobile is overtaking desktop, social is beating search, on-demand is undercutting T.V., messaging apps are challenging email, and things around us are becoming connected. These shifts in trends can rattle how we operate. Don’t let digital innovation be a threat, make it your opportunity. Find out what’s on the horizon for media, tech and finance and what you can do to plan for 2016 and beyond.

Want to know where experts see industry giants— Apple, Google, and Facebook— going in 2016?  Join us at IGNITION on December 8-9 at the Time Warner Center in New York City, to get the insight.

The program covers digital innovation through interviews, demos, panels and conversations with industry leaders. Here’s what we have in store so far:

IGNITION sold out in 2014, so don’t wait to reserve your seat!

SEE ALSO: The biggest names in digital will be at IGNITION 2015 — check out the lineup

AND: Blue Apron cofounder Matt Salzberg to speak at IGNITION 2015

Join the conversation about this story »

Someone has finally done it.

YouTube channel Disneyland Experience has taken all of the "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" trailers, TV ads, and features and attempted to put them all in chronological order.

We spotted this first on the blog /film, and it's really good. 

The six-minute long trailer starts off showing Rey scavenging on Jakku before cutting to Kylo Ren and the First Order setting a planet — maybe Jakku, maybe not — ablaze. We then see Poe captured and tortured by Kylo. Finn then makes a decision to flee the First Order and winds up on Jakku.

Rey saves the abandoned BB-8 from a few rogue scavengers and meets up with Finn, who has shed his Stormtrooper gear. The First Order, perhaps in search of Finn, but most likely to find BB-8, who is supposed to have some important information, are then seen chasing after Finn, Rey, and BB-8. 

The trio winds up aboard the Millennium Falcon with Han Solo and Chewbacca. They head to another planet, presumably with Lupita Nyong'o's CG alien character, Maz Kanata, before the First Order finds them there.

Personally, I think some of these scenes are still out of order. Poe may not appear this early in the film, and scenes with the First Order gathering and Kylo Ren looking out of a spaceship have no context whatsoever. They can easily occur early or later in the film.

Still, the video does a good job of piecing together similar scenes. The only issue: None of the dialogue made it in. So if you haven't watched all the trailers and ads obsessively, it can be tough to follow along.

What we do know is that "The Force Awakens" is two hours and 16 minutes long, so this six-minute chunk still barely even scratches the surface of the film.

Check out the compilation below.

Join the conversation about this story »

On Spotify, the year belongs to Drake.

Mr. "Hotline Bling" himself was the music service's top artist in 2015 with 1.8 billion streams, according to numbers shared by Spotify on Tuesday.

Rihanna was the year's most streamed female artist, even though she didn't release a new album this year.

While he didn't make the top five artists list on Spotify in 2015, Justin Bieber set a new record for the most streams in a single day with 36 million streams on November 13, the day of his "Purpose" album release.

Some other stats from Spotify's 2015 review:

• The Weeknd's "Beauty Behind The Madness" was the most streamed album of the year with 60 million listeners.
• Drake's unexpected mixtape "If You're Reading This It's Too Late" was the second most streamed album.
• "Lean On" by Major Lazer is the most streamed song in the history of Spotify with over 540 million streams in 2015.
• There are 2 billion playlists on Spotify, and the most popular one is "Today's Top Hits."

Here are the top five artists on Spotify in the U.S.

1.       Drake
2.       The Weeknd
3.       Kanye West
4.       Ed Sheeran
5.       Eminem

And the top five tracks in the U.S.

1.       Trap Queen – Fetty Wap
2.       The Hills – The Weeknd
3.       Earned It (Fifty Shades Of Grey) – The Weeknd
4.       Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson
5.       Lean On (feat. MØ & DJ Snake) – Major Lazer

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How to use Apple's Spotify killer — now on everyone's iPhone

Ben Affleck stopped by "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" Wednesday evening to debut a new "Batman v Superman" trailer, and it shows off a lot of new footage.

While we know the two superheroes will go head-to-head in next spring's movie, the biggest reveal was a new villain the two will face off against: Doomsday.

While Batman and Superman may start off as likely foes, it looks like they'll have to put their beef aside in order to deal with, what appears to be, a resurrected General Zod (Michael Shannon) (Yep! We're going there!) in the form of a monstrous creature known as Doomsday in the comics. 

Oh yeah, and they'll get a little bit of help from Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) who makes an appearance alongside the duo in the trailer.

"Batman v Superman" will be in theaters March 25, 2016. 

Check it out below.

SEE ALSO: A new clip for "Batman v Superman"

Join the conversation about this story »

Ben Affleck stopped by "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" Wednesday evening to debut a new "Batman v Superman" trailer, and it shows off a lot of new footage.

While we know the two superheroes will go head-to-head in next spring's movie, the biggest reveal was a new villain the two will face off against: Doomsday.

While Batman and Superman may start off as likely foes, it looks like they'll have to put their beef aside in order to deal with, what appears to be, a resurrected General Zod (Michael Shannon) (Yep! We're going there!) in the form of a monstrous creature known as Doomsday in the comics. 

Oh yeah, and they'll get a little bit of help from Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) who makes an appearance alongside the duo in the trailer.

"Batman v Superman" will be in theaters March 25, 2016. 

Check it out below.

SEE ALSO: A new clip for "Batman v Superman"

Join the conversation about this story »

Some people don't realize they are biological robots, Deepak Chopra says, but they are.

"They are machines. There is no difference between you and your computer," the award-winning author and physician told Business Insider this week while promoting the new documentary he's in, "Mindfulness: Be Happy Now."

To combat this, people can practice mindfulness, or the art of being present. It's practiced by a number of successful people, including Oprah, Anderson Cooper, and actress Sharon Stone.

Chopra says that mindfulness is a "conscious, unattached, nonjudgemental awareness" that is useful to bring "clarity to mind and more insight and intuition and creativity" into one's life. 

He offered us some tips for those who are interested in mindfulness and how it might help their lives and careers:

1. Stop and ask yourself if you are aware: "Stopping and asking yourself questions about if you are aware and what you are aware of will bring you to the present moment. That's what awareness is. It has no location or sense of time; it's a state of being," he explained.
2. Close your eyes and focus on your body and how it is functioning.
3. Concentrate on your breathing for five minutes.
4. Before you react to anything, observe your reaction and ask yourself why you are reacting that way.

"People have to be interested [in mindfulness]," he said. "You can show them the tools, but it’s up to them to use the tools and have a more fulfilling life." 

And for those who say that the concept is easier said than done, Chopra has this simple piece of advice: Be aware.

"Once you become aware, it's easy. If you are not, of course it's difficult," he said. "You first have to practice being aware."

Chopra recently released his book "Super Genes," which explores the health and scientific benefits of mindfulness. "Mindfulness: Be Happy Now" also stars Sharon Stone, director Oliver Stone, "dog whisperer" Cesar Millan, and Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh.    

The documentary, produced and directed by Larry Kasanoff, is available now via on-demand services including Amazon Instant Video and iTunes.

SEE ALSO: Oprah chose this self-help guru to teach her new online course

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here's why Adele is the most popular musician on the planet

With Harrison Ford dusting off his blaster and heading back out to a galaxy far, far away with "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," out this month, talk has only elevated about when it will be time for him to turn to his trusty fedora as Indiana Jones.

Or will the franchise go for a young Indy? That was suggested by rumors that Chris Pratt may take over the role.

Everyone can take a deep breath. The franchise's director Steven Spielberg made it clear in a recent interview with Screen International that no one will replace Harrison Ford. Ever.

“It’s certainly not my intention to ever have another actor step into his shoes in the way there have been many actors that have played Spider-Man or Batman," Spielberg said. "There is only going to be one actor playing Indiana Jones and that’s Harrison Ford.”

Well, River Phoenix played the young Indy in "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade," and then there was Sean Patrick Flanery in the TV series "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles" — but we know what Spielberg is getting at. Any movie that will be made, at least with Spielberg's blessing, will be with Ford in the lead. 

But that likely won't be for a while. There's still no release date or even a script.  

SEE ALSO: The new "Batman v Superman" trailer is here and it finally reveals the villain

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The number of times Obama has had to respond to mass shootings during his presidency is staggering

Will Smith credits his career to a girlfriend who cheated on him when he was 15.

In an interview for Variety’s“Actors on Actors” special, Smith tells Benicio Del Toro that he looks for characters with psychological twists because of his own personal experience. 

"When I was 15, my girlfriend cheated on me. And from that moment, in this bizarre psychological twist, I wanted to be the most famous entertainer on Earth, because I believed that your girlfriend couldn’t cheat on you," Smith said. "It’s that really bizarre psychological leap, and I’m always looking for that in my characters."

In the upcoming film "Concussion," Smith portrays Dr. Bennet Omalu, who pioneered research into the effects of repetitive brain trauma suffered by professional football players, and who fought the NFL when it tried to suppress his work. The film will be released December 25.  

You can watch the full interview below:

SEE ALSO: Here's the workout Michael B. Jordan used to get in insane shape for his boxing movie, 'Creed'

Join the conversation about this story »

The goal of “Creed” trainer Corey Calliet was to make actor Michael B. Jordan “action figure” fit for his lead role in the movie, a reboot of the "Rocky" franchise. Jordan didn’t just feel the burn while training, but while recovering as well.

When the production began filming the fight scenes, to recover more quickly, Jordan underwent the painful Chinese medical treatment known as Gua Sha every two weeks.

This entails scraping the skin to produce light bruising so the areas stimulate blood flow and healing, according to practitioners of the method.

"We would go to this place in Philly and they actually had this thing that looked like a small shovel to scrape his back," Calliet recently told Business Insider. 

Though there have been reports of injuries from having the practice done, Calliet did not mention Jordan getting injured from it. In fact, he said it helped his flexibility for the fighting scenes.

“It’s the worst pain in the world,” Calliet said. “I did it once and I told them to stop.”

“Creed” is currently in theaters nationwide.

SEE ALSO: Here's the workout Michael B. Jordan used to get in insane shape for the boxing movie, "Creed"

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This just might be the most beautiful roll of sushi ever created

Today, millennials watch 40 minutes less of traditional TV every day than they did two years ago. And 25% of millennials have never paid for cable, according to BI Intelligence. 

The last time I actually had cable was when I lived in a dorm at college in 2011. But I still watch everything you watch, when you watch it. I just don't pay the $100 monthly cable bill.

I don't pay for cable because it's expensive, and if you move every year (like a lot of young people in New York City do), it's a pain to set up new service over and over again.

But I use a bunch of services that help me "cut the cord" while still letting me watch almost everything basic cable provides. Here's how you can do it too.

SEE ALSO: 23 millennial cord-cutters explain why they're totally not impressed by Apple's TV subscription service plans

Ditch your cable subscription for good.

According to the NPD Group, the average American pays $123 a month for cable from places like DirecTV, Time Warner, or Comcast. That's almost $1500 annually. Even if you have roommates, that's an unfeasible amount of money. 

All told, I spend about $17 on streaming services that meet my needs, plus the cost of internet. It's easy to spend more, but a lot of services are quite duplicative (Netflix and Amazon Prime have mostly the same movies, for example), so it's a matter of finding what works for you.

But don't ditch your TV.

OK, so you don't *need* a television set if you're cutting the cord — you can stream on your tablet or your computer or even your phone. But you can use a TV set to watch network TV, which is different from cable.  (A lot of my friends didn't know the difference between the two). All you have to buy is a digital antenna to access Fox, CBS, NBC, and ABC.

Cost: Digital antennas cost between $20 and $50, usually. Using them is a bit trial-and-error, so we can't promise a perfect connection. But if you want network channels, it might be a good investment.

Start with the basics.

Netflix is perhaps the most ubiquitous subscription streaming service. It lets you stream a ton of movies and TV series — both Netflix originals like "Orange is the New Black" and "Master of None" as well as shows you probably watched on cable, like "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia." Mostly though, people go to Netflix for the movies. There's nothing livestreaming on Netflix, so you'll miss same-day or next-day streams of shows you like, but if you don't care about immediacy, Netflix is your friend.

Cost: $8.99/month for streaming on one device. (I joined Netflix before May 2014, when the service increased its prices, so I was grandfathered into a $7.99/month plan). If you want to pay $4 more per month, you can share Netflix's streaming plan on four devices at the same time. This is good for families, or if you have a bunch of roommates.

A new "Batman v Superman" trailer debuted on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" Wednesday.

And while the two superheroes will be squaring off in next spring's big movie, the trailer revealed they'll also be facing an iconic DC villain: Doomsday.

The reveal confirmed what many fans, including myself, have been thinking for some time: General Zod (Michael Shannon) will be used in some way to help create the iconic villain. It's not clear whether Zod is resurrected, but it appears as if he's used to help give birth to Doomsday, or the devil, as Jesse Eisenberg's Lex Luthor refers to him in the new trailer.

From the trailer, we know Doomsday's scary, has laser vision like Superman, and, presumably, super strength, but what else?

If you're not familiar with the character, let's break it down.

Who's Doomsday?

Doomsday is a ravaging madman bent on destroying anything and everything in his path. The main thing you need to know about him is that he killed the man of steel in 1992's "The Death of Superman." Yes, this guy killed Superman.

In the comics, Doomsday's powers include super strength, speed, regeneration, and he can even resurrect himself. (Yeah, that's not good.)

Here's how he looks in the comics:

The character has been introduced a few different ways, and he's always looked particularly cartoonish and goofy. In his first comic appearance, he was a monster from Superman's home planet of Krypton, created after a series of experiments.

In television series "Smallville," Doomsday was created in part by General Zod.

In the animated series, he's made as an evil clone of Superman.

In one animated movie, 2007's "Superman: Doomsday," the creature is unearthed by LexCorp employees during a mining project. Luthor clones Superman to create a version of the man of steel he can control.

From the new trailer, it looks like we may see some version of that play out on screen. We see Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) appear to bring this creature to life to battle it out with Superman.

So far, the reaction to the new Doomsday hasn't been overwhelming with fans.

Many have compared him to a Ninja Turtle or Abomination, the character seen in Marvel's 2008 "Incredible Hulk" movie.

Some other fans see a resemblance to a troll from "The Lord of the Rings."

What do you think of Doomsday?

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How Superman's costume has changed since its first time on the big screen

Kesha fans are uniting around the singer in a social-media campaign to free her from her contract with Sony.

The singer filed a lawsuit against producer Dr. Luke in 2014, alleging that he was sexually, physically, and emotionally abusive to her. The singer is legally tied to the producer per her Sony contract and is prevented from working with other producers while the contract is being disputed in court. She filed new papers in November seeking permission to work with other producers. 

Dr. Luke, real name Lukasz Gottwald, countersued for breach of contract and defamation days after Kesha filed her original suit. 

An online petition urging Sony to voluntarily terminate Kesha's contract currently has 85,590 supporters and is close to reaching its goal of 90,000.

"It's our hope the court grants this injunction, but Sony can end all of this right now by voluntarily terminating Kesha's contract with Dr. Luke. Please sign the petition to tell Sony to #FreeKesha: Don't force her to work with her alleged abuser!" the petition says. 

Fans have also stated that they will be protesting outside of the courthouse the day Kesha goes to trial.

We are protesting outside the courthouse the day of Keshas trial in NYC this January! Date & Time TBA #FreeKeshaNowpic.twitter.com/1qzKgxc2Ev

— Kesha Rose (@KeshaTODAY) December 1, 2015

"We stand with Kesha" was trending on Twitter yesterday and fans have also been tweeting #FreeKeshaNow.

SEE ALSO: Drake was the most popular artist on Spotify this year

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Parents are complaining that Pixar's new movie scares the crap out of their kids

"Creed" is being hailed as the best "Rocky" movie since the original.

Actor Michael B. Jordan, who plays Apollo Creed's son, Adonis, had a huge legacy to live up to. And he needed to get into shape. 

He trained with Corey Calliet, who gave him an insane workout routine that he did six days a week leading up to production. The results really showed. In fact, Sylvester Stallone even said that Jordan was in better shape than he had been for the "Rocky" movies.

Calliet noticed the fast results as well. "I remember when we started out, Mike couldn't lift 25 pounds, but then I started to see the confidence as he could see results," Calliet told Business Insider. "Now he jumps rope better than I ever could, and I fought Golden Gloves."

"Creed" is now playing in theaters across the country.

Story by Ian Phillips and editing by Jeremy Dreyfuss

INSIDER is on Facebook: Follow us here

Join the conversation about this story »

Adding to the list of original "Star Wars" characters returning to the galaxy in "The Force Awakens" is a character from with one line of dialogue in "Return of the Jedi" but a lot of staying power.

Fans can rest assured that Admiral Ackbar is coming back.

In its "Star Wars" cover story, Rolling Stone confirmed that the former rebel leader, known for his "It's a trap" line, will make an appearance in the upcoming film. 

Fans did think they spotted the Admiral in a TV spot that debuted last month, but this confirms the news. 

Other fan favorites making a return include: Han Solo, Princess (now General) Leia, Chewbacca, Luke Skywalker, C-3P0, and R2-D2

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" will be released December 18. 

SEE ALSO: The world's top designers made these 'Star Wars'-inspired clothes you'd actually want to wear

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here's what everyone gets wrong about the WWE being fake

Since it started producing its own shows in 2013, Netflix has gone all-in on original content.

CEO Reed Hastings and content chief Ted Sarandos have repeatedly emphasized that original content is the future of the platform, and that Netflix wants to drastically increase its output of new shows. 

Hastings has also worked hard to promote the idea that Netflix can consistently outperform other companies in producing quality shows because of its treasure trove of data. He characterizes Netflix a "data machine," one that knows exactly what TV show you want to watch, and then gives it to you.

Is it true?

Some research has suggested that Netflix is, indeed, better at making shows than major networks like ABC and Fox. Exstreamist's Rob Toledo recently looked at data from the reviews-website Rotten Tomatoes, from 2013 to the present, and saw that Netflix came out ahead of all the major broadcast networks in the eyes of critics.

But these networks are not the only ones Netflix competes with. In fact, most Netflix shows feel closer to those produced by cable (and premium) networks like AMC, FX, Showtime, or HBO.

How does Netflix stack up against them?

Andrew Dodson from Cut Cable Today has done new analysis that looks at how good Netflix shows are in comparison to these more niche (or "edgy") networks. To get a reliable rating, Dodson used the two most popular review-aggregating sites, Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes (both of which rate on a scale of 1-100). He looked at the data from shows going back to 2000 to get a sense of how Netflix fared next to these competitors.

Here is a chart of what he found:

Notably absent was Hulu, which Dodson says didn't have enough reviews data. Netflix came in fourth, behind HBO, Showtime, and FX:

1. HBO: 82.3

2. Showtime: 75.1

3. FX: 74

4. Netflix: 73.6

5. AMC: 73.5

6. Amazon: 71.8

7. Starz: 71.6

8. USA Network: 65.2

This data suggests that while Netflix has had success in creating shows, there is no silver bullet. 

"Netflix is like any other network, with hits and misses, and we do not expect its data advantage to provide it with a better batting average," analysts from Morgan Stanley wrote in an investor note.

But it seems too early in Netflix's content-making future to decide whether Netflix executives or Morgan Stanley are right about this, especially since Netflix's two latest releases, "Master of None" and "Jessica Jones," have scored its top critic reviews of all time.

Perhaps Netflix hasn't even completely warmed up yet.

SEE ALSO: 11 tips to make you a Netflix master

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Cable channels are speeding up 'Seinfeld' reruns to squeeze in more commercials

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" has taken over the fashion world. 

Disney Consumer Products and Bloomingdale's partnered to create "Force 4 Fashion," a fundraising initiative.

Eleven designers created 12 outfits (Rag & Bone created two) inspired by characters from the upcoming "Star Wars" film to be auctioned off on CharityBuzz.com from December 2 to December 18, the day the film is released. The proceeds from the auction will go to Child Mind Institute.

All of the pieces will appear in Bloomingdale’s 57th Street windows in Manhattan starting December 3. 

Take a look at the 12 outfits below and see how the characters acted as inspiration: 

SEE ALSO: Someone put all the released 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' footage in chronological order

Finn by Timo Weiland

Kylo Ren by Halston

BB-8 by Cynthia Rowley

It's time to get serious about holiday shopping.

Trying to decide on the perfect laptop, tablet, or tech accessory can be overwhelming.

Manufacturers release tons of gadgets all year, so sifting through all of your options to find the best fit is often a pain.

Our holiday gift guide is full of excellent ideas — whether you're trying to find a new laptop for your son or daughter going away to college, some new cases and accessories to use as stocking stuffers, or the best entertainment devices to spice up your living room.

Audio-Technica's M50x headphones are the best headphones you can buy under $200

The M50x headphones are entry-level audiophile headphones that are stylish too. A fan-favorite for their crystal clear sound and accurate bass, these professional-grade studio headphones will make your favorite songs sound even better.

Price: $158.98

Sennheiser's Momentum 2 headphones are the best headphones under $300

Sennheiser's Momentum 2 headphones blow Beats out of the water with their impressive sound quality and premium design that won't go out of style any time soon. A slight step up from Audio-Technica's M50x headphones, these headphones will ensure you're hearing your music how it's intended to sound, and there's even handy controls for your smartphone too.

Price:$248

Brad Pitt is angry about the housing-bubble collapse and subsequent financial meltdown.

Pitt spoke with the Hollywood Reporter about the financial crisis of the mid-2000s chronicled in "The Big Short," the upcoming film he stars in and produced.

"It’s disgusting. It makes me angry," he said about what led up to the crisis.

He also believes that those involved should have been held accountable, and he's worried that it could happen again. 

"I am just disappointed no one is being held accountable. Because without those kind of incentives not to behave this way, why shouldn’t it happen again?" he said. 

Ultimately, Pitt hopes that the film explains to people how the financial crisis happened in a way they can understand.

"The language is intensely tricky, so people are relying on the people giving them advice," he said. "It’s rigged to be so confusing that no one could even begin to understand until suddenly there are loans adjusted without anyone really aware of what’s really going on."

He said that his dream is that the film helps lead to "tougher regulations and more safeguards and certainly an overhaul of the ratings agencies." 

"The Big Short" will be released December 11.

You can watch the trailer below: 

SEE ALSO: The crazy story of how 'The Big Short' got Led Zeppelin to approve song rights

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here's why Adele is the most popular musician on the planet

The giants in the streaming world like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu currently have the ultimate bargaining chip.

Unlike traditional TV, whose lifeblood is advertising and fees from cable providers, streaming companies live off direct user subscriptions completely untethered from that old model. This gives them the power to hoard all the data on how many and what kinds of people watch their TV shows and movies for themselves, free of outside pressures. Because, basically, they have no one to answer to.

Many in Hollywood are wondering how long they will have that luxury.

With the major streaming companies gaining a higher profile thanks to the popularity of the award-winning original content they've been developing, more and more people in the industry want some hard data on the number of people watching shows like “House of Cards” or “Transparent.”

That includes the filmmakers responsible for making streaming content, who are almost as clueless as anyone else.

“I finally accosted [Netflix head of content acquisitions] Ted Sarandos recently to try to give me the numbers,” “Beasts of No Nation” director Cary Fukunaga told Business Insider. Fukunaga said the numbers he got were “reassuring," but he had to jump through hoops to get them.

Sarandos told Deadline shortly after "Beasts" came out simultaneously in theaters (where it had a weak opening) and on streaming that it had three million views in North America alone. That figure is still vague, however, since it's unclear if it counts people who finished the film or simply started it.

When Fukunaga was asked if he thinks streaming companies should release their numbers publicly he said, “I think they should. Why not?”

The answer, of course, is that Netflix would then lose an enormous advantage.

With a studio knowing how its content is performing, the streaming service would no longer be in control of the price of the deal, and a more level negotiation for the content would take place.

According to numerous sources aware of the negotiations who spoke to Business Insider, the major studios are making billion-dollar deals with streaming companies known as output deals — selling a group of titles from a studio's library to a streaming service — with little knowledge of whether the dollar amounts they're selling for align with the performances of those titles on the streaming platforms.

“We’ve giving the family jewels over to a platform and we’re not understanding what’s working and what’s not,” said one source who's familiar with a studio's analytics.

At the moment, the best sense of viewership for studios comes from third-party companies that are beginning to pop up. These outside entities have built algorithms to provide data about who's watching what. One of them, Luth Research, does so by gathering a sample of Netflix subscribers. But this data is nowhere close to being as reliable or specific as the internal information a company like Netflix has.

Numerous people interviewed for this story all pointed to one solution that would level the playing field: If one of the media conglomerates such as NBCUniversal or Sony were to insist on streaming companies being transparent with their data when negotiating for output deals, it could turn a corner.

“It would be a wake-up call to the streaming world if a major player would walk away,” one source told BI.

Time will only tell if anyone has the fortitude to refuse a billion-dollar deal.

SEE ALSO: Even Hollywood insiders are completely clueless about Netflix's streaming numbers

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This guy filmed himself in a stolen Porsche before he crashed it and got arrested