Greed

Greed is primarily set on the Greek island of Mykonos, where the extravagant 60th birthday party takes place. Additional settings include the United Kingdom (particularly Leicester), which anchors Sir Richard McCreadie's origins and the government inquiry into his business practices. Sri Lanka represents the Southeast Asian sweatshops that underpin his fashion empire.

Greed alternates between two time periods: McCreadie's rise to power in the 1970s and 1980s, and the present-day events surrounding his 60th birthday celebration and an ongoing government inquiry into his business practices.

Sir Richard McCreadie is a ruthless, charismatic billionaire fashion mogul played by Will Smith. His empire was built on sweatshops, tax avoidance, and aggressive asset stripping. Despite his public wit and curated image, he is depicted as a predatory businessman who relies on media networks to maintain a flawless public persona.

The wealth theme in Greed explores how fortune is derived from exploitation and system manipulation. The film depicts sweatshops, tax avoidance, and asset stripping as the foundation of McCreadie's fortune, using the glamour of fashion and celebrity to mask harsh realities faced by workers and communities. The opulence serves as a critique of the hidden human cost of luxury.

The ethics theme in Greed examines the boundary between truth and image. Nick, the journalist hired to ghostwrite McCreadie's memoir, wrestles with whitewashing the tycoon's legacy. The film shows how ethical compromises are normalized within media circles, highlighting the tension between narrative control and moral accountability.

Nick is a mild-mannered journalist played by David Mitchell who is hired to ghostwrite McCreadie's memoir. As he investigates McCreadie's past, his ethical doubts deepen while uncovering the human costs behind the wealth. His evolving relationship with Amanda further tests his loyalties and moral compass.

The displacement theme in Greed highlights the human cost of McCreadie's empire. Refugees near the party site contrast with displayed wealth, while the exploitation that funds the empire is linked to suffering of workers and families displaced by globalization. The Roman-style arena becomes a symbol of how wealth depends on marginalized lives.

The public image theme in Greed shows how McCreadie's persona is a crafted performance designed to win admiration and silence critics. His memoir functions as PR to sanitize wrongdoing, while Nick's complicity is tested by the pull of spectacle and fame. The film exposes how celebrity culture sustains dangerous illusions.

Finn is McCreadie's son, played by Asa Butterfield. He exhibits an Oedipal fixation on replacing his father, fueling reckless behavior including stealing cocaine and meddling with the lion. His duplicitous nature foreshadows a similarly corrupt future for the family business.

Amanda is McCreadie's assistant who uncovers painful truths behind the empire and reveals personal histories that complicate Nick's ghostwriting task. She acts decisively by releasing the lion during the crisis, choosing to condemn exploitation rather than remain complicit.

Samantha is McCreadie's ex-wife, played by Isla Fisher, who remains publicly connected to the family and acts as a de facto CEO. She navigates the fallout from scandals while balancing family loyalties and her own ambitions within the empire.

Naomi is McCreadie's younger trophy wife, played by Shanina Shaik. Her presence at the party serves as a symbol of glamour and social status, underscoring the performative nature of elite wealth and the personal costs associated with such relationships.

Young Richard McCreadie began as an outcast student at a prestigious public school in the UK. His formative experiences as a rebellious youth foreshadow the ruthless, calculating approach that would drive his later ascent to billionaire status through the fashion industry.