Watch: Why Selena Gomez explained economics perfectly in 'The Big Short'

That was a bit of a shocker seeing Selena Gomez in The Big Short, explaining how a "synthetic CDO" works.

Yes, that happened in the Oscar-nominated film by Adam McKay.

Naturally, Gomez was sitting next to Dr. Richard Thaler, the father of behavioral economics, at a blackjack table for the eye-opening lesson.

Come on, the "Hands to Myself" singer was perfect for the synthetic CDO lesson, right? Actually she was.

As Gomez herself explains in this exclusive clip from The Big Short digital release Tuesday (Feb. 23), the film's Oscar-nominated writers were able to break down complex economics into simple, hilarious moments like this.

And people might actually pay attention to it if Selena is talking.

"What I love about what they are doing here is finding ways to explain it to people, so that when they watch it, myself included, we’ll understand everything that’s going on."

Selena adds:

"Using my platform for things like this is why I love my job."

Steve Carell, who stars as Mark Baum in The Big Short, explains that celebrities can be useful when it comes to drawing attention to the boring, complex principles behind the terrible 2008 housing crisis.

"There’s a lot to understand, it’s a complicated world. But to have these celebrities as themselves, explain it to you. Somehow it makes it more palatable.

As chef Anthony Bourdain, who also makes an explanation appearance himself in another genius moment, says:

"I’m the right guy for the job, as a close observer of Wall Street. Actually I have no idea what I’m talking about."