Aspiring to start your own business? The journey of entrepreneurship can be tiring yet rewarding, and it is definitely not for everyone. There is no guarantee to success in entrepreneurship and sometimes doing it alone can make you feel isolated. If you feel discouraged, lonely or that nobody understands you, grab some popcorn and watch these movies for inspiration.
This list of entrepreneur movies contain many values that you can implement in your own journey as a business owner. Some movies on the list are even based on real stories by real people like yourself! No matter which stage you are in, these movies have insights that will be helpful in business and life.
1. The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
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A young aspiring journalist landed a job as the assistant of a high profile fashionista. At first she was a misfit in the industry but eventually adapts and goes above and beyond in her role. The movie brings different perspectives to light, you can see people who made it, people who are trying to make it and the perspective of their partners. It is an incredibly accurate portrayal of real life corporate climbing and the decisions one has to make as they climb or maintain that status.
2. The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
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The Pursuit of Happyness follows the journey of a man trying to provide his son with a better life. He was an entrepreneur who sold medical scanners but later earned a stockbroker internship. The movie is filled with setbacks and heart aching moments but followed with grit, perseverance and small wins that will bring a smile to your face. As an entrepreneur, there is no doubt that you will face relentless discouragement but if you are at the bottom, your only way is up.
3. The Godfather (1972)
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The Godfather is an influential classic with many obvious values and catchy phrases. The movie is about a mafia family who is affected by the change in leadership from father to son. Though this movie is filled with criminal acts and illegal activities, there are a few things we can learn from the characters in that mafia family. Among them is the importance of family, taking care and protecting your kin. No matter how successful you get, one should stand by their family. A family here means blood relatives but it doesn’t have to be. A family could be people who support and care for you sincerely. Keep them close, keep them safe.
4. Pirates of Silicon Valley (1999)
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Follow Steve Jobs and Bill Gates as they simultaneously develop personal computers back in 1971 till 1997. This biographical drama is based on real stories of famous founders of tech giants during one of the greatest technological expansions in human history. The movie also exhibits the different working environment and cultures. You could try imagining yourself in their shoes to see if it suits you, or implement things you see them practice.
5. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
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This film is based on the ups and downs of Jordan Belfort before he became successful and his downfall. Jordan Belfort was a stockbroker when he started out in his career. Not too long after, he lost his job and started to work in another firm dealing with penny stocks. With the nature of his trading, he was able to make some money.
He later founded a company with his friend and the company turned out to be pretty successful. His success led him to lose his grip on his personal life and choices then things started to go downhill from there. You must watch this movie if you want an easy way to gain perspective of what success can bring.
6. Hustlers (2019)
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A thought provoking movie about women hustlers who had to do what they must to support themselves as well as people they love. These women had difficult beginnings in life and had to tough it out to survive. In the beginning of the movie, they made money with stripping but later they learnt to make more money by conning rich male victims.
The characters were unique and there were some moments where you can somewhat relate to how they feel. No matter what gender or where you grew up in, you’ll face situations where you’ll be at a disadvantage. Though some parts of the movie are pretty unethical, you cannot deny that these women were determined and hardworking when it comes to bettering their lives.
7. Joy (2015)
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Joy Mangano is always in a financial struggle even though she has a regular, decent day job. She lives with her family consisting of dependents and a few free loaders that kept her tied to her financial problems. Joy is an innovative woman and she built her own self wringing mop when she got tired of doing it. Her friend encouraged her to take this idea, create a product out of it and sell them. She secured an investment but her troubles are just getting started.
Joy then had to face many hurdles, problems with the manufacturer and failed advertisements were among her various challenges. This is an empowering movie especially for females who feel stuck in a burdensome living situation. Let Joy be an inspiration for women and men to emerge successful despite multiple major setbacks.
8. Erin Brockovich (2000)
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The movie starts off with Erin Brockovich, a woman in the midst of looking for a job to support her family financially. She is a single mother, broke and alone with three children to feed. Erin is a confident, self-assured and hardworking person. She got a job at a law firm as a clerk without any prior legal education or experience. There was a particular case about a chemical factory that caught her eye.
She proceeded to investigate this and took matters into her own hands. A major lesson that you can take away from this movie is to use your traits as an advantage. By being genuinely yourself and with the right attitude, you can achieve things other successful people may not. Good education and a well established family background may help you kickstart your career. If you happen to not have that, think of Erin Brochovich.
9. Steve Jobs (2015)
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If you have not heard of Steve Jobs, you’ve been living under a rock. In this biographical drama film, we get to follow the life of the co-founder and former CEO of Apple Inc in his life during the introduction of a few revolutionary products.
There are three acts in the movie that correspond to the incidents during this period. Steve Jobs’ personal, family life and career are depicted in the movie and narrated to show his joys and troubles with the people around him. As an entrepreneur, there will be many ups and downs in your business. Everyone’s story is different, so take this movie as a documentary and pick out any values or lessons that resonate with you.
10. Startup.com (2001)
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Startup.com is a documentary movie set in the course of the dot-com bubble of the late 1990s, a company by the name of GovWorks.com rose and eventually fell to its demise. The movie chronicles the struggles of two co-founders, Kaleil Isaza Tuzman and Tom Herman, as they attempt to deal with the difficulties of establishing and expanding a company in the extremely unstable and quickly evolving technological sector.
Along with examining the greater political and economic factors of the era, the movie also examines the founders’ interpersonal and professional interactions. It provides a direct and provocative look at the difficulties and costs associated with starting and operating a firm, as well as the dangers and benefits of entrepreneurship.
11. Boiler Room (2000)
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A college dropout named Seth Davis works as a stockbroker at a small, suburban brokerage business called J.T. Marlin. Seth quickly moves up the corporate ladder at a firm known for its aggressive sales techniques and for hiring young, inexperienced brokers. But as he immerses himself more in the world of high finance, he starts to suspect that J.T. Marlin may not be as trustworthy as it looks. He must now choose whether to remain with the company or reveal its unlawful practices. The movie looks at issues including lust for power, corruption, and greed.
12. The Intern (2015)
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Starting a new job can be a difficult challenge, especially if you’re already retired. Looking to get back into the game, 70-year-old widower Ben Whittaker (Robert De Niro) seizes the opportunity to become a senior intern at an online fashion site.
Ben soon becomes popular with his younger co-workers, including Jules Ostin (Anne Hathaway), the boss and founder of the company. Whittaker’s charm, wisdom and sense of humor help him develop a special bond and growing friendship with Jules.
13. Thank You For Smoking (2005)
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Smooth-talking tobacco lobbyist Nick Naylor tries to maintain his professional and personal lives with his charm and wit when his company encounters a PR disaster. He tried to be a good father to his son in the midst of distorting the truth to advance the interests of the company he worked in. When a young Hollywood star spoke up against smoking and a senator initiated to add warning labels on cigarette packs, Nick had to carefully tread as he navigated this situation for his company.
As his personal and professional worlds collide under increasing strain, he must do everything he can to protect both his kid and his job. The movie addresses the ideas of morality, familial ties, and identity. As an entrepreneur, one will definitely encounter situations that test the integrity of one’s belief. Will you stand firm or will you bend your beliefs?
14. Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
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The movie is set in a real estate company’s sales office, where a group of desperate real estate agents are competing fiercely to sell unwanted properties. The coming of a motivational speaker who carries with him a new sales contest added to their pressure. For those who don’t close sales and make the cut, there is the prospect of termination.
Glengarry Glen Ross is an intense and riveting examination of the competitive world of sales and the extremes that individuals will go to in order to succeed.
15. The Founder (2016)
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A struggling seller of milkshake machines named Ray Kroc ends up being the “founder” of the McDonald’s Corporation. In San Bernardino, California, he finds a modest but profitable fast food restaurant managed by Richard and Maurice McDonald. From there, the narrative shifts to how he acquired the business and grew it into one of the biggest and most prosperous fast food chains in the world.
In the movie, themes of ambition, greed, and the American Dream are explored, and it is demonstrated how Kroc’s tenacity and resolve, as well as his brutal business methods, enabled him to establish an empire. Along with Kroc’s portrayal, the movie also emphasizes the McDonald brothers’ contributions, challenges, and expulsion from their own creation.
16. Wall Street (1987)
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The movie portrays the tale of Bud Fox, a young, aspirational stockbroker who teams up with Gordon Gekko, a cunning, affluent corporate crook. It was all good in the beginning but Fox had to start weighing the ethical consequences of his actions as he became increasingly involved in Gekko’s world of insider trading and manipulation.
Fox must decide between pursuing his desire for success and doing what is right. The movie, which made the term “Greed is Good” famous, is a reflection on the excesses and moral decline of 1980s Wall Street culture.
17. Margin Call (2011)
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Margin Call takes place in the early stages of the 2007–2008 financial crisis. It follows the senior management at an investment bank who discover a grave threat in the bank’s portfolio. The plot centers on the important decision-makers at the bank as they learn more about the magnitude of the issue and the potential repercussions of a worldwide financial collapse. The team scrambles to stop the bank’s and the financial system’s overall collapse.
The movie is renowned for its in-depth and accurate portrayal of the circumstances leading up to the financial crisis and its investigation of the moral and ethical conundrums experienced by individuals in positions of authority in the banking sector. With the ever changing economy, this movie gives one a great insight to what goes on within banks. An entrepreneur will most likely be associated with a bank and their products so it will be good to have a glimpse of how they operate during critical times.
18. Jobs (2013)
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If you are not a keen reader, you can watch Jobs instead of reading his autobiography to get to know his life story. Steve Jobs is no doubt a successful and famous entrepreneur, so one can learn a few things from his journey to the top.
This movie spans from Jobs’ undergraduate years in the 1970s, his termination as the company’s CEO in the 1980s, and his eventual return to Apple Inc in the late 1990s. The movie traces Jobs’ steps in life as he started a computer company, left college, and eventually became one of the most successful businessmen ever, developing new goods and technology that altered the course of history.
19. Betting on Zero (2017)
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Betting on Zero explores the debate surrounding Herbalife, a multi-level marketing firm that has been charged with running a pyramid scheme. The narrative of the movie centers on a hedge fund manager who has placed a sizable short bet against the business and has been outspoken in his claims that Herbalife is a scam. These groups were particularly targeted by the company’s recruitment efforts and were among those who were most negatively impacted by its alleged exploitative activities.
The movie details Ackman’s study into Herbalife, including its operations, history, and suspected fraud. It also demonstrates the business’s legal and PR stances towards Ackman’s allegations. It also includes viewpoints from those who were impacted by the business’s operations, such as distributors and Latino community members. Furthermore, it emphasizes the 2016 settlement between Herbalife and the Federal Trade Commission following the government’s investigation into the company.
20. Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988)
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The movie is based on the real-life experiences of Preston Tucker, an inventor and businessman who had an idea to create a car that would be safer and more technologically advanced than those made by the leading automakers of the day. He was able to get a lot of interest and support, but the major players in the sector were fiercely opposing his notion because they viewed his visions as a threat to their business.
The movie focuses on Tucker’s will to succeed in creating his vision’s automobile, the Tucker ’48, in spite of the many challenges he faced, such as legal issues, a shortage of funding, and unfavorable press. Additionally, the movie discusses individualism, entrepreneurship, and creativity.
21. Moneyball (2011)
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The movie tells the tale of Billy Beane, general manager of the Oakland A’s, a team from a tiny market that had to contend with teams from wealthier cities that had bigger budgets. He was unsatisfied with the conventional approach to squad formation, which depends on scouting and subjective player assessments. Instead, Beane uses data analysis to create a strong team on a tight budget. In the movie, Beane’s new strategy, which looks for undervalued players using statistical analysis, propels the team to a record-breaking winning streak and a playoff appearance in 2002.
This movie shows how one can challenge conventional ways to solve a problem. An entrepreneur can benefit from looking at things from different perspectives when making a choice. Just because a method has always worked does not mean there are no other ways to go about it. It may surprise you that the road less traveled may be the better one.
22. The Corporation (2003)
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The Corporation explores the history, development and influences of corporations in the modern economy. The movie examines how companies have been legally recognized as “persons,” with many of the same rights and benefits as you and I, but none of the moral or ethical obligations. It explores how businesses have evolved into some of the most potent and significant institutions in the world, as well as the effects they have had on both society and the environment.
Many professionals, including business executives, academics, activists and historians were interviewed for the movie. Additionally, it incorporates clips from movies, television shows, and commercials to support its arguments. The movie discusses issues such corporate globalization, labor exploitation, corporate impact on the environment and corporate influence on politics.
23. The White Tiger (2021)
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The White Tiger narrates the tale of Balram Halwai, a lowly Indian driver who works as a chauffeur for a wealthy businessman. For many years in his life, Balram was content with his status and his way of life.
He slowly learned about the greed, corruption and class division that is very common in his country and became aware that this is not for him anymore. Balram started to devise plans to rise above his lowly status and become a prosperous businessman too. He accomplished this by robbing his master and using the cash to launch his own company, thereby establishing himself as an entrepreneur.
The movie emphasizes the complexities of the caste system and class division while portraying a dark, gritty, and cynical image of Indian culture. Although there are things in this movie that one shouldn’t follow, it does give people hope that they can change their lives if they are determined to.
24. The Social Network (2010)
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The Social Network is a fictionalized account of the creation of Facebook and the subsequent legal disputes. The movie is about the life of Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg, who founded “TheFacebook”, a social networking site in 2004. The website rapidly gained a following among Harvard students and gained popularity at other American institutions. As the site expands, Eduardo Saverin, another co-founder, and Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss accused Zuckerberg of stealing their idea for the site and were suing him. The movie also shows Zuckerberg’s relationships and personal life, notably his romance with Erica Albright.
25. Extreme Job (2019)
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This Korean movie is about a team of detectives who go undercover at a fried chicken restaurant in pursuit of a narcotics gang in a run-down part of the city. They started the fried chicken restaurant as part of their police work but it unexpectedly became popular and turned into an actual business.
Now as successful restaurant owners, they must figure out how to combine their police obligations with those of managing a thriving eatery. This movie is a comedic relief to those who need a break from all the seriousness of business.
26. The Billionaire (2011)
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If you think being poor or broke is problematic, try being extremely rich. The Billionaire is a Thai movie about Ting, an unemployed motorcycle taxi driver who is poor and illiterate suddenly winning a billion baht in the lottery. He is abruptly catapulted into a world of luxury and privilege, but he soon learns that his newfound prosperity has its own problems and difficulties. He encounters a variety of challenges and odd personalities as he attempts to adjust to his new way of life.
Given his newfound fortune, he finds it difficult to maintain his humanity and humility. The story addresses both the comic and serious parts of Ting’s new existence after he becomes a billionaire, and it touches on the subjects of wealth and class. Having money will solve many of our current problems but have too much and they will come with their own challenges too.
27. Bad Genius (2017)
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A high school top student who entered a highly prestigious school with a scholarship helped her good natured but academically challenged friend by giving her answers during an exam. Later she was approached by other students who will pay her to reveal the answers to them in the exam. She was reluctant at first but did it anyway after finding out that her father was billed with fees from her school even though she earned the scholarship. This then led her down a path with bigger risks but more money.
These stories and characters in these movies can be great company for good times and not so great times. There is much to learn in business and life. You can pick up books to study but when you want to unwind, you can definitely try watching these movies. Entertainment is a great way to indirectly learn. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words so imagine how much a movie can teach you.
28. Lord of War (2005)
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“Lord of War” is a 2005 crime drama film directed by Andrew Niccol and starring Nicolas Cage. The film tells the story of an arms dealer, Yuri Orlov, who becomes a major player in the global arms trade. The film received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising Cage’s performance and the film’s dark humor, while others criticized the lack of depth in the characters and the story. Overall, it is a thought-provoking and well-crafted film that brings attention to the darker side of the arms trade.
29. Rogue Trader (1998)
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Rogue Trader is based on the true story of Nick Leeson, a derivatives trader who caused the collapse of Barings Bank, one of the oldest merchant banks in Britain, through fraudulent trading activities. The film follows Leeson as he quickly rises through the ranks at Barings, but becomes increasingly reckless with his trading, ultimately leading to the bank’s downfall.
The film provides a glimpse into the high-stakes world of financial trading and the consequences that can arise from unchecked ambition and greed. It also highlights the role of systems and controls in the financial industry and how the lack of those led to a catastrophic event.
30. Catch Me If You Can (2002)
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The film is based on the true story of Abagnale’s life and follows him as he successfully scams his way through the 1960s, evading capture by the FBI and enjoying a lavish lifestyle. Along the way, he forms a cat-and-mouse relationship with Hanratty, who becomes obsessed with capturing him.
The film is a fun, fast-paced and entertaining film, with great performances by DiCaprio and Hanks, that tells the true story of a masterful con artist and the man who was determined to bring him to justice.
31. The Big Short (2015)
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The film stars Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling and Brad Pitt. The plot centers around several individuals who foresaw the housing market crash and took on the big banks for their greed and lack of foresight.
The film received widespread critical acclaim and was nominated for several awards, including five Academy Awards, winning one for Best Adapted Screenplay.
