Top 10 Must-Watch Movies for Entrepreneurs

When it comes to entrepreneurship, inspiration plays a key role in a business’s creative process, significantly transforming cognition, effect, and behavior. Motivation and strong willpower play central roles in defining entrepreneurial success.

Of the varied ways to find motivation and inspiration, films are one medium that has the dual capacity of offering relaxation while imparting wisdom and getting creative juices flowing through thought-provoking material. Irrespective of an individual’s current standing in their entrepreneurial journey, a few movies remain on the list of must-watch due to their central idea of featuring businesses and entrepreneurs. Sometimes fiction while at other times narrating a true story, entrepreneurship, as depicted on the movie screen, leaves the viewer bursting with inspiration and energy.

Must-Watch Entrepreneurial Movies

The Pursuit of Happyness
The Social Network
Wall Street
The Big Short
Becoming Warren Buffet
Guru
Steve Jobs
Thank You For Smoking
The Founder
The Wolf of Wall Street

The Pursuit of Happyness

The movie traverses the life course of the successful stockbroker Chris Gardner and is based on a non-fiction book of the same name. Although a simple story of rags-to-riches, it showcases his hard struggle of being homeless with a young son for one year. During this time, he also went through a grueling six-month internship as an unpaid stockbroker. The movie highlights the unbelievable circumstances he overcame to achieve his dreams and found stupendous success through relentless perseverance.

The Social Network

Highlighting the humble beginnings of the global phenomenon, the story talks about Mark Zuckerberg’s creation of Facebook while he was still a student at Harvard. It also highlights his struggles as he was sued by two brothers claiming Zuckerberg stole their idea. Mark Zuckerberg’s best friend, who was an integral part of the company was also ousted.

Wall Street

The central theme of the movie is greed and morally reprehensible actions. Its brilliant portrayal of various characters highlights the ills of too much ambition and how it can, if unchecked, lead one down an unethical path. The famous speech of the movie ‘Greed is Good’ forms the heart of the story which showcases a young man getting carried away by the outward show of a glamorous lifestyle and ends up getting entangled in the vicious web of insider trading.

The Big Short

Adapted from the book of the same name, the movie highlights three parallel stories of individuals who were able to predict and profit from the American financial crises of 2007-2008. The story is a contradiction of being a cautionary tale for entrepreneurs while also highlighting the importance of risk-taking and conviction within the business. The narrative employs unconventional techniques to explain complex financial concepts like sub-prime mortgages and collateralized debt obligations. During that time, very few people had bet against the housing market in the US. However, the characters in this movie did just that and ended up making a large profit when the financial crisis hit.

Becoming Warren Buffet

If there is a role model for young and rising entrepreneurs in the world of business, it has to be Warren Buffet, who is widely known for his business and investing acumen. Also well-known for his humble and down-to-earth nature, Warren Buffet’s secrets to success are well-studied as well as well-documented. ‘Becoming Warren Buffet’ is a documentary film that centers around his life examining his investing expertise and personal relationships. This must-watch documentary is hugely inspiring for entrepreneurs and there are many learnings within it.

Guru

Loosely based on the portrayal of the founder of the Reliance Empire, Dhirubhai Ambani, played by Abhishek Bachchan, this Indian movie brilliantly tells the story of how business was conducted in the 1950s. It also highlights the ambition of a young man determined to succeed, whatever the cost. His perseverance, his continued learning, and his insistence on growing despite the many obstacles in his path make it one of the best Indian movies on business and entrepreneurship. Rising entrepreneurs can get inspired to give their absolute best by watching this movie.

Steve Jobs

His name is known to practically everyone around the globe. He is the mastermind and genius behind ‘Apple’. An entrepreneur par excellence, it was his brilliance that ensured that Apple has reached the pinnacle and success that it enjoys today. ‘Steve Jobs’ is his biopic that depicts three pivotal points in his life. As an entrepreneur, this movie contributes to creativity, and a futuristic outlook and also highlights domain expertise.

Thank You For Smoking

This movie is a lesson in the art of selling any product through data and persuasiveness. The movie centers around the machinations of Big Tobacco’s chief spokesperson Nick Naylor, who stands up to defend the cigarette industry in challenging situations. Entrepreneurs can learn about the essential aspects of selling a product from this film.

The Founder

Ray Kroc was the man behind making McDonald’s a global fast-food chain. Taking over from the brothers who originally founded McDonald’s, Ray Kroc, a traveling milkshake mixer salesman, transformed it into a global franchise. Despite being a controversial figure, Ray Kroc rose to become one of America’s most influential businessmen through one of the most recognizable fast-food brands in the world. The movie is inspiring and aspiring at the same time.

The Wolf of Wall Street

Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, the movie is a perfect example of what an entrepreneur should never be. Jordan’s firm Stratton Oakmont engaged in penny stock trading and securities scams. He was driven by greed and had no empathy for the people he was cheating. It was his business practices that drew the attention of the federal authorities that eventually led to his downfall. Personally, too, Belfort lived a life of extreme debauchery that added to his downfall.

Benefits of Watching Entrepreneurial Movies

Although largely considered unproductive, many movies can be advantageous to an entrepreneur in his entrepreneurial journey. Movies can prove to be a positive distraction in many ways.

Learning New Ideas and Topics

Many movies tell various true stories from a variety of topics ranging from finance, and world history to even the civil war. Such is the power of this entertaining tool that it can impart knowledge and also broaden knowledge and perspective through artistic vision, engaging content, and colorful sets.

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An Art Form of Inspiration

This imaginative art form can inspire genius and creativity in every individual. Movies that are made around true stories and incidents can prove to be greatly motivational. Journeys of exceptionally successful people can inspire the need to explore different avenues and possibilities through perseverance and hard work.

Relaxation

This goes without saying. As inspiring and motivational as movies are, they are also a great source of relaxation while learning. Movies sweep the audience away into a magical world giving them time to decompress and relax.

Conclusion

It is time to move away from the jaded perspective of viewing movie-watching as a waste of time. There is some exceptional content that can be seen through movies and great learnings to glean from the journeys and experiences of the main protagonists. Entrepreneurs can definitely get inspired by movies and begin on an aspirational journey of their own.

FAQs

List the top 10 entrepreneurial movies.

Below is the list of the top 10 must-watch entrepreneurial movies:

• The Pursuit of Happyness
• The Social Network
• Wall Street
• The Big Short
• Becoming Warren Buffet
• Guru
• Steve Jobs
• Thank You For Smoking
• The Founder
• The Wolf of Wall Street

What are the benefits of watching entrepreneurial movies?

Movies can prove to be a positive distraction in many ways. Some of the benefits of watching entrepreneurial movies are:

• Learning New Ideas and Topics
• An Art Form of Inspiration
• Relaxation