Business Movies

Must-Watch Movies for Entrepreneurs

Here is my list of top movies with entrepreneurial spirit, they provide valuable lessons and inspiration.

1. Classics with Enduring Relevance
   • Citizen Kane (1941): A cautionary tale about the pitfalls of success and isolation.
     • Key Theme:
       • Avoid falling into the trap of loneliness at the top.
   • It’s a Wonderful Life (1946): Highlights the importance of community and resilience for businesses.
     • Key Themes:
       • The value of being a positive influence in a community
       • The value of resilience even in the darkest times.

2. Entrepreneurial Journeys

   • The Pursuit of Happyness (2006): Will Smith delivers an inspiring performance as a struggling salesman who overcomes homelessness.
     • Key Themes:
       • Back yourself, have a plan, and commit.
       • Difficult times are not the time to give up.
   • The Social Network (2010): Explores the creation of Facebook and the dark side of ambition.
     • Key Themes:
       • Be prepared to back yourself even at some personal cost.
       • The startup space can be cut-throat.
       • Make sure you know who you are partnering with.
   • The Founder (2016): Showcases Ray Kroc’s shrewd business tactics in building the McDonald’s empire.
     • Key Themes:
       • Understand your businesses’ strengths and protect them.
       • Look for lateral opportunities.
   • Steve Jobs (2015): Offers insights into the visionary leader’s brilliance and complexities.
     • Key Themes:
       • The more an entrepreneur can get into Steve Jobs’ mindset, the better
       • How the contrast between Jobs’ personal and business lives shaped him.
   • Moneyball (2011): A scrappy startup can compete against the incumbents. Don’t allow feelings to override what the data’s telling you.
     • Key Themes:
       • A scrappy startup can compete against the incumbents
       • Don’t allow feelings to override what the data’s telling you.
   • Air (2023): This film tells the story of how Nike, then an underdog in the basketball shoe market, pursued and ultimately signed Michael Jordan, creating the iconic Air Jordan brand.
     • Key Themes:
       • Recognizing and seizing opportunities; the importance of believing in your vision even when others don’t.
       • The power of strategic partnerships.
       • Understanding the value of talent and brand building.

3. Learning from Mistakes

   • The Wolf of Wall Street (2013): A cautionary tale of greed and excess on Wall Street.
     • Key Themes:
       • Respect the hustle (just don’t take the path of Jordan Belfort).
       • Don’t get overconfident in success.
   • Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005): A documentary on the infamous corporate accounting fraud scandal.
     • Key Themes:
       • Kicking the (accounting) down the road won’t solve the problem.
       • The CEO and CFO are the two roles you need to hire for integrity above anything else.
   • Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened (2019): Exposes the disastrous Fyre Festival and the dangers of overpromising.
     • Key Themes:
       • Overpromising will fail.
       • Marketing is important, but don’t make that mistake with your startup.
   • Startup.com (2001): A cautionary tale about the dot-com bubble and the importance of a strong team.
     • Key Themes:
       • Every entrepreneur needs to study the dot-com bubble in-depth, to avoid the same mistakes.
       • How internal politics can undermine a startup right from its opening moments.
   • Glengarry Glen Ross (1992): Competition can bring the worst out of people. Work environments that are too competitive result in poor overall performance.
     • Key Themes:
       • Competition can bring the worst out of people.
       • Work environments that are too competitive result in poor overall performance.

4. Ethical Dilemmas

   • Wall Street (1987): Michael Douglas’s Gordon Gekko embodies the ruthless pursuit of profit.
     • Key Themes:
       • Don’t be like Gordon Gekko; assume that there are some Gordon Gekkos in business.
   • Margin Call (2011): A sobering look at the 2008 financial crisis and the consequences of greed.
     • Key Themes:
       • Greed corrupts.
   • Thank You For Smoking (2005): A darkly comedic satire on the marketing of harmful products.
     • Key Themes:
       • With the right pitch and charisma, you can sell anything.
       • It’s important not to fall for your own nonsense and be aware of your product.
   • The Man in the White Suit (1951): Explores the ethics of disruptive innovation and its social impact.
     • Key Themes:
       • Innovation should be responsible.
       • Disruptive technology’s social and economic impact should be considered from the start.
   • The Bank (2001): Warns against the dangers of reckless business decisions fueled by greed.
     • Key Themes:
       • Don’t allow the drive for profit to lead you to take big bets.
       • Properly vet business partners that have good sales pitches.
   • The Big Short (2015): There is always an opportunity, even when the market crashes around you. Identify market shifts and position yourself to benefit from the pivot.
     • Key Themes:
       • There is always an opportunity, even when the market crashes around you; identify market shifts and position yourself to benefit from the pivot.
   • Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street (2023): A scheme is going to eventually fall over, even if it takes a long time. Once you’re locked into a scheme, it’s almost impossible to get out.
     • Key Themes:
       • A scheme is going to eventually fall over, even if it takes a long time.
       • Once you’re locked into a scheme, it’s almost impossible to get out.

Find Your Inspiration

These films showcase the triumphs and struggles of entrepreneurs, offering valuable lessons and inspiration. Remember, the key is to back yourself, take calculated risks, and persevere.

• Previous
  Engineering Blogs