Why not combine both – looking for an inspiration or a good lesson to learn with pleasure? Here is the list of 10 films that every entrepreneur must watch. It’s like killing two birds using one stone – you can relax on your sofa and consider the movie a useful lesson about business and people behavior.
The Social Network
It was 2010 when The Social Network came out as a big blockbuster. Advertisements, posters, and the fame of Facebook itself. Everyone wanted to see and understand how Mark Zuckerberg turned from a Harvard student to the man who created the most recognizable brand in the world. The Social Network shows how to make a startup succeed by exhibiting such qualities as being flexible and resilient.
The Pursuit of Happiness
It’s a great heartwarming and motivational film. It’s not only the great movie and the breathtaking performance of Will Smith and his son, but also the great lesson for anyone whose aim is to succeed in life and business. Chris and his son – the protagonists in The Pursuit of Happiness – were passionate and never gave up. We should learn from them how to succeed against all the odds.
Wall Street
Gordon Gekko, the main character of Wall Street, is one of the most famous characters in the cinema history. His motto was the saying that “greed is good,” while the film itself centers on the illegal and unethical behaviors and actions. It is good to watch to get the huge moral of this history – never sell yourself for the sake of the money. Being an entrepreneur isn’t just about becoming rich and famous.
The Godfather Trilogy
Vito Corleone’s friends and family members weren’t always fair, and very often indulged in crimes – that’s undoubtedly true. However, it’s still the best cinema for entrepreneurs. Why? It shows why relationships and building networks matter. All the three Godfather movies are full of thought-provoking scenes that will make you better prepared to handle your next business challenges.
The Money Ball
This movie is all about sport and money. It depicts the story of Oakland Athletics and its general manager Billy Beane. The team is the underdog, and it’s still losing money. No star players, no income. Billy has an enormous job to do – he has to create a winning team without money and incredible talents. This movie shows how to take an innovative approach to an existing way of doing business and beat out the competition with little to no money.
Catch Me If You Can
The movie is about a successful con artist, Frank Abagnale. He’s incredibly handsome, charming, and effective in what he’s doing – fooling people and making big money out of it. I’m not trying to convince you that you should do the same – you definitely shouldn’t! Instead, watch it to see and learn what the most creative problem-solving methods are and how to turn the worst situation into a great success.
Office Space
Another one on our list is a comedy from the 90’s. It satirizes the corporate culture of a software company, touching upon work relationships and office politics. Besides the fact that it’s a good laugh, it will make you think more about good leadership, team building techniques, and career development.
Jerry Maguire
Sometimes viewers take it as a romantic comedy, while, in fact, The Maguire’s mission statement captures how important it is to have a strong vision of yourself and never to forget about it, even if everyone says you’re out of your mind. The main character is faced with rejection, and people keep turning their backs on him while he doesn’t stop believing and finally finds the best road to follow. He ends up succeeding against all the odds.
Twelve Angry Man
It’s an absolute classic that every entrepreneur should see. Twelve Angry Man action takes place in the courtroom, and the film is one of the best drama that I’ve ever seen. It shows the viewers the most important insights of the leadership, the psychology of group behavior, and how do people make decisions when they’re a part of the team. After watching it, you’ll be more careful while taking all the actions in your business.
Startup.com
It’s a documentary film that examines the rise and fall of the real-life startup – GovWorks. The company raised 60 million dollars from several funds and then, eventually, failed. Everyone should see it to understand the dot-com period better. The documentary is a good cautionary tale on how friendships can easily be threatened by the business partnership. A good lesson to learn.
These are just a few business movies worth seeing and worth taking a lesson from; you definitely won’t lose your time. Enjoy!
