Although Hollywood might be known to dramatize some events for entertainment purposes, there really isn’t anything more inspiring than a good movie. When the protagonist of the movie is an entrepreneur who overcomes the odds to create a successful business and reach their goals, we cannot help cheer along. Most often, we leave the theater feeling inspired, excited, and energized.
Here are my top 10 best entrepreneur movies. I hope you enjoy watching them too:
1. Catch Me If You Can
Although this 2002 Steven Spielberg film focuses on the life and times of a successful con artist, there are a few things that make it one of the best dream fueling movies for entrepreneurs. The true story of Frank Abagnale Jr. is chock full of examples of persistence, creative thinking, ambition, and more. It’s one of those rare films where we find ourselves cheering for what would conventionally be considered “the bad guy.”
2. The Social Network
Even as we speak, you probably have a tab open to Facebook on your Internet browser. The Social Network is a fascinating film to watch on screen because it chronicles the rise of one of the most important companies in the world today: Facebook. In the movie, we see Mark Zuckerberg transition from a frustrated college student to the head of one of the biggest companies in the world. What’s even more fascinating is that this story takes place all within recent memory.
3. Joy
Based on the true story of Joy Mangano, an American inventor, and entrepreneur, Joy is the perfect example of how to succeed even when your family and loved ones don’t seem to be on your side. This movie is a classic example of how to inspire an entrepreneur. Throughout the film, we see Joy grapple with family commitments while ignoring her family’s pleas to be a normal mom in order to pull through and become a successful business owner. Joy teaches entrepreneurs to believe in themselves no matter what others are saying.
4. Moneyball
This Brad Pitt fronted film revolves around the story of Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland A’s who was able to successfully manage a failing team by implementing new methods previously unknown in the world of baseball. Working on a tight budget – something many entrepreneurs face – he was able to use new computer software to assemble a team and get new players. This movie teaches us to innovate and learn from past mistakes while working with what you have.
5. The Pirates of Silicon Valley
Few success stories are as well documented and inspiring as the humble beginnings of Apple and Microsoft. There are a ton of movies that follow these stories, but we chose The Pirates of Silicon Valley as one of the most inspiring movies for entrepreneurs. Both serious and funny, many say this film has a few historical inaccuracies; however, it perfectly represents the essence of these two huge companies and where they came from. Inspiring and innovative, interesting, and funny, this is a must-see for any entrepreneur, not just those in the tech sector.
6. The Devil Wears Prada
Not sure how a movie about a fashion magazine could make this list? The Devil Wears Prada is a semi-biographical account of a former Condé Nast employee. The Devil in question is reportedly Anna Wintour, the Editor in Chief of Vogue. This film chronicles everything you need to get ahead in a cutthroat industry. It touches on sacrifice and knowing your core values, two things that are important for entrepreneurs to figure out.
7. Wall Street
This is the 1987 movie that originally taught us that “Greed is Good.” An ambitious stockbroker who will do everything he can to get ahead starts to work with the hugely successful Gordon Gekko and gets entangled in a world that seems far from his blue-collar beginnings. Some may argue that this film should be taken more like a “what not to do” but it’s entertaining nonetheless!
8. Erin Brockovich
A single mother gets a job working as a legal assistant and uses her brains and ambition to take down a polluting power company in California. Based on a true story, the real Erin Brockovich had the odds stacked against her but managed to make a real impact in the world simply by willing herself to do so. This is definitely an underdog tale and a source of huge inspiration for many entrepreneurs.
9. The Big Short
This film deals with the real estate crash in 2008 and the ragtag team who predicted it would happen and spun it to work in their favor while punishing big corporations for their lack of foresight. Although the characters portrayed in this movie are unsavory anti-heroes, you can’t help but root for them when they go against the odds and win. This movie teaches us to take calculated risks and trust our intuitions because it might pay off in the end.
10. Jerry Maguire
“Show me the money!” Successful sports agent Jerry Maguire is fired from his firm and goes off on his own. Forced to essentially start from scratch, Jerry works with his singular client to rebuild what he lost. Surrounding himself with people who believe in him, he’s able to truly find success and happiness in his personal life too.
After watching these movies, you’ll feel invigorated and inspired to achieve greatness in your own personal story. To take the first steps, click below and downlaod our guide to entrepreneurial success.
