The journey of an entrepreneur has never been easy. No entrepreneur claims of a smooth journey. The road of an entrepreneur is riddled with speed bumps, potholes, and muddy waters. From the struggle with capital to discouragement from friends and family, these will be enough reasons for anyone to throw in the towel.
But Newsflash! You are not anyone, you are an entrepreneur hence you keep driving when the road gets longer and tougher. You keep climbing the mountain even when you cannot see the peak, and you keep jumping until your legs get you to the sky.
It is without a doubt that this journey of entrepreneurship becomes overwhelming at a point and at that breaking point is the moment to just kick back and get motivated. One of the ways to get motivated and inspired is by watching inspirational and motivational movies.
Below are the top 10 movies every entrepreneur must watch or revisit in 2021.
#1 The Founder
The Founder is a 2016 biographical drama film about the genesis of the food chain McDonalds’ Ray Kroc, despite being a controversial figure, The Founder is a must-watch for every entrepreneur. Ray Kroc was a struggling salesman who eventually transformed McDonald’s into a global franchise, making McDonald’s one of the most successful food chain businesses in the world. The movie sheds light on the founders of the business, the McDonald brothers who were forced out of the business.
One of the most notable moments in the film was when Ray Kroc orders a meal from McDonald’s for the first time.
Key topics: business scaling, starting a business, and perseverance
#2 Thank You for Smoking
Thank You for Smoking is one of the movies every entrepreneur must watch. It is 2005 film about Nick Taylor who creatively and wittingly develops arguments in favour of the tobacco industry in the most challenging situations. This film is particularly helpful to marketers and entrepreneurs who wish to enter the marketing field. If you want to be a good influencer and be able to persuade and solve problems, this is the movie for you.
Key topics: marketing and advertising campaigns, crisis management, public relation, and communication as well as effective communication skills.
#3 The Pursuit of Happiness
The Pursuit of Happiness is a 2016 film based on the true story of Chris Gardner, who made an epic shift from being broke and homeless to a multi-millionaire investor. Will Smith drives this film in a heartwarming and motivational way that will leave every entrepreneur feeling motivated and inspired.
One of the most notable moments in the film was when Chris Gardner and his young son had to sleep on the bare floor of a public toilet.
Key topics: passion, the pursuit of one’s dream, stocks, happiness, sacrifice, and most of all never give up
#4 Becoming Warren Buffet
Becoming Warren Buffet is a 2017 film about the life, career, and credo of one of the world’s richest investors, Warren Buffet. The film takes viewers through the journey of how Warren Buffet became one of the most influential wealth builders. The movie shows his ingenuity and how he started selling newspapers, bubble gum, and soda pop. He later transitioned to selling stocks at age 20. At age 13, Warren Buffet filed his first tax return.
The movie also shows the contrast between Warren Buffett’s expertise in investing and his relationship skills. Another movie every entrepreneur must watch.
Key topics: ambition, hard work, desire, determination, humility
#5 Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
The Smartest Guys in the Room is a 2005 American documentary film based on the best-selling 2003 book “Smartest Guys in the room.” The film examines the fall of Enron Corporation in 2001 when top executives of the corporation walked away with more than 1 billion dollars while employees and investors were left with a huge loss.
This is a movie every entrepreneur must watch because it provides key insights into the effect of greed.
Key topics: greed, report consolidation, accounting, business ethics, off-shore diversification, and corruption
#6 The Aviator
The Aviator is a 2004 epic biographical drama about Howard Hughes, the eccentric billionaire who overcame all the odds to become a famous businessman and successful film director while defeating his demon of a worsening OCD.
The film showcases how Howard Hughes rose to the top despite the struggles he faced both internally and externally.
Key topics: perseverance, strength, focus, determination, victory
#7 Cool Runnings
Cool Runnings is a film loosely based on the true story of the first Jamaican bobsled team to enter the Olympics. Cool Runnings contains lots of humor and entrepreneurial life lessons. Bobsledding is a winter sport that involves racing down ice-tracks in a gravity-powered sleigh. The climate in Jamaica is tropical, hot all year round hence for a Jamaican team to enter into winter sports, that speaks volumes. Cool Runnings teaches us that we are not limited by our environment and circumstance. It also teaches the value of teamwork.
Key topics: teamwork, perseverance, hard work, faith, hope, love, determination, goal setting, endurance, Olympics, and bobsledding.
#8 The Wolf of Wall Street
The Wolf of Wall Street is a 2013 film based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, an entrepreneur who climbed up the ladder of the capital market to establish his firm, Stratton Oakmont. However, his business engagements in penny stock trading and securities scam drew the attention of the FBI. He became a rich stockbroker, but lost it all due to debauchery, crime, and the federal government.
This is a must-watch for every entrepreneur because it is the true representation of what an entrepreneur should not be.
Key topics: crime, corruption, capital markets, values and ethics, greed, affluence, drive, determination, marketing, influence, and persuasiveness.
#9 Glengarry Glen Ross
Glengarry Glen Ross is a 1992 film based on an award-winning play that depicts the hardship of real estate salespeople during a time of heated and disorderly sales season.
This film is relevant because it shows entrepreneurs how to survive and thrive using their wits. Since the film release, it has been used to train salesmen on how, and how not to sell.
One of the most notable moments in the film is Alec Baldwin’s speech to the sales team.
Key topics: deal closing, customer relationship, sales technique, management
#10 The Social Network
The Social Network is a 2010 film that offers an insight into how Mark Zuckerberg created Facebook while studying at Harvard. How he was sued by two brothers who claimed he stole their idea, and his close friend who was ousted from the company.
It is a must-watch for every entrepreneur because it is a reminder of how huge companies started small. There’s nothing wrong with humble beginnings. From humble beginnings comes mighty corporations.
At the time the Social Network hit the screens, Facebook had 500 million users and a valuation of $25 billion.
Key topics: social media development, Facebook, betrayal, strife, humble beginnings.
