15 Inspiring Movies Every Entrepreneur Should Watch

As an entrepreneur, it‘s easy to get caught up in the daily grind of building your business. But sometimes the best way to reignite your inspiration is to step away from the office and into a darkened movie theater. Believe it or not, cinema has a lot to teach us about the triumphs and challenges of the entrepreneurial journey.

In fact, a recent study found that 69% of entrepreneurs say they‘ve gained valuable insights and motivation from movies. The stories of both real and fictional business leaders grappling with daunting odds, market disruptions, and self-doubt serve as potent examples for founders charting their own paths.

While there are countless films that touch on business and innovation, we‘ve selected 15 of the most inspiring and instructional movies for entrepreneurs. From scrappy underdogs to visionary CEOs, the protagonists in these flicks offer timeless lessons about creativity, resilience, leadership, and more.

Whether you‘re a startup founder, small business owner, or aspiring entrepreneur, queue up one of these movies the next time you need a jolt of motivation. You just might gain a fresh perspective and renewed drive to overcome whatever obstacles are standing in your way.

1. Joy (2015)

This Jennifer Lawrence vehicle depicts the true story of Joy Mangano, the inventor and entrepreneur behind the Miracle Mop and other successful household products. But Joy‘s journey from single mom to QVC superstar was filled with setbacks and naysayers.

One of the most powerful scenes shows Joy‘s early efforts to get her mop manufactured and sold. With no money to mass produce her product, she convinces her father‘s small plastics company to make the mop heads. Then, to sell the first run, Joy goes door to door demonstrating the mop to local hair salons. These scrappy early days demonstrate the kind of hustle and resourcefulness required in the early stages of a startup.

But perhaps the biggest lesson comes when Joy is given the opportunity to sell her mops on QVC. Nervous and uncomfortable on camera, Joy‘s first appearance is a flop, with few mops sold. But instead of giving up, Joy insists on getting back on air, knowing the power of the platform. Her persistence results in the mops selling out and the start of a fruitful partnership with QVC.

The key takeaway? Successful entrepreneurs don‘t take no for an answer. Even in the face of skepticism and failure, they push forward with effort and ingenuity. As Joy puts it, "I don‘t need a prince. I need a mop."

2. The Social Network (2010)

Facebook‘s journey from Harvard dorm room project to world-changing phenomenon is a quintessential startup success story. And David Fincher‘s The Social Network offers a compelling (if highly dramatized) look at how founder Mark Zuckerberg built his empire.

While Zuckerberg‘s tactics and personality are controversial, there‘s no denying his drive to turn Facebook into a revolutionary platform. A key scene shows Zuckerberg meeting with Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, who had hired him to build a campus social network. Zuckerberg strings the twins along while secretly building his own, better version called TheFacebook.

This storyline illustrates how great entrepreneurs are always innovating and iterating, even when it means leaving others in the dust. Zuckerberg wasn‘t content to simply execute someone else‘s idea — he knew he could one-up it. Of course, this "move fast and break things" approach backfired when it came to his relationship with co-founder Eduardo Saverin.

The film doesn‘t sugarcoat the downsides of Zuckerberg‘s disruptive style. But it does demonstrate how unconventional thinking and a relentless focus on building something great are often the keys to revolutionary success. Facebook now has over 2.9 billion monthly active users, making it one of the most valuable companies in the world.

3. The Founder (2016)

You may know the basics of how Ray Kroc turned McDonald‘s into a global fast food behemoth. But The Founder reveals the surprising and often unflattering details behind Kroc‘s quest for hamburger domination.

When Kroc first meets the McDonald brothers, he‘s blown away by the efficiency of their restaurant operation. Kroc immediately sees the potential for franchising and expanding the brand across the U.S. There‘s just one problem: the brothers are hesitant to grow too quickly and sacrifice quality.

This conflict between Kroc‘s expansionist vision and the brothers‘ conservatism is the crux of the film. In one heated exchange, Kroc proclaims, "If we‘re not thinking about the future, we don‘t have one. Progress, not perfection." He eventually convinces the brothers to franchise, but his aggressive tactics lead to plenty of tension and bad blood.

Ultimately, Kroc wrests control of the company from the McDonalds in what many consider an underhanded move. That he goes on to make millions while the brothers are largely forgotten demonstrates the ruthless perseverance often required for massive success. But it also serves as a cautionary tale about the costs of unbridled ambition.

The Founder shows that successful entrepreneurs need vision, grit and a willingness to ruffle some feathers. But it also warns about losing your integrity in the pursuit of growth. As Kroc reflects at the end of the film, "It‘s not just the system that makes McDonald‘s work. It‘s the people."

By the Numbers: McDonald‘s Global Reach

• 38,000+ locations worldwide
• Serves 69 million customers per day
• $19.2 billion in revenue (2020)
• Employs 200,000 people
• Operates in over 100 countries

4. Moneyball (2011)

At first glance, a movie about baseball statistics might not seem like it has much to teach entrepreneurs. But the real-life story of Oakland A‘s manager Billy Beane holds plenty of valuable lessons about disrupting the status quo with data and creativity.

Facing a limited payroll, Beane realizes he can‘t compete against big market teams for superstar players. Instead, he and his assistant GM use advanced analytics to identify undervalued players that can be acquired on the cheap. Rather than rely on old-school baseball wisdom, they build a roster scientifically engineered to get on base and score runs.

Their unorthodox approach is met with major skepticism from the A‘s scouting department, who favor players that look the part over those with proven stats. In standing his ground, Beane demonstrates the kind of conviction entrepreneurs need when their ideas conflict with industry groupthink.

In perhaps the movie‘s most impactful scene, Beane makes a flurry of bold trades that go against conventional baseball logic. His staff is baffled, but Beane sees a market inefficiency where he can gain an edge. "Adapt or die," he tells the team. Entrepreneurs must be willing to make unpopular moves if they want to upend the status quo.

With their band of misfits, the A‘s go on an unprecedented 20-game winning streak and make the playoffs. While they ultimately lose to the Yankees and their overflowing payroll, Beane‘s strategy changes the game. Today, every MLB team uses the kind of analytics the A‘s pioneered.

The lesson? Entrepreneurs in any industry can gain a competitive edge by ignoring conventional wisdom, creatively utilizing data, and trusting their disruptive instincts. As Beane puts it, "If we try to play like the Yankees in here, we will lose to the Yankees out there."

Moneyball‘s Impact on Baseball

• Since the A‘s pioneered analytics, the percentage of MLB front office employees with an analytics background has increased from 0% to 44%
• Teams that have adopted Moneyball strategies have seen a 15% increase in wins per season
• The Boston Red Sox used similar methods to win the World Series in 2004, their first championship in 86 years

5. Steve Jobs (2015)

There are plenty of books and documentaries about Apple‘s mercurial co-founder. But this Danny Boyle biopic takes an unconventional approach, portraying Jobs through three distinct product launches spanning 16 years. The result is an intimate and often unflattering character study of a visionary with serious flaws.

A key theme that emerges is Jobs‘ unrelenting commitment to his vision, even when it alienates those around him. In one tense scene before the launch of the Macintosh, Jobs angrily lambastes his team for suggesting the computer isn‘t ready. "You have to be willing to lose sight of the shore to discover new continents," Jobs tells them, insisting that imperfections will be ironed out.

This moment illustrates Jobs‘ willingness to push forward with an innovation even when others have doubts. He‘s focused on the big picture, not the small bumps in the road. Of course, this quality often shaded into stubbornness, like his refusal to acknowledge his daughter in the film.

Another lesson Jobs‘ story imparts is the importance of showmanship and salesmanship for entrepreneurs. Each of the three product launches is a theatrical production, with Jobs carefully stage-managing every detail to generate maximum buzz and media coverage. As an entrepreneur, how you tell your story is often just as important as the quality of your product.

Ultimately, the film argues that Jobs‘ flaws were inseparable from the qualities that enabled him to revolutionize multiple industries. His story serves as inspiration for entrepreneurs committed to doing something truly groundbreaking, even if it means ruffling some feathers. "Some see the revolution. Others just see the flaws," Jobs says. "The only thing that matters is what‘s real."

Steve Jobs‘ Real-Life Impact

• Apple is now the world‘s most valuable company, worth over $2 trillion
• The iPhone, which Jobs launched in 2007, has captured over 50% of the global smartphone market
• The iPad, introduced in 2010, created a new product category that now generates over $30 billion in annual revenue
• Jobs was named the "greatest entrepreneur of our time" by Fortune magazine in 2009

Other Inspiring Movies for Entrepreneurs

While we‘ve only scratched the surface, there are plenty of other films that offer valuable lessons and cautionary tales for business owners:

• The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) – a wild biopic about the rise and fall of penny stock scammer Jordan Belfort
• The Devil Wears Prada (2006) – an insider‘s look at the cutthroat fashion magazine industry
• Boiler Room (2000) – a group of young stockbrokers engage in shady pump-and-dump schemes
• Startup.com (2001) – a documentary capturing the dot-com bust through the lens of one startup
• Wall Street (1987) – a ruthless corporate raider takes a young stockbroker under his wing
• The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) – an entrepreneur‘s incredible journey from homelessness to success
• Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) – a group of desperate salesmen will do anything to close the deal
• Erin Brockovich (2000) – a legal clerk‘s dogged pursuit of justice against a powerful corporation
• The Big Short (2015) – savvy investors bet against the housing market before the 2008 crash
• Pirates of Silicon Valley (1999) – a dramatized account of the early rivalry between Bill Gates and Steve Jobs

Finding Inspiration at the Movies

As an entrepreneur, you‘re probably not spending too many weekdays at the multiplex. But don‘t underestimate the power of movies to reignite your fire and change your perspective when you‘re feeling stuck.

The next time you‘re facing a daunting challenge in your business, try taking a cue from one of the heroes in these films. How might Joy Mangano approach a manufacturing snafu? What would Billy Beane do to gain a competitive advantage? Channel your inner Steve Jobs the next time you‘re pitching investors.

You can also find creative fuel in movies that have nothing to do with business. Pixar films like Toy Story or The Incredibles are masterclasses in the kind of creative, character-driven storytelling entrepreneurs need to connect with customers. A gritty sports drama like Hoosiers might provide the underdog motivation you need to take on an industry Goliath.

The point is, movies have a unique ability to transport us, challenge our assumptions, and expand our sense of what‘s possible. They let us step into the shoes of innovators and see the world through their eyes. And sometimes, a well-timed movie night is the perfect way to zoom out and find much-needed perspective on your entrepreneurial journey.

So don‘t feel guilty next time you sneak out of the office to catch a matinee. Your business just might thank you for it.

"I‘ve always believed that if done properly, armed robbery doesn‘t have to be a totally unpleasant experience." – Bottle Rocket

Maybe not the most practical takeaway, but it‘s a good reminder to approach your business with a sense of humor and a surplus of style. Something tells me Wes Anderson would make a great entrepreneur.