Movies have always been a great source to learn from others be it fiction or non-fiction; if it’s good it will leave you feeling inspired and extremely motivated. It doesn’t matter if you are a budding entrepreneur or even an established one, we bring you 21 Inspirational Movies You Just Can’t Afford to Miss.
Read along- here’s a list of the most profound and knowledgeable movies that one should watch to gain an insight into the business world:
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Startup.com
Made in 2001, this documentary film revolves around the rise and fall of the real-life startup Govworks.
The organization managed to raise $60 million from Heart Interactive Firm, Sapient, KKR and the New York Investment Fund.
This movie emphasizes on the fact that friendships can easily be threatened by business partnerships and gives a sharp insight on areas of finance, growth management, capital raising, entrepreneurship skills and team management and building skills.
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Lord of War
For those of you who love dark comedy Lord of War is a piece of work.
There’s a striking similarity in the protagonist’s methods to escape from trouble and the qualities of a successful entrepreneur- their ambitions, risk-taking abilities, perseverance and most importantly the tenacity and ability to convince others.
This film not only delves deeply into these topics but gets you thinking long after the movie is finished.
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Wall Street
Made in 1987, this movie revolves around the story of an impatient young stockbroker who is ready to do anything to get to the top, even trading on illegal inside information and trusting another greedy corporate raider who later mentors him.
This film teaches us that isn’t easy to handle the glamorous life that accompanies wealth and if you’re bound to doom if you get carried away.
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Rogue Trader
Based on a true story of a man named Nick Leeson, the movie shows how the thirst for money and power drove an investment banker to single-handedly bankrupt the Barings Bank, the largest and one of the oldest banks in England.
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Office Space
An American comedy film that satirizes the monotonous office life of a typical 1990s software employee.
The film is about three employees who absolutely hate their job and decide to rebel against it.
The movie’s sympathetic depiction of ordinary IT employees garnered a cult following within that field and also emphasizes on themes familiar to the entire workforce in general, including the white-collar employees.
So, enjoy a good laugh while you learn about office politics, work relationships, and career development.
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The Usual Suspects
This movie is arguably the best psychological thriller/mystery film with an ambitious and a very twisted ending.
The movie unfolds with the story of a sole survivor narrating the twisty events leading to an ugly gun battle on the boat, which began after a group of professional criminals who meet at a random police station and decide to stick together and pull a lucrative heist.
Rest assured, you will find yourself hooked up to it until the very end.
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Pirates of Silicon Valley
An original American drama film, Pirates of the Silicon Valley sheds light upon the history of Apple and Microsoft- undoubtedly the biggest names in the field of technology.
This entertaining documentary is a must watch for those who wish to understand the struggles of two of the most influential entrepreneurs’: Steve Jobs and Bill Gates.
This film teaches us that execution is the key, it doesn’t matter if others copy your idea because it won’t succeed if it isn’t well executed.
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The Social Network
If you think Pirates of the Silicon Valley is a tad bit outdated then The Social Network is definitely the one for you.
The movie portrays the life of Mark Zuckerberg- a young, bright, arrogant boy, today known as the founder and owner of Facebook- how he created the most eminent social networking site based on a college email address.
Every entrepreneur must see how Mark turned one simple idea into one of the most profitable websites available in the world today and how he coped up with the challenges and struggles that came with it.
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Erin Brockovich
Made in 2000, this film is based on the true story of a woman named Erin Brockovich, an unemployed single mother becomes a legal assistant and single-handedly brought down Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a Californian power company that was accused of polluting the city’s water supply.
The film is a must watch especially because women have always been considered as the weaker sex and it’s about time we changed our perception.
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Boiler Room
An American crime drama film that came out in 2000, the film stars Vin Diesel as a college dropout desperate to live up his father’s high standards.
Even though he quickly gains success, there comes a time when like every entrepreneur, he faces moral dilemmas and thereafter the choices he is supposed to make.
This movie draws out the real struggle between money and greed, right and wrong and legality and mortality in business.
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Thank You for Smoking
Made in 2005, this comedy-drama film is every marketing professional’s delight.
The film revolves around the story of Nick Naylor, a Tobacco industry lobbyist who innovatively gets the organization off the hook time and again with his incredibly creative arguments even at the most challenging times.
It is quite a movie for someone who wants to learn a thing or two about how to sell anything and always have a few tricks up their sleeve!
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How to Get Ahead in Advertising
Made in 1989, it might seem like an archaic movie, but let me tell you, it’s not.
This brilliantly entertaining satire of the advertising industry will not only teach you about creative problem solving but also change your views on business in the real world.
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Middle Men
This profanity-laced movie teaches us a remarkably valuable lesson on the price of a party lifestyle.
The movie revolves around two friends and their struggle not to get involved in a con of drug addicts, mobsters and, porn stars while managing their online business.
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Risky Business
Starring Tom Cruise, this movie revolves around the story of a teenage boy wanting to have some fun while his parents are away for the weekend.
The movie highlights themes like capitalism, loss of innocence, materialism and coming of age when things quickly escalate and spiral out of control.
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The Devil Wears Prada
If you haven’t had the opportunity to read the delightful novel, then you must watch the movie.
Starring two of Hollywood’s most talented actresses, Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway, it’s another woman-oriented film.
The story is about a young, sensible woman who moves to New York to accomplish her dream of getting into the publishing industry and lands up being an assistant of a powerful magazine editor who leaves no stone unturned to make her job absolutely nightmarish.
Besides teaching how to be impeccably dressed, this movie teaches us how to choose between right and wrong, the cost of having a glamorous job and in the end learning how to make the right choices in life.
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Limitless
Based on the novel The Dark Fields, Limitless is an American science fiction, mystery thriller that shows the life of an average twenty-eight-year-old struggling writer who accidentally consumes a drug that enables him to use his brain to its full extent.
The movie successfully captures the pros and cons of quickly climbing up the financial ladder and shows what happens when taking shortcuts to success becomes an uncontrollable habit.
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The Shawshank Redemption
Made in 1994, this film is about a man named Andy, who is sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his cheating wife and her lover- a crime he didn’t commit.
I know you’re probably wondering why an entrepreneur should watch this movie?
The answer is every entrepreneur needs to have a positive lookout in life, no matter what happens in life, even if the entire world is against you.
If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will and therefore one must possess the ability to make the best out of any situation like Andy.
P.S: Out of all the things, this movie shows how perseverance will get you anything in life. Absolutely anything.
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Catch Me if You Can
Based on a true story, this classic film is extremely captivating and leaves you on the edge until the very end.
This film will teach you the most valuable lesson in life: chicanery won’t get you success in the long run, only hard work will so might as well do the right things than repent later.
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The Wolf of Wall Street
This film is based on the controversial story of a stockbroker in New York named Jordan Belfort, who started from scratch and built an empire is phenomenal.
Even though some people might find it profane, there is a lot to learn; from how to sell anything to anyone and never taking a ‘no’ for an answer, this film is packed with business advice and deals with a lot of issues from crime to corruption and evading the government.
You simply cannot afford to miss this one.
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The Pursuit of Happyness
Made in 2006, this American drama film revolves around the story of an entrepreneur who loses everything because of making one wrong business investment.
However, what sets this movie apart is how he rises back on his feet and never loses hope.
It is a classic example of the famous proverb “when the going gets tough, the tough get going”.
This outstanding movie will leave you spellbound.
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The Godfather Trilogy
This trilogy is arguably one of the best pieces of cinema ever produced in the history of movies, especially for entrepreneurs.
The film is about the story of how a small family business in New York transforms itself into the largest organized crime family.
It draws out sharp insights and every entrepreneur must see it understand what it takes to reach the pinnacle and most importantly, what it takes to hold on to it.
Related Article: Eye-Opening Documentaries.
