Starting and running a business is tough. So, as an entrepreneur, you need inspiration from time to time. This can come from your family and friends and also your network. In addition, entrepreneurs can also find inspiration from watching movies. This article will share 7 movies every entrepreneur should watch. Regardless of where you are on the entrepreneurial journey, you will sure to find some much-needed inspiration by watching some of the movies on the list below.
1. The Pursuit of Happyness
The Pursuit of Happyness is a true story based on the life of entrepreneur Chris Gardner’s nearly one-year struggle of being homeless with his son while going through a grueling 6-month unpaid internship as a stockbroker. This movie – starring Will Smith and his son, Jaden – brings the life of American businessman, Chris Gardner, to the big screen. The movie centers around Gardner’s struggle with being homeless with his young son.
In the film, Gardner works as a salesman barely making ends meet when he becomes homeless. Around the same time he meets someone who gives him the chance to intern as a stockbroker eventually leading to a full-time position and a prosperous career.
2. Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room is a documentary based on the best-selling book of the same name by Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind. This documentary explores the fall of the Enron Corporation, arguably the most shocking example of modern corporate corruption. The company is linked with several illegal schemes, including instigating the California energy crisis as a way to drive up utility prices at the expense of the average American. In a hyper-competitive environment, Enron traders resort to all kinds of underhanded dealings in order to make money at any cost and keep their high-paying jobs.
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3. Margin Call
Margin Call is a movie about the 2007-08 financial crisis. It follows the key people at an investment bank, over a 24-hour period, during the early stages of the 2008 financial crisis. The plot of Margin Call revolves around key people in a large investment bank and the actions they take over a 24-hour period during the initial stages of the financial crisis.
In this movie, a finance company’s management division head working on a major project is fired. His protege attempts to complete the analysis and finds out the true reason behind their financial downfall. Although the fictional investment bank has no name in the movie, many believe the actions taken by the firm are too similar to the ones taken by Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch during the crisis.
4. The Founder
The Founder is a biographical movie of the American fast-food tycoon Ray Kroc. It is the story of a salesman who turned two brothers’ innovative fast food eatery, McDonald’s, into the biggest restaurant business in the world, with a combination of ambition, persistence, and ruthlessness. This is a movie about the creation of McDonald’s fast-food restaurant chain, which became the biggest restaurant business in the world.
Despite being a controversial figure, Ray Kroc’s story is an inspiring one for entrepreneurs. This biopic narrates the rise of one of America’s most influential businessmen and perhaps the most recognizable fast food brands in the world.
5. The Social Network
The Social Network tells the story of how Mark Zuckerberg created Facebook while studying at Harvard. Mark Zuckerberg creates the social networking site that would become known as Facebook. He is sued by the twins who claimed he stole their idea, and also by the co-founder.
With financing from investor and friend Eduardo Saverin, Facebook takes on a life of its own. Ever the believer in his own abilities, Zuckerberg builds Facebook’s platform single-mindedly, ignoring financial requirements, legalities, and other people’s feelings. The Social Network is a perfect entrepreneur movie of what can happen when an idea catches the world on fire.
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6. Pirates of Silicon Valley
Pirates of Silicon Valley explores the rivalry between Steve Jobs and Bill Gates between. This tech-world biopic traces the fortunes of personal-computer companies Apple and Microsoft from their obscure dorm-room and backyard origins to their very public battle for corporate supremacy. As you will find out, the movie offers a glimpse into the humble beginnings of two of the most iconic technology companies. In addition, it chronicles the rise of two men who totally transformed the world of technology.
7. Startup.com
If you want to learn more about the rise and fall of internet companies during the dotcom bubble, then Startup.com is the perfect movie. Startup.com examines the state of the Internet revolution, in which inflated ideals and dreams of instant wealth have been supplanted by harsh economic realities and broken promises.
The movies manages to personalize the crisis with intensely private views of the people involved. Aside from showing you the boom and bust of the dotcom bubble era, the documentary tells a cautionary tale of how friendships can turn into bitter rivalries because of internal politics. This is definitely one of the best movies every entrepreneur should watch.
Final Thoughts
If you are ever in need of inspiration, watch and rewatch these movies.
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