16 Movies For Every Entrepreneur

If you’re on the verge of setting up your new venture or just looking for a little business inspiration from the world of cinema, then grab a seat on your sofa and get ready to dive into the lives of ordinary people with extraordinary ambitions, perseverance and drive leading them to remarkable achievements.

We know that starting your own company takes up a huge amount of your time and energy that you can’t afford to waste. You’ve probably gone a long way, or you’re about to, from taking the decision through to setting up everything correctly, so we picked out a few motivational films to help you unwind, relax and recharge with a dose of optimism or even give you that final extra push you might need before you’re ready to start out.

Here’re our 16 picks of movies every entrepreneur must watch

Each one of the last few decades offers a selection of classics that cannot be missed. Opinions vary, as do personal tastes, so chances are you’re going to find at least a couple of hidden jams that you’ve missed or want to watch again. Popcorn ready? Lights, camera, action!

1. The Godfather (1972)

The Forbes reviews this 1970s classics as a source of inspiring optimism despite the failure of the young Michael to change the status quo and stray from the established rules of the Corleone empire. Great desires lead to great actions and his efforts prove a point.

2. Rocky (1976)

Always grab an opportunity to improve your life, even in the face of challenge. Stay competitive, show spirit and adopt a winning attitude – these are among the important business and life lessons Rocky will teach you in this movie.

3. Ghostbusters (1984)

A blockbuster comedy with a truly entrepreneurial insight in the script. Great business ideas are a good start, but what matters in the end is money in the bank. When your company is not bringing clients, revise your plan and find a profitable business model. Innovate, take risks, fail and fight back – until you get the numbers right, as advised by The New York Times.

4. Wall Street (1987)

Money, success, greed – this sums the fast-pased life of a stockbroker. Ambition and hard work show just half of the story. How far are you ready to push the boundaries of law and morality?

5. Baby boom (1987)

A great movie about women and entrepreneurship, finding flexible patterns to balance the demands of family and work and accommodate the unexpected challenges life has to offer.

6. Robin Hood (1991)

Kevin Costner’s notable speech to the peasants hides big words of wisdom. “One man defending his home is more powerful than 10 hired soldiers.” With high personal stakes on the line, nothing can stop you achieve your goals. This is the secret of many entrepreneurial success stories.

7. Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)

Imagine Chicago, real estate, fierce competition and a battle for clients. As described in Income Diary, be prepared for “Lie. Cheat. Steal. All In A Day’s Work”. Are you ready for it? Welcome to the world of sales.

8. Jerry Maguire (1996)

When you believe in your dream and follow your goals relentlessly everything else will fall into place both professionally and personally. Jerry Maguire eventually learns this valuable lesson.

9. Pirates of the Silicon Valley (1999)

The competition between today’s technology giants Microsoft and Apple started as cooperation. See the early day of Bill Gates and Steve Jobs as starting entrepreneurs and what it takes to become the world’s first.

10. Office Space (1999)

Do you feel trapped in bureaucracy, monotony and the mood swings of your boss? This films depicts the gloomy side of a permanent job that can lead to a less than prosperous future for your talented self. If this sounds familiar, hurry up. Fire your player, get inspired and break free from the corporate chains. Life is too short to be spent working towards someone else’s dreams.

11. Catch Me If You Can (2002)

Frank Abegnale Jr. takes amusing (illegal) shortcuts to achieve his goals. He confidently wears the uniforms of a doctor, a pilot, a lawyer or whatever opportunity he seizes to make the most of life. Impossible is nothing. What is your next challenge?

12. The Aviator (2004)

Risk and hardship go hand-in-hand with entrepreneurship. See what lies beneath the glamour of accomplished people and how to escape from psychological struggles that can hinder your way to becoming exactly who you want to be.

13. The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

What sacrifices are you ready to make in the name of your ideas? The Pursuit of Happyness teaches a life lesson to run your sanity check and foolproof all your business ideas before you go too far. But sometimes things could also work out differently. Never give up, just find your own way to “happyness”.

14. Karate Kid (2010)

Entrepreneurship takes focus, commitment and continual learning. “Guess so” is never good enough to take you far. You need a firm “yes”. Understand?

15. The Social Network (2010)

Watch the true story of the world’s youngest billionaire – Mark Zuckerberg and how he created Facebook. Blood, sweat, and legal actions are just part of the journey to enormous rewards. A classic lesson of entrepreneurship in the modern times.

16. Moneyball (2011)

A baseball story about an underdog team rising up to the top league. As reviewed in Shout me Loud, the movie explores the unconventional takes on existing approaches used to outperform competition, with little to no money. And it works!