Are you an entrepreneur or aspiring to be one? Do you want to learn from the successes and failures of other entrepreneurs who have made their mark in the world? Do you enjoy watching movies that are entertaining, inspiring, and educational at the same time?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this blog post is for you. In this post, we will share with you the best entrepreneurship movies that you should watch if you want to learn more about the art and science of entrepreneurship. These movies will show you how entrepreneurs from different backgrounds, industries, and eras have overcome various challenges, pursued their passions, and created value for themselves and others.
According to IMDb, the best entrepreneurship movies are The Social Network, Steve Jobs, The Founder, The Pursuit of Happyness, and The Wolf of Wall Street. These movies are based on true stories and feature some of the most famous and influential entrepreneurs of our time. They also cover different aspects of entrepreneurship, such as innovation, leadership, ethics, and resilience.
But these are not the only movies that can teach you something about entrepreneurship. There are many other movies that can offer you insights, lessons, and inspiration for your own entrepreneurial journey.
So, grab your popcorn and get ready to watch some of the best entrepreneurship movies ever made. You might be surprised by what you discover and how it can help you grow as an entrepreneur. Let’s get started!
Top 10 Best Entrepreneurship Movies to Make Inspirational
1. The Social Network – Available on Netflix
This movie tells the story of how Mark Zuckerberg created Facebook, the most popular social networking site in the world. The movie is based on the book The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich, which chronicles the rise and fall of Facebook’s founding team.
The movie shows how Zuckerberg, a Harvard student, came up with the idea of Facebook after being rejected by a girl. He hacked into the university’s databases and created a website called Facemash, which allowed users to compare the attractiveness of female students. The website was an instant hit, but also got him into trouble with the authorities and his peers.
Zuckerberg then teamed up with his friend Eduardo Saverin, who provided the initial funding, and two other students, Dustin Moskovitz and Chris Hughes, who helped with the programming and design. Together, they launched TheFacebook, a website that allowed Harvard students to create their own profiles, connect with their friends, and share their interests. The website soon expanded to other universities and became a sensation among college students.
However, Zuckerberg’s success also attracted the attention of other parties, who either wanted to join him or sue him.
The movie depicts the drama, conflict, and betrayal that surrounded the creation of Facebook, as well as the genius, ambition, and vision of Zuckerberg. It also shows how Facebook revolutionized the way people communicate, socialize, and express themselves online. Facebook is an example of a disruptive innovation, which is a new product or service that creates a new market and displaces the existing ones.
2. Steve Jobs – Available on Jio Cinema
This movie portrays the life and career of Steve Jobs, the co-founder and CEO of Apple, one of the most innovative and influential companies in the world. The movie is based on the biography Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson, which was authorized by Jobs himself.
The movie is structured around three key events in Jobs’ career: the launch of the Macintosh in 1984, the launch of the NeXT computer in 1988, and the launch of the iMac in 1998. The movie shows how Jobs prepared for these events, how he interacted with his colleagues, his family, and his rivals, and how he dealt with the successes and failures of his products.
The movie reveals the personality, the philosophy, and the vision of Jobs, who was known for his brilliance, his charisma, his perfectionism, and his ruthlessness. It also shows how Jobs changed the fields of personal computing, music, animation, and mobile devices, and how he influenced the culture and the society with his innovations.
3. The Founder – Available on Netflix
This movie tells the story of how Ray Kroc transformed a small burger stand into McDonald’s, the largest and most successful fast food chain in the world. The movie is based on the book Grinding It Out: The Making of McDonald’s by Ray Kroc himself, which details his journey from a struggling salesman to a billionaire entrepreneur.
The movie shows how Kroc, a middle-aged milkshake machine salesman, discovered a small but efficient burger joint run by two brothers, Mac and Dick McDonald, in San Bernardino, California, in 1954. He was impressed by their speedy service, their quality food, and their simple menu, and he saw the potential of franchising their concept across the country.
The movie depicts the rise and fall of the relationship between Kroc and the McDonald brothers, as well as the evolution of the fast food industry and the American culture. It also shows the ambition, the persistence, and the ruthlessness of Kroc, who was determined to make McDonald’s the most successful restaurant business in the world.
4. Joy – Available on Amazon Prime and Apple TV
This movie depicts the life and career of Joy Mangano, the inventor and entrepreneur behind the Miracle Mop, the Huggable Hangers, and many other successful products. The movie is loosely based on Mangano’s autobiography Inventing Joy: Dare to Build a Brave & Creative Life.
The movie shows how Mangano, a divorced mother of two, struggled to make ends meet and to support her dysfunctional family, which included her ex-husband, her father, her mother, her grandmother, and her half-sister. She also faced many challenges, such as sexism, betrayal, debt, and lawsuits, in her quest to launch and grow her business.
Mangano had a passion for inventing since she was a child, but she had to put her dreams on hold due to her circumstances. She got a chance to pursue her dreams when she came up with the idea of a self-wringing mop that could be easily cleaned and reused. She invested her savings and borrowed money to create a prototype and to manufacture 100 units of the mop.
She then tried to sell her mop to various retailers, but she was rejected or ignored by most of them. She finally got a break when she met Neil Walker, an executive at QVC, a home shopping network, who agreed to give her a chance to sell her mop on TV. However, her first appearance was a flop, as the host failed to demonstrate the mop’s features and benefits.
The movie portrays the journey, the struggles, and the triumphs of Mangano, who was determined to follow her passion and to create value for herself and others. It also shows how Mangano overcame the obstacles and the naysayers that stood in her way, and how she used her creativity, her courage, and her joy to achieve her goals.
5. The Pursuit of Happyness – Available on Netflix
This movie depicts the true story of Chris Gardner, a homeless single father who became a successful stockbroker and entrepreneur. The movie is based on Gardner’s memoir The Pursuit of Happyness, which chronicles his journey from rags to riches.
The movie shows how Gardner, a struggling salesman of bone density scanners, invested his life savings in a device that he believed would make him rich, but instead left him in debt and poverty. He also faced many challenges, such as losing his wife, his house, his car, and his bank account, and having to take care of his young son, Christopher, while living on the streets.
Gardner then decided to pursue his dream of becoming a stockbroker, and enrolled in a competitive internship program at Dean Witter Reynolds, a brokerage firm. He had to balance his work and his family, and overcome many obstacles, such as racism, discrimination, and bureaucracy, in order to prove himself and secure a job at the firm.
Gardner eventually succeeded in his goal, and became one of the top brokers at the firm. He also founded his own brokerage firm, Gardner Rich & Co., and became a millionaire and a philanthropist.
The movie portrays the struggle, the perseverance, and the determination of Gardner, who was willing to do whatever it took to provide a better life for himself and his son. It also shows how Gardner maintained his dignity, his integrity, and his optimism, despite the hardships and the setbacks that he faced.
6. The Wolf of Wall Street – Available on Lionsgate Play
This movie depicts the rise and fall of Jordan Belfort, a notorious stockbroker and entrepreneur who made a fortune by defrauding investors and engaging in various illegal and unethical activities. The movie is based on Belfort’s memoir The Wolf of Wall Street, which details his career and his crimes.
The movie shows how Belfort, a young and ambitious salesman, started his own brokerage firm, Stratton Oakmont, with his friend Donnie Azoff, and recruited a team of loyal and ruthless salesmen. He taught them how to sell penny stocks to unsuspecting investors, using high-pressure tactics, false promises, and outright lies. He also indulged in a lavish and hedonistic lifestyle, involving drugs, sex, parties, and extravagance.
Belfort’s success and fame also attracted the attention of the authorities, especially the FBI, who started to investigate his operations and his connections. He also faced many challenges, such as lawsuits, betrayals, addiction, and divorce, that threatened to destroy his empire and his reputation. He eventually pleaded guilty to fraud and money laundering, and served 22 months in prison.
The movie portrays the charisma, the greed, and the corruption of Belfort, who was a master of manipulation and persuasion. It also shows how Belfort built and led a cult-like organization, that followed his vision and his values, and that rewarded and celebrated his achievements.
7. The Aviator – Available on Amazon Prime
This movie depicts the life and career of Howard Hughes, a legendary entrepreneur, aviator, and filmmaker, who was known for his innovations, his achievements, and his eccentricities. The movie is based on the book Howard Hughes: The Secret Life by Charles Higham, which reveals the hidden aspects of Hughes’ personality and history.
The movie shows how Hughes, a wealthy heir, pursued his passion for aviation and filmmaking, and created some of the most groundbreaking and successful products and projects in both fields. He also faced many challenges, such as financial difficulties, legal battles, political conflicts, and health problems, that tested his limits and his sanity.
Hughes was a visionary and a pioneer, who designed and flew some of the fastest and most advanced planes in the world, and who produced and directed some of the most expensive and acclaimed movies in Hollywood. He was also a businessman and a philanthropist, who owned and invested in various companies and industries, and who supported various causes and charities.
The movie portrays the genius, the ambition, and the madness of Hughes, who was driven by his curiosity and his perfectionism. It also shows how Hughes influenced and changed the fields of aviation and filmmaking, and how he left a lasting legacy and a mystery in the world.
8. The Devil Wears Prada – Available on Amazon Prime
This movie depicts the experience of Andrea Sachs, a young and aspiring journalist, who lands a job as the assistant of Miranda Priestly, the editor-in-chief of Runway, a prestigious fashion magazine. The movie is based on the novel The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger, which was inspired by her own experience working for Anna Wintour, the editor-in-chief of Vogue.
The movie shows how Andrea, who has no interest or knowledge in fashion, struggles to adapt to the demands and expectations of Miranda, who is known for her high standards, her harsh criticism, and her ruthless attitude. She also faces many challenges, such as competing with her co-worker Emily, dealing with the pressure and the stress of the job, and balancing her work and her personal life.
Andrea eventually learns the ropes of the fashion industry, and impresses Miranda with her skills, her dedication, and her transformation. She also gets to travel to Paris and to meet some of the most influential and glamorous people in the world. However, she also realizes the cost and the consequences of her success, and how it affects her relationships, her values, and her identity.
The movie portrays the dynamics, the challenges, and the opportunities of working for a powerful and successful leader, who can make or break your career. It also shows how leadership can be inspiring, demanding, and rewarding, but also manipulative, abusive, and destructive.
9. The Godfather – Available on Amazon Prime
This movie depicts the saga of the Corleone family, a powerful and influential crime dynasty, and their leader, Vito Corleone, also known as the Godfather. The movie is based on the novel The Godfather by Mario Puzo, which was inspired by the real-life stories of the Mafia.
The movie shows how Vito, an immigrant from Sicily, rose from poverty and violence to become the most respected and feared boss of the New York underworld. He also shows how he passed on his legacy and his business to his sons, especially Michael, who reluctantly took over the family after Vito’s death.
The movie reveals the inner workings, the conflicts, and the alliances of the crime world, and how the Corleones dealt with their enemies, their rivals, and their allies. It also shows how the Corleones balanced their personal and professional lives, and how they coped with the moral and ethical dilemmas and consequences of their actions.
The movie portrays the charisma, the wisdom, and the authority of Vito, who was a master of strategy and negotiation. It also shows the transformation, the ambition, and the ruthlessness of Michael, who was a master of execution and manipulation.
10. Erin Brockovich – Available on Netflix, Sony Liv
This movie depicts the true story of Erin Brockovich, a single mother and a legal assistant, who fought against a giant corporation that was poisoning the water supply of a small town. The movie is based on the book Erin Brockovich and the Poisons of Hinkley by Jonathan Harr, which documents the case and the investigation.
The movie shows how Brockovich, who had no formal education or experience in law, stumbled upon a file that revealed that Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), a utility company, was contaminating the water of Hinkley, California, with a toxic chemical called chromium-6, which caused various illnesses and cancers among the residents.
Brockovich then decided to pursue the case, and teamed up with her boss, Ed Masry, a lawyer, and George, a biker, who became her boyfriend and her helper. She also befriended and interviewed the victims, and collected evidence and documents that proved PG&E’s negligence and cover-up.
Brockovich eventually succeeded in her mission, and won a landmark settlement of $333 million for the plaintiffs, the largest in US history at the time. She also became a hero and a celebrity, and inspired many people with her courage and her compassion.
The movie portrays the determination, the passion, and the charisma of Brockovich, who was driven by her sense of justice and her empathy for the people. It also shows how Brockovich challenged and changed the system, and how she made a difference in the world.
