7 MUST-Watch Movies All Entrepreneurs Should See

It’s stressful enough being an entrepreneur, especially if you’re starting or running too many moving parts of your business. There are days when the feeling of “Is it all worth it?” filters in. You begin to doubt yourself, your dreams and your ability to deliver whatever solutions you create.

This is where inspiring media comes in. Hollywood and other ‘woods’ have done an excellent job producing countless movies that tell the tale of the successful entrepreneur (whether fictional or real). 

For some, these movies are just entertainment; but to the weary entrepreneur, they can be very powerful fuels to keep going. I remember feeling like, “I can do this! Nothing can stop me!” after seeing Rocky for the 6th time when the going got tough in my business. 

So instead of snapping your laptop close in frustration or wasting another night feeling dejected, why not kick up your boots, relax on a sofa or bed and explore these seven movies that have inspired thousands of entrepreneurs to keep working on their dreams.

The first on the list is: 

The Social Network 

This is a 2010 biographical drama film directed by David Fincher, based on the originating of Facebook and the legal actions that followed. 

The movie focuses on the story of Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) and his invention of Facebook. At the same time, he’s time as a student at Harvard University, as well as the legal battles that arose over the company’s ownership.

As a business owner, several lessons can be learned from The Social Network. 

One of the most important is having a clear and well-defined vision. Mark Zuckerberg had a clear idea for Facebook and was passionate about making it a reality. This highlights the importance of possessing a clear vision and being passionate about your business.

Another lesson is the importance of collaboration and partnerships. Zuckerberg had partners and collaborators throughout the founding of Facebook, including Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield) and Sean.

ROCKY

Rocky is a 1976 sports drama film directed by John G. Avildsen, starring Sylvester Stallone as the titular character. The film follows Rocky Balboa, an amateur boxer who works as a collector for a loan shark in Philadelphia. Rocky’s life changes when he is allowed to fight the reigning world heavyweight champion, Apollo Creed.

In summary, Rocky is a classic underdog story that teaches valuable lessons about hard work, persistence, belief in oneself, building relationships, embracing opportunities, and staying true to one’s values. These lessons are relevant to business owners in any industry and can help them succeed personally and professionally.

The Theory of Everything 

This is a 2014 biographical drama film based on the life of physicist Stephen Hawking. The movie depicts his journey as a brilliant student at Cambridge University, his diagnosis with motor neuron disease, and his personal life, including his marriage to his first wife, Jane, and his groundbreaking work on the universe’s origins.

As a business owner, several lessons can be learned from this film:

Overall, The Theory of Everything offers a powerful message about the importance of persistence, innovation, building relationships, and adapting to change, which can all be valuable lessons for business owners.

YES MAN

Yes Man is a comedy film released in 2008, starring Jim Carrey as Carl Allen, a man who decides to say “yes” to every opportunity that comes his way after attending a motivational seminar. As a business owner, several lessons can be learned from the film: Taking risks, Being affirmative, and saying “yes” can lead to personal and professional growth; saying “yes” requires balance, and honesty is essential.

Overall, “Yes Man” teaches us that being open to new opportunities and taking risks can lead to unexpected success and being affirmative in saying “yes” can lead to personal and professional growth. However, it’s crucial to maintain balance and honesty in our decision-making.

The Pursuit of Happyness 

This is a 2006 biographical drama directed by Gabriele Mucciono and stellar major Will Smith. The movie tells the true story of Chris Gardner, a struggling salesman who becomes homeless with his young son while trying to pursue a career as a stockbroker.

The film follows Chris’ journey as he battles homelessness, financial struggles, and the challenges of being a single parent. Despite facing immense obstacles, Chris never gives up on his dream of becoming a successful stockbroker and eventually lands an internship at a prestigious firm.

As a business owner, several lessons can be learned from The Pursuit of Happyness. However, this is a powerful story of resilience and willpower that offers valuable lessons for anyone pursuing their dreams, including business owners. Other things to learn are embracing a growth mindset, knowing persistence is critical, and not being afraid to take risks.

The Wolf of Wall Street 

This is a 2013 biographical black comedy film directed by Martin Scorsese, based on the record of the same name by Jordan Belfort. 

The film depicts the life of Belfort, a stockbroker who became a millionaire through securities fraud and corruption in the 1990s. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Belfort and an ensemble cast including Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie, and Matthew McConaughey.

The film follows Belfort as he starts his brokerage firm, Stratton Oakmont, with the help of his friend Donnie Azoff. They quickly become successful by using aggressive sales tactics and taking advantage of their client’s trust. Belfort’s extravagant lifestyle of drugs, sex, and partying becomes increasingly reckless and leads to legal troubles.

The knowledge that can be learned from The Wolf of Wall Street is that short-term gains obtained through unethical practices and dishonesty will eventually catch up with you. Belfort’s success was built on lies, fraud, and exploiting others, and his lack of moral compass led to his downfall. 

As a business owner, it’s essential to prioritise ethical behaviour and build a sustainable business model based on honesty, integrity, and transparency. 

In the long run, this approach will lead to tremendous success and customer, employee, and community respect.

INCEPTION

Inception is a 2010 science fiction film directed by Christopher Nolan, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The film follows the story of a skilled thief, Dom Cobb (played by DiCaprio), who is hired to perform an “inception” or plant an idea in someone’s mind through their dreams.

As an entrepreneur, several lessons can be learned from the film: Plan and strategise, build a strong team, adapt to challenges, believe in your ideas, and embrace risk.

Overall, “Inception” teaches us that success as an entrepreneur requires careful planning, a strong team, adaptability, conviction in your idea, and a willingness to take risks.

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Seeing a mirror of your life situation and the potential big light at the end of the tunnel playing on the big screens can pump you up — either to keep building a product or try something new. As far as the enterprising fire still burns bright in your heart, use these movies as fuel!

Do you know what’s more potent than a blip of fire burning on a matchstick? A bunch of woods burning a furnace. That’s why we built MyCEO Tribe, our exclusive online community where founders and business owners connect to collaborate, network and learn.

By joining MyCEO Tribe, you get to burn your candle alongside thousands of entrepreneurs like you fueling their fires with inspiring entertainment and turning their dreams into amazing realities.