Best 15 Inspiring Movies For Entrepreneur – Must Watch

I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse

— Don Vito Corleone

Believe me, “The Godfather” is one of the best movies in the world (We strongly recommend reading the book too). It is the story about the growth of a small family business and how it becomes the largest & organized crime family in New York City, fighting off the oppositions at any expense.

The Godfather and his son Michael Corleone are the brains behind the family and this movie gives you an insight into what it takes to become a powerful and influential entrepreneur. This is the reason why it tops our best entrepreneur movies.

“The most valuable commodity I know of is information”

— Gordon Gekko

Wall Street is the most typical or classic or you can say the most perfect entrepreneur movie. The Wall Street encapsulates the rise of traders and “titans of industry” in the 1980s.

With classic quotes like “Greed is Good“, it captures the “Get Rich Quick” mentality of some people. Plus, it had the suspender, wearing a $5K suit villain of Michael Douglas whose young protege finds his conscience right before he gets sent off to prison.

It resonates even today as people still quote the movie. If you haven’t seen it, you are missing out the dirty tricks of the business world.

“When you die, you’re gonna regret the things that you don’t do..”

— Blake

A movie that stars Al Pacino, Kevin Spacey, Jack Lemmon, and Alec Baldwin (in a scene stealing cameo) should serve as motivation alone to watch this movie.

Glengarry Glenn Ross is based on an award-winning play which shows how it’s like to operate in a high-pressure sales environment and how you need to use your wits in order to survive and thrive. Since its release, the movie has been used to train real-life salesmen on how to sell.

It’s a must recommended watch movie, and due to this reason it’s in our best movies for entrepreneur list.

“The key to this business is personal relationships”

— Jerry Maguire

Jerry Maguire is a great all-around film with stellar lead performances from Tom Cruise and an emotional journey of a man who learns not to be afraid of intimacy.

However, the film also depicts the sports agency business exceptionally well. Through the depiction of Maguire’s struggles and successes as an independent agent, Jerry Maguire showcases many great tips and tricks for anyone looking to launch a startup.

“Good artists copy, great artists steal..”

— Steve Jobs

A pretty accurate portrayal of the Silicon Valley story of Apple vs Microsoft (as much as Hollywood can be accurate) and also inspiring with good narrative and anecdotes.

The documentary-style movie provides an interesting take on the lives of Bill Gates and Steve Jobs.

Why watch it? Entrepreneurs can get inspired from these legendary “pirates.” It definitely is a good movie to learn from.

“Don’t tell me i can’t do it. Don’t tell me it can’t be done.”

— Howard Hughes

The Aviator based on the life of American business magnate Howard Hughes. This movie showcases the power of dreams. It portrays “If there is a will there is away”.

Howard Hughes played by (Leonardo Di Caprio) didn’t just compete with rival companies with deep pockets and powerful connections, but fought his own internal battle with mental illness.

He is the perfect role model for fledgeling entrepreneurs who have to overcome numerous obstacles in life to achieve great things. And hence you can’t find any reason to not be in our best movies for entrepreneurs list.

“You got a dream. You gotta protect it. People can’t do somethin’ themselves, they wanna tell you you can’t do it. If you want somethin’, go get it. Period.”

— Christopher Gardner

The movie dramatizes the true story of Chris Gardener’s extraordinary journey from homelessness to success as a stockbroker, all while supporting his young son as a single father.

The movie also has a very simple message of ‘Never give up’. Losing their home and facing financial difficulties, the father-son duo faced numerous struggles everyday. It showcases the relentlessness that an entrepreneur needs after hitting rock-bottom.

“Jab log tumhare khilaaf bolne lage samajh lo tarakki kar rahe ho “

— Gurukant Desai

In this Bollywood movie, Abhishek Bachchan plays the character of Guru. This amazing movie is loosely based on the life of late Dhirubhai Ambani. This biographical drama depicts the entrepreneurial journey & transformation of a simple villager into the biggest business magnate in India.

It tells us how an Entrepreneur’s biggest strength is his/her “courage“. Since courage & confidence are the two most important aspects, and hence “Guru” is in our best movies for entrepreneurs list.

“Risk toh Spiderman ko bhi lena padta hai … main toh phir bhi salesman hoon”

— Harpreet Singh

A movie about Harpreet Singh who starts his own parallel sales company by using company resources and convinces his colleagues to join him.

The business lessons you can learn from this movie are to be ready to take risks, as playing with risks is what makes the difference. Minimizing expenses while starting a business, picking up the right people, creating a positive work environment and building a great team.

Harpreet Singh in the movie, mainly portrays “Customers as the Kings“, keeping yourself informed, a brand depicts the culture and the most important lesson – “Values and Ethics being depicted in an organization can be Drivers“.

It’s well deserved and teaches a lot, and hence is in our best movies for entrepreneur list.

“Look, a guy who builds a nice chair doesn’t owe money to everyone who has ever built a chair, okay? They came to me with an idea, I had a better one”

— Mark Zuckerberg

No surprise here, this movie tells the story of how Mark Zuckerberg created Facebook while studying at Harvard and how he was later sued by two brothers who claimed he stole their idea.

It gives you a glimpse into how Facebook began and reminds you that big CEOs start out as small entrepreneurs.

“Not many of us know what it’s like to become the perfect version of ourselves.”

— Eddie Morra

This thrilling film about a struggling writer, Eddie Morra (Bradley Cooper) will teach you something about taking shortcuts, quick fixes and the easy path to success. Eddie is sure that he has no future, as he has faced unemployment and his girlfriend’s rejection.

However, that all changes when an old friend gives him a mysterious pill allowing him to access 100% of his brain abilities. It tells us how quick fixes and shortcuts have consequences. Highly recommended. Must Watch!

“Hard work beats talent. Every time!.”

— Jordan Belfort

Another Blockbuster from the Martin Scorsese – Leonardo Di Caprio duo. People have glorified the movie itself. The story and plot were extravagant, wild and fun. One of the craziest parts of this movie is that the story is true.

Perhaps the biggest lesson an entrepreneur can learn from The Wolf of Wall Street is that “dreams are the sparks for business“. And when you start looking for ways to make your dreams come true, use – sound, honest, and responsible ways to make that happen.

I highly recommend this movie. Must Watch! One of the Best Movies for Entrepreneurs like you.

“I made one decision in my life based on money. And I swore I would never do it again.”

— Billy Beane

You may be wondering what a movie about baseball has to do with business, but the lesson taught in “Moneyball” can actually be applied way far outside the sports. Without the courage to make a change, the entire plot of the movie never would have happened.

This is a real story about a baseball team manager Billy Beane and his revolutionary approach to team selection using player analytics. Innovation does not necessarily mean invention. This movie teaches us just that.

“Good things come to those who work their asses off.”

— Lou Bloom

Nightcrawler is a movie for people with great vision.

This one is a bit intense, but Jake Gyllenhaal’s acting will keep your eyes glued to the screen. The protagonist is a broke guy struggling to land a job. Instead, he finds his purpose after witnessing a crime and becomes a crime journalist.

This movie tells you that with persistence and drive, anyone can become successful. It teaches how on focusing and improving your skills can get you anything you want.

“We got here from hard work, patience, and humility. Don’t think the world owes you anything because the world owes you nothing..”

— Joy

Joy is about the real-life inventor and single mother Joy Mangano, who got rich in the 1990s selling her own revolutionary self-wringing mop on the QVC home shopping channel.

It’s an inspiring story of a battling entrepreneurial underdog, that will motivate you to never give up.

“Aapne kaha tha ki aaj stage pe khade hoke main apna product nahi bech sakta.. Isliye maine khud ko bech diya.”

— Naveen Bansal

Okay, We agree this is not a movie, but this short series deserves a special mention.

It is not just a story of four next door Engineers, leaving their monotonous jobs and many more things at stake, to chase their startup dream.

What follows is the journey of their sacrifices, challenges, small wins and losses, emotional dilemmas and the lessons they learn about entrepreneurship, relationships, friendships and life in general.

With its ridiculously humorous one-liners and equally comic characters, TVF Pitchers is a must watch for any first-time entrepreneur.