10 movies all entrepreneurs should watch for inspiration

This little-known 2001 documentary looks into the rise and fall of promising startup GovWorks, which failed monumentally from mismanagement and internal power struggles – despite raising $60 million from Hearst Interactive Media, KKR, the New York Investment Fund, and Sapient.

If you’re interested in learning more about the boom and bust of internet companies during the dotcom bubble, Startup.com will be right up your street.

But the movie also works as a cautionary tale on how easily friendships can turn into bitter rivalries because of internal politics and business partnerships.

The Founder tells the story of Richard and Maurice McDonald – two lovable, folksy brothers who opened the original McDonald’s restaurant.

Enter Ray Kroc, a failing gadget salesman and hustler, who came across the original McDonald’s restaurant when the McDonalds were looking to franchise.

Soon after going into business with the brothers, Kroc grew unsatisfied with his contract, and eventually bought out (or rather sold out) the McDonald brothers and became a multi-millionaire in the process.

Granted, the movie won’t necessarily leave you rooting for the protagonist, but it will demonstrate how a simple idea for a fair-priced product can explode with popularity.  

Entrepreneurs will relate to Kroc’s story – failing in unsuccessful business and sales ventures, then finding a gap in the marketplace and pursuing it with all his efforts until the company was a success.

The movie that gave the world Michael Douglas’ Gordon Gekko and the mantra ‘Greed is good’ functions best as a cautionary tale for anyone stepping into the world of finance.

Naive Bud Fox idolizes Gekko and his glamorous lifestyle but is eventually caught up in a tangled web of insider trading.

Young entrepreneurs can be easily lured by greed, and sometimes make immoral decisions. Wall Street serves as a reminder of what can happen if you go down an unethical path. 

Over the years, Scorsese and DiCaprio have worked together on some magnificent films, and The Aviator is no exception.

The movie is a biopic of Howard Hughes, the eccentric billionaire who overcame major difficulties to become a famous businessman and successful film director, despite dealing with worsening OCD.

Hughes is a stellar example for newbie entrepreneurs who need to overcome many obstacles in life to achieve the impossible. He didn’t just compete with big companies with deep pockets, and movie moguls in the know, he also fought an internal battle with the debilitating mental illness OCD.

When you look at it like that, anything is possible.

The biopic of Apple’s co-founder Steve Jobs – portrayed by Michael Fassbender – hopes to inspire in a different kind of way.

Rather than tell the story of his life, Steve Jobs focuses on three specific Apple keynote events for the Macintosh, NeXT, and the iMac, each one representing a pivotal point in Jobs’ life.

Jobs overcame many obstacles both personally and professionally to become an Apple icon. The movie teaches us to never give up on our dreams, and to keep your convictions. However, the less said about what Steve Jobs was apparently like to work for the better!

Female entrepreneurs, it’s time to take center stage. This movie will inspire you to take action against all odds, gender discrimination, and education bias.

This legal drama is based on the true story of Erin Brockovich (Julia Roberts), who, despite the odds against her, helped win the biggest direct-action lawsuit in history.

Erin Brockovich’s never-say-die attitude against relentless opposition is an inspiration for any entrepreneur. The movie will teach you to stick to your guns against impossible odds, while also learning the importance of being socially responsible and having sustainable business practices.

If the big name cast alone doesn’t entice you, we don’t know what will. Starring Al Pacino, Kevin Spacey, Jack Lemmon, and Alec Baldwin, Glengarry Glen Ross is an acting showcase for some of the most talented performers in a generation.

The movie is based on an award-winning play about the plight of four real-estate salesman during a difficult sales season. Their jobs are on the line, and within one week, corporate has announced all but the top two men will be fired.

Glengarry Glenn Ross will show you how best to operate in high=pressure sales environments, and how to use your wits to survive and thrive in the process.