8 movies that inspire entrepreneurs
Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2025 5:58 am
Cinema is a source of powerful ideas where we can fish out interesting lessons for whatever our business purpose. Or, to put it another way, everything is in the cinema: including the steps to follow during the entrepreneurial stages. Below we propose 8 films that will serve to inspire entrepreneurs and entertain everyone else:
You don't have to be a baseball fan to enjoy this great movie starring Brad Pitt, who plays coach Billy Beane to lead the Oakland Athletics to the top of their league. Since the team was short of financial resources, Beane had to come up with an alternative strategy to compete head-to-head against larger budgets. We can learn from this movie a lesson that is sometimes not so obvious: necessity sharpens ingenuity. Coach Beane followed with unwavering faith a methodology that took time to yield results, but his mix of ingenuity and tenacity took him where he wanted to go. Like any good entrepreneur, the protagonist of this movie followed his instinct until he achieved success.
Improve your productivity and boost your results!
Try Holded completely free and without limits for 14 days.
Find out
The social network
A great film, as all those directed by David Fincher are. This film, which was a box office hit when it came out in 2010, tells the story of how Mark Zuckerberg went from being a venezuela number data nerdy Harvard student to launching the most important social network in the world.
The film traces Facebook's genealogy, giving viewers a brief idea of what steps to follow - and which to avoid - to build a successful startup. By portraying a real example, this film serves to inspire entrepreneurs in need of success stories to believe in their own projects.
The Pirates of Silicon Valley
This made-for-TV movie was released in 1999 and recounts the early days of America's leading technology hub and the subsequent clash between Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. The documentary-style film provides an interesting account of the founding of Microsoft and Apple.
Read more: 7 business series you shouldn't miss
Any entrepreneur who wants to succeed in the technological world – and in almost any industry – has Gates and Jobs as two good role models. They are the “pirates” to look up to in order to prosper. In short, this work tells the story that every entrepreneur would want to be the protagonist of.
In search of happiness
This film based on the story of Chris Gardner has Will Smith as the protagonist. The American actor and his fictional son live a story of overcoming in which both fight to achieve their dreams and overcome all the difficulties they go through.
Chris Gardner was left homeless with a son to care for, but in adversity he never stopped fighting until he got what he wanted. He is an example of passion and sacrifice that no entrepreneur should overlook.
Jerry Maguire
This popular film stars a shark destined to take life in bites. Jerry Maguire –played by Tom Cruise– had it all: a great career, friends, a fiancée who loved him… But one day he had an epiphany; he sensed that sports agents should stop chasing so much money and start focusing their energy on taking care of their clients. From then on, Jerry lost everything, but he didn't stop fighting until he got back what he had.
From this film, an entrepreneur can learn the valuable lesson that dreams make the pieces of a business puzzle fit together little by little. Follow the path that your drive marks out for you and little by little you will find the formula for everything to fit together just as you have planned.
Gosford Park
A classic from the early 21st century, this mystery film by the great Robert Altman doesn’t always appear on film recommendations for entrepreneurs, but, in addition to presenting an intrigue that will keep you glued to your seat, it offers a very valid lesson about customer service. This film speaks, on an underlying layer, about how important it is to offer good service in any business. Helen Mirren’s character explains it like this: “What gift do you think separates a good servant from the rest? It’s the gift of anticipation. I am a good servant, I am better than good, I am the best, I am the perfect servant. I know when they will be hungry and the food will be ready. I know when they will be tired and the bed will be ready. I will know before they know it.”
Up in the Air
George Clooney and Anna Kendrick give a lesson in acting in this interesting film. The story focuses on Ryan Bingham –Clooney– who is hired to travel around the United States and fire people from his company. Kendrick plays Natalie Keener, another specialist who is trying to change this technique to replace it with technology.
You don't have to be a baseball fan to enjoy this great movie starring Brad Pitt, who plays coach Billy Beane to lead the Oakland Athletics to the top of their league. Since the team was short of financial resources, Beane had to come up with an alternative strategy to compete head-to-head against larger budgets. We can learn from this movie a lesson that is sometimes not so obvious: necessity sharpens ingenuity. Coach Beane followed with unwavering faith a methodology that took time to yield results, but his mix of ingenuity and tenacity took him where he wanted to go. Like any good entrepreneur, the protagonist of this movie followed his instinct until he achieved success.
Improve your productivity and boost your results!
Try Holded completely free and without limits for 14 days.
Find out
The social network
A great film, as all those directed by David Fincher are. This film, which was a box office hit when it came out in 2010, tells the story of how Mark Zuckerberg went from being a venezuela number data nerdy Harvard student to launching the most important social network in the world.
The film traces Facebook's genealogy, giving viewers a brief idea of what steps to follow - and which to avoid - to build a successful startup. By portraying a real example, this film serves to inspire entrepreneurs in need of success stories to believe in their own projects.
The Pirates of Silicon Valley
This made-for-TV movie was released in 1999 and recounts the early days of America's leading technology hub and the subsequent clash between Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. The documentary-style film provides an interesting account of the founding of Microsoft and Apple.
Read more: 7 business series you shouldn't miss
Any entrepreneur who wants to succeed in the technological world – and in almost any industry – has Gates and Jobs as two good role models. They are the “pirates” to look up to in order to prosper. In short, this work tells the story that every entrepreneur would want to be the protagonist of.
In search of happiness
This film based on the story of Chris Gardner has Will Smith as the protagonist. The American actor and his fictional son live a story of overcoming in which both fight to achieve their dreams and overcome all the difficulties they go through.
Chris Gardner was left homeless with a son to care for, but in adversity he never stopped fighting until he got what he wanted. He is an example of passion and sacrifice that no entrepreneur should overlook.
Jerry Maguire
This popular film stars a shark destined to take life in bites. Jerry Maguire –played by Tom Cruise– had it all: a great career, friends, a fiancée who loved him… But one day he had an epiphany; he sensed that sports agents should stop chasing so much money and start focusing their energy on taking care of their clients. From then on, Jerry lost everything, but he didn't stop fighting until he got back what he had.
From this film, an entrepreneur can learn the valuable lesson that dreams make the pieces of a business puzzle fit together little by little. Follow the path that your drive marks out for you and little by little you will find the formula for everything to fit together just as you have planned.
Gosford Park
A classic from the early 21st century, this mystery film by the great Robert Altman doesn’t always appear on film recommendations for entrepreneurs, but, in addition to presenting an intrigue that will keep you glued to your seat, it offers a very valid lesson about customer service. This film speaks, on an underlying layer, about how important it is to offer good service in any business. Helen Mirren’s character explains it like this: “What gift do you think separates a good servant from the rest? It’s the gift of anticipation. I am a good servant, I am better than good, I am the best, I am the perfect servant. I know when they will be hungry and the food will be ready. I know when they will be tired and the bed will be ready. I will know before they know it.”
Up in the Air
George Clooney and Anna Kendrick give a lesson in acting in this interesting film. The story focuses on Ryan Bingham –Clooney– who is hired to travel around the United States and fire people from his company. Kendrick plays Natalie Keener, another specialist who is trying to change this technique to replace it with technology.