7 Movies Every Entrepreneur Should Watch
Like most people, entrepreneurs need a push sometimes to take inspiration from what they see or hear. Therefore, many seek out those thought-provoking movies that motivate people to achieve greatness.
Whether you're at the beginning or the end of your entrepreneurial journey, some titles that hit the big and small screens have become classics for all business owners, and perhaps they somehow contributed to the incessant rise of online stores in recent years. Do you want to know more about them? Find here a list of the seven movies that every entrepreneur should watch!
Pirates of Silicon Valley
This movie was based on the book Fire in the Valley: The Making of the Personal Computer, and follows the story of business moguls Steve Jobs and Bill Gates between the 70s and 90s. Pirates of Silicon Valley showcased the rivalry between the two billionaire businessmen as they ran their companies. The story remains foundational for tech entrepreneurship lessons. If you are interested in knowing how two of the wealthiest men in the world got to the top, you must see this film!
The Big Short
Also based on a book, Michael Lewis's The Big Short, this film tells three parallel stories of people who took advantage of the business opportunities that the 2007 US financial crisis brought. The Big Short features mind-blowing performances from Christian Bale and Steve Carell. In addition, it is a classic for all those who want to learn financial concepts and techniques. Investors from the film continue commentary on markets into 2026.
The Wolf of Wall Street
It's definitely one of the most popular business movies in modern history. The Wolf of Wall Street, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill, follows the rise and fall of businessman Jordan Belfort. The film shows how Belfort's firm Stratton Oakmont came to the attention of the FBI after becoming involved in penny stock trading and stock scams, giving millions upon millions to a greed-driven entrepreneur.
The Founder
Do you know the American fast food tycoon Ray Kroc? This film, starring Michael Keaton, tells the story of how McDonald's became the largest fast food chain in the world. The biopic features performances by Nick Offerman and John Carroll Lynch, who played the McDonald's brothers, the original founders of the restaurant. The movie dramatizes events; real sale involved different financial details and motivations. Still, it remains valuable for lessons on franchising and ambition.
The Social Network
The Social Network frequently appears in recent entrepreneur movie lists for lessons on execution, idea ownership, and startup scaling. Widely cited in 2025-2026 lists as a top startup movie, it illustrates rapid growth and ethical challenges in tech entrepreneurship. The film tracks Mark Zuckerberg and Eduardo Saverin's early decisions at Harvard as Facebook moved from dorm project to global platform, showing how speed, control, and legal disputes can shape a company's direction from day one.
Joy
Joy highlights perseverance, invention, and building a business from personal hardship, often paired with The Pursuit of Happyness in modern lists. Featured in multiple 2025-2026 entrepreneur recommendations, it is based on the true story of product inventor Joy Mangano and her QVC success. The film follows her path from struggling single mother to creating the Miracle Mop, navigating family dynamics, retail skepticism, and the grind of getting a product on air.
Air
Air demonstrates high-stakes deal-making, risk-taking, and partnership in building a brand, relevant to modern entrepreneurship. The 2023 film frequently appears in 2025-2026 business movie roundups and shows Nike's basketball division creation and entrepreneurial vision. It centers on Sonny Vaccaro's push to sign Michael Jordan, the internal debates at Nike, and how one partnership redefined both a company and an entire category.
BlackBerry
BlackBerry offers a cautionary tale on innovation complacency, market disruption, and corporate downfall in tech. Cited in recent startup movie compilations, it focuses on the Canadian tech company's rise and fall. The film contrasts early engineering triumphs with later strategic missteps as competitors like the iPhone reshaped the market faster than the company could adapt.
Steve Jobs
There are many movies about Steve Jobs, but one of the most iconic ones has Michael Fassbender playing the founder of Apple. It was directed by Danny Boyle and presented only one pivotal point in the businessman's life in just three sequences. Directed by Danny Boyle, it focuses on three product launches. Kate Winslet also had a brilliant role in Steve Jobs, giving tech entrepreneurs the inspiration they needed to take their business where they wanted it to be.
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
It is not a movie, but a documentary based on the best-selling book Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, which shows an interesting story that led the Enron Corporation to fall like a House of Cards in 2001. Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room unveils all the key factors behind the corporation's downfall and features interviews from the book's authors, Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind. The documentary continues to appear in 2025-2026 roundups of essential business viewing.
The Pursuit of Happyness
Many people already know this emotional film starring Will Smith and his son Jaden, but few see the message that it conveys. The Pursuit of Happyness is inspired by a true story and follows Chris Gardner's nearly year-long struggle. The true story of Chris Gardner's struggle and internship at Dean Witter shows how the businessman stumbled after becoming homeless and had to live on the streets or sleep in bathrooms with his son while doing grueling unpaid internships.
Final Thoughts
In addition to the movies mentioned here, there are many more! Recent lists include additional films like The Social Network and Joy. You can find other new titles or discover old movie treasures that helped entrepreneurs like you build their businesses and achieve success.
