Business Movies For Movers, Shakers and other Indomitable Souls
Movies to inspire you, teach you, scare you, make you appreciate the human genius. The list is for anyone creative: entrepreneurs, thinkers, creators, innovators and other curious minds that want to learn more about what makes the world go round.
(taken from activeCollab blog)
(taken from activeCollab blog)
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31 titles
- DirectorPaul Thomas AndersonStarsDaniel Day-LewisPaul DanoCiarán HindsA story of family, religion, hatred, oil and madness, focusing on a turn-of-the-century prospector in the early days of the business.Everything is business. The movie depicts the oil fields, the rise of a businessman, and how anyone can be bought for money. It's a ruthless film about a rise of a tycoon and what it takes to survive in the shark-infested waters.
- DirectorMick JacksonStarsClaire DanesJulia OrmondDavid StrathairnA biopic of Temple Grandin, an autistic woman who has become one of the top scientists in the humane livestock handling industry.Inspiring biopic about Temple Grandin, a female activist with autism. This is a story about how the thing that holds you back in life can give you insight to make groundbreaking innovations, design tools, improve business and make the world a better place.
- DirectorKing VidorStarsGary CooperPatricia NealRaymond MasseyAn uncompromising, visionary architect struggles to maintain his integrity and individualism despite personal, professional and economic pressures to conform to popular standards.Adaptation of Ayn Rand's novel that summarizes her Objectivism philosophy that many entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley embraced. It's a story about a brilliant forward-thinking architect who refuses to bow down to social standards and mediocrity. This is a good watch for all creative people and builders whose job is to lead, but are pressured to compromise.
- StarsKate WinsletGuy PearceEvan Rachel WoodDivorced single mom Mildred Pierce decides to open a restaurant business, which tears at the already-strained relationship with her ambitious elder daughter, Veda.A mini-series about a woman who gets divorced and starts her own restaurant during the Great Depression in 1930s. With a lot of hard work and sacrifice, she's able to build an empire, but it does come at a cost. If you're thinking about entrepreneurship, be sure to see the movie and get familiar with all the challenges.
- DirectorFrancis Ford CoppolaStarsJeff BridgesJoan AllenMartin LandauThe story of Preston Tucker, the maverick car designer and his ill-fated challenge to the auto industry with his revolutionary car concept.The story follows Tucker, a car designer who wants to revolutionize the auto industry. Learn how to get from building your product to mass production, with a vision as your guiding light; and after that, how to stay on top and survive your success by developing different business models.
- DirectorJon FavreauStarsJon FavreauRobert Downey Jr.Scarlett JohanssonA head chef quits his restaurant job and buys a food truck in an effort to reclaim his creative promise, while piecing back together his estranged family.If you're into social media marketing, this is a must watch. The movie is about a chef who quits his job in order to start his own business, from the back of a van. Thanks to social marketing, he's able to scale it up and open his own brick-and-mortar business in the end.
- DirectorMarc AbrahamStarsGreg KinnearLauren GrahamAlan AldaRobert Kearns takes on the Detroit automakers who he claims stole his idea for the intermittent windshield wiper.A biopic about protecting your ideas , and facing a huge opponent. The story follows Robert Kearns who invented the intermittent windshield wipers that have been used in auto-industry, and his struggle to get compensation for his discovery. In the movie, you can learn about how patents work, and how a trivial innovation can make a great impact.
- DirectorBennett MillerStarsBrad PittRobin WrightJonah HillOakland A's general manager Billy Beane's successful attempt to assemble a baseball team on a lean budget by employing computer-generated analysis to acquire new players.A general manager gets hired to run a baseball team on a limited budget. To succeed, he needs to think differently. The solution lies in employing analytics and setting clear establishing goals. If you're running a small business, this is a good lesson on getting the most out of what you've got.
- DirectorRobert AltmanStarsTim RobbinsGreta ScacchiFred WardA Hollywood studio executive is being sent death threats by a writer whose script he rejected, but which one?This one is about Hollywood itself. Ever wondered how movies get pitched and funded? This dark comedy teaches you about networking, behind the scenes maneuvers, and how to pitch your idea with a great tag-line.
- DirectorAlexander MackendrickStarsAlec GuinnessJoan GreenwoodCecil ParkerAn altruistic chemist invents a fabric which resists wear and stain as a boon to humanity, but big business and labor realize it must be suppressed for economic reasons.This 1951 movie follows a brilliant young chemist who discovers a fabric that never needs to be washed, doesn’t tear or wrinkle. This might seem like a great invention but it disrupts a sensitive ecosystem: because it never tears people will buy less clothes, washers will not be able to earn their living, and mill owners won't be able to place their products. The moral: beware of great solutions, they go against interests of many people.
- DirectorCarol ReedStarsCharlton HestonRex HarrisonDiane CilentoThe biographical story of Michelangelo's troubles while painting the Sistine Chapel at the urging of Pope Julius II.Maybe not a business movie, but one about striving for excellence. It's about Michelangelo and the process of painting the Sistine chapel - a masterpiece that took 8 years to finish. You'll be amazed at the perseverance of the human spirit and the painstaking work behind the product/art. This one goes against all agile methodologies and proves that sometimes it pays to deliver perfection.
- DirectorDan GilroyStarsJake GyllenhaalRene RussoBill PaxtonWhen Louis Bloom, a con man desperate for work, muscles into the world of L.A. crime journalism, he blurs the line between observer and participant to become the star of his own story.If you're a freelancer and self-taught expert, you're bound to appreciate this one. It's about a guy who's looking for a job. When he can't find one, he starts his own business, does his first hire, makes contacts, keeps up with trends, and slowly develops his business. Which happens to be crime journalism - shooting footage, and selling it to news channels.
- DirectorDavid FincherStarsJesse EisenbergAndrew GarfieldJustin TimberlakeAs Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg creates the social networking site that would become known as Facebook, he is sued by the twins who claimed he stole their idea and by the co-founder who was later squeezed out of the business.A well known film about the foundation of Facebook. If you have an idea and plan on going into startups, this would be a good place to gather some tips on real life, politics, and management.
- DirectorMartyn BurkeStarsAnthony Michael HallNoah WyleJoey SlotnickHistory of Apple and Microsoft.The history of Apple and Microsoft. It follows the creation of these companies from an idea to their many clashes during the 80s and 90s. Watch the IT revolution unfold before your eyes and the men who recognized and seized the opportunity. It's a pretty accurate movie, which received praise from both Gates and Jobs.
- DirectorAlain CorneauStarsSylvie TestudKaori TsujiTarô SuwaA Belgian woman looks back on her year at a Japanese corporation in Tokyo in 1990. She is Amélie, born in Japan, living there until age 5. After college graduation, she returns with a one-year contract as an interpreter. The vice president and section leader, both men, are boors, but her immediate supervisor, Ms. Mori, is beautiful and trustworthy. Amélie's downfall begins when she speaks perfect Japanese to clients. She compounds her failure by writing an excellent report for an enterprising colleague. The person she least expects to stab her in the back exposes her work. Thus begins her humiliations. What can become of her and of her relationship with Ms. Mori and with Japan?A true story about a Belgian woman who took a job in Japan in the 90s. This clash of cultures shows what makes the Japanese such a powerful workforce, and the subtle transition from old way of doing to business to a modern global approach. Cultural differences between occident and orient have rarely been so powerfully portrayed as here.
- DirectorJohn JeffcoatStarsJosh HamiltonAyesha DharkerAsif BasraAfter his entire department is outsourced, an American novelty products salesman (Hamilton) heads to India to train his replacement.Another story about east meets west, in this case India meets USA. When most businesses outsource their work to developing countries, they need someone to teach the new employees how to work, speak, and absorb American culture. The world is a global village so make sure you know your neighbours.
- DirectorDaniel HsiaStarsLe GengDaniel HenneySean GallagherA New York attorney is sent to Shanghai on business, where he finds himself in a legal mess that threatens his career. With the help of a relocation specialist and her contacts, he soon learns to appreciate the wonders of Shanghai.A young attorney is sent to Shanghai, where he has to deal with culture shock and a whole new business mentality. Anyone doing business with China will get a chuckle when one manufacturer steals the plans for a new smartphone, manufactures it overnight and sells a truckload on the street the next day.
- DirectorMike LeighStarsJim BroadbentAllan CordunerDexter FletcherSet in the 1880s, the story of how, during a creative dry spell, the partnership of the legendary musical/theatrical writers Gilbert and Sullivan almost dissolves, before they turn it all around and write the Mikado.Gilbert and Sullivan are great business partners, one writes the words and the other writes the music. But they need fresh ideas for their new production. That requires effort and overcoming the thick personality of one partner. So what to do when you run out of ideas? Steal and borrow, as all great artists can attest to.
- DirectorFrancis Ford CoppolaStarsMatt DamonDanny DeVitoClaire DanesAn underdog lawyer takes on a fraudulent insurance company.Some companies hurt real people and they try to cover it up. Enter a young lawyer with the idealism and ethics to put a stop to it. But as he will find out, real life doesn't work the way you're taught in school. It takes work and savviness to accomplish your goals, and mentors are a great asset to have.
- DirectorSidney LumetStarsFaye DunawayWilliam HoldenPeter FinchA television network cynically exploits a deranged former anchor's ravings and revelations about the news media for its own profit, but finds that his message may be difficult to control.Ever wondered about the dark underbelly of TV? Here's a great movie about the media and the exploitation of controversy which skyrockets viewership and generates profit. The movie is rife with passages and quotes that have become iconic, especialy "The World is a Business" speech.
- DirectorAng LeeStarsDemetri MartinHenry GoodmanEdward HibbertA man working at his parents' motel in the Catskills inadvertently sets in motion the generation-defining concert in the summer of 1969.The film is about Woodstock and how it was organized. First it was meant to be commercial, with 25 000 attendees planned. The real challenge came when it exploded and 400 000 people turned up. It's a great primer to event planning, logistics, and what to do when the unexpected happens.
- DirectorDerrick BorteStarsDemi MooreDavid DuchovnyAmber HeardA seemingly perfect family moves into a suburban neighborhood, but when it comes to the truth as to why they're living there, they don't exactly come clean with their neighbors.Marketing techniques reach new heights in this movie. It's about a perfect family who moves to the suburbs. Actually, they're not perfect, they're stealth marketers designated to push brands around their neighbours and disguise product placement as a daily routine. If nothing else, at least you'll be amazed at the ingenuity of marketers.
- DirectorJason ReitmanStarsAaron EckhartCameron BrightMaria BelloSatirical comedy follows the machinations of Big Tobacco's chief spokesman, Nick Naylor, who spins on behalf of cigarettes while trying to remain a role model for his 12-year old son."Smoking is cool". How to send this message? Put a spin doctor/marketing genius to push it. Don't worry about ethics, this movie is beyond it. If you argue correctly, you're never wrong - and that's why we trust lobbyists more than actual evidence. Learn how to create great tag lines and get away with dubious products.
- DirectorJan KounenLaurent LafranBruno VatinStarsJean DujardinJocelyn QuivrinPatrick MilleThe life of Octave Parango, a flamboyant ad designer, filled with success, satire, misery and love.Ever wanted to know why commercials are bad? Find out in this french movie, which follows a marketing firm whose latest job is to make yoghurt "young". Be warned, you might not like the raw and liberal nature of the movie - but if you have a taste for the subversive, be sure to check it out.
- DirectorJames FoleyStarsAl PacinoJack LemmonAlec BaldwinAn examination of the machinations behind the scenes at a real estate office.Sales can be tough, especially if you're not a shark; but even if you are, it's still tough. After this, you'll see leads and prospect hunting in a different light. Even if you’re not in sales, you’ll appreciate your sales team and give them the support they need.