7 Best Movies for Entrepreneurs on Netflix
Make your movie time on Netflix enriching for your business with these movie recommendations.
Think of the various Netflix movies you watched after turning an entrepreneur and remarked, “I know how that feels!” or “That happened to me!” Naturally, movie moments that reflect humble beginnings, being the underdog, battling the odds, operating under pressure, and seeing a dream turn into fruition will tug at your heartstrings long after the film is finished.
Likewise, moments that symbolize a power tussle, rivalry, lost connections, betrayal, fall from grace, a toxic work culture, unethical practices and so on can send shudders. They may even nudge you to introspect on certain aspects of your business. As some people say, life is art, and art is life.
You may have seen some of the movies we’ve listed down. Still, you may want to watch them again for one of the various takeaways presented here. Without further ado, here’s our list of the best movies on Netflix for entrepreneurs and those bit by the entrepreneurial bug even remotely.
Table of Contents:
#1 The Pursuit of Happyness
#2 Lionheart
#3 Steve Jobs
#4 The Intern
#5 The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
#6 Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened
#7 The Founder
Let’s get started!
#1 The Pursuit of Happyness
Undoubtedly, the film is one among actor Will Smith’s career-best performances. It is based on entrepreneur Chris Gardner‘s memoir.
Chris Gardner, played by Smith, is the embodiment of the phrase, hard work pays off. He paddles through homelessness and an unpaid internship besides the responsibility of taking care of his young son.
Some of the compelling moments include the father-son bonding, Chris lending his last few dollars to one of his bosses, his meeting with the partners of the stockbroking firm he interns at and the iconic walk down the street at the film’s end.
What’s in it for you?
- Affirmation that entrepreneurs are human beings with emotions too! When the going gets tough, breathe and continue working on your goals.
- The motivation to approach those potential high-value customers and investors you’ve been holding off on. Schedule those meetings hoping for the best.
- The reminder is that when one door closes, another opens. Keep looking for that opportunity just around the corner.
Notice how happiness is misspelt in the movie’s name? Watch the movie and then read this interview to find out why.
#2 Lionheart
Lionheart is a 2018 Nollywood (Nigerian film industry) film. The first Netflix original to be produced in Nigeria, the film traces the struggles of a young woman fighting to cement her place in a male-dominated business world and family. Adaeze, the character played by Nigerian actor Genevieve Nnaji, demands equal opportunity in helping the family business.
She also braves a loan crisis incurred by her father and steps up to save their family business. All this under the watchful eyes of a patriarchal Nigerian society!
What’s in it for you?
- A woman or a non-binary entrepreneur will find Adaeze’s struggle — for acceptance as a businessperson of merit — inspiring to continue their fight. Quoting Shirley Chisholm, the first Black Congresswoman, “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring in a folding chair.”
- A male entrepreneur can examine how to be an ally for equal, merit-based workplace opportunities and initiate necessary changes.
#3 Steve Jobs
A list of the best movies on Netflix for entrepreneurs would be incomplete without this one! There’s no introduction needed for the charismatic Co-founder of Apple Inc, Steve Jobs, and actor Michael Fassbender immortalized the entrepreneur in this biopic of the same name. While the biopic doesn’t cover his entire life, the 3 pivotal parts shown — all involving iconic product launches — speak volumes about Jobs.
Even if you’ve read his biography, we recommend watching this biopic — also starring Kate Winslet — for a quick refresher on the fearless visionary.
What’s in it for you?
- Analyze and imbibe Jobs’ attention to detail. It will help you differentiate your product/service from your competitors.
- The importance of a vision that you can align with and never steer away from.
- Understand how to deal with resistance.
- Forgo the hope of being in everyone’s good books.
- The significance of brand consistency.
You can also watch Steve Jobs’ endearing commencement address at Stanford for more motivation.
#4 The Intern
Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro make this film a heartwarming watch with their performances. The plot? De Niro’s character Ben is 70-year-old interning at Hathaway’s growing e-commerce fashion startup. The workaholic CEO Jules Ostin (played by Hathaway) is sceptical about working with Ben, who has been assigned as her intern. The equation improves with conscious effort, and Ben leaves the most impression on Jules.
The film also portrays Jules’ whirlwind of emotions with marital discord and her attempts to salvage her leadership at the firm amidst pressure from the investors.
What’s in it for you?
- Prepare mentally to grow big, even if you’re starting out. In the movie, Jules’ startup grows from an enterprise in the kitchen to a 200+ employee firm in just eighteen months.
- Learn to navigate unpleasant encounters calmly and confidently. From investors’ mounting pressure for profits, a request for an increase in shares, to talks of a buyout, there could be many tricky conversations in the offing. Handle them with poise.
- Give enough thought before taking tough decisions.
- Be open to learning from anyone who has a valuable lesson.
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#5 The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
A gem of a Netflix original, based on a true story! The film is centred on the autobiography of Malawian innovator and engineer William Kamkwamba. It projects the glorious innovation of a young boy (played by actor Maxwell Simba) who saves his town from famine. How? He constructs a windmill that will provide the town with electricity and water. What resources did he possess? His willingness to help his folks and the curiosity to find a viable solution!
What’s in it for you?
- When facing challenges with your enterprise, you may not know all the answers. However, the willingness to go looking for them is as good a tool as expertise itself.
- With every product or service, keep asking yourself what problem you are solving for the customer.
- There’s no such thing as starting too early in entrepreneurship. Don’t let your lack of experience stop you from trying something new.
Looking for more inspiration? Check out these young tech innovators from India.
#6 Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened
This Netflix production gives you an inside look into the making (or should we say breaking?) of a luxury music festival improperly planned in the Bahamas in 2017. The glitz, hype, ticket sales, and influencer marketing were all on track for the three-day fiesta. How then did things derail? A massive slip-up: no solid plan to follow through once the attendees began pouring in!
If your mind just went, ‘That’s utterly foolish,’ watch the documentary for several lessons on what NOT to do as an entrepreneur.
What’s in it for you?
- Ultimately, the product/service speaks for itself. So, customer experience is everything.
- Planning is critical, including contingencies.
- Go back to the basics of business: don’t count your chickens before they hatch.
- Promise what you can deliver and deliver what you promise.
#7 The Founder
The 2016 biopic is based on entrepreneur Ray Kroc known for creating the McDonald’s fast-food restaurant chain. The story focuses on transforming a small-town hamburger restaurant owned by the McDonald brothers into one of the most successful fast-food restaurant chains.
Actor Michael Keaton plays Ray Kroc. Depending on the personality aspects you like/dislike in Ray and the brothers, the film is a treasure trove of lessons — identifying potential, taking risks, persisting in making things work, thinking big, the dilemma in exploring the unfamiliar, and shrewdness in business.
What’s in it for you?
- Stay curious. Ray’s curiosity is what led him to check out the humble drive-thru, McDonald’s.
- Recognize growth opportunities and act quickly (but cautiously).
- Work ethics cannot be compromised. The McDonald’s kitchen under the brothers displayed strong work ethics.
- Be cautious of the ties you build for your enterprise’s growth.
- Honour your business deals.
Is the McDonald’s model tickling your curiosity? Read more on how they make the moolah here!
For those who know us, it’s time for a bonus movie.
#Bonus Movie
We want this recommendation to be mind-blowing because entrepreneurship is a mind game. Truthfully, it is a close call between Inception and Shawshank Redemption. Essentially, both are selling a dream — the former to others and the latter to oneself. However, unless one can convince oneself with an idea, it will never succeed with others.
So, we pick Shawshank Redemption: the tale of a man serving time (two life sentences) — for a crime he didn’t commit — until he redeems himself. The grit and persistence displayed by the lead character Andy Dufresne throughout his tenure in jail are lessons to be absorbed by every entrepreneur. One can also draw parallels between the liberation Andy experiences at the end and the exhilaration of an entrepreneur whose dream comes true.
What’s in it for you?
- Have a dream that inspires you, and build a strategic plan to achieve it.
- Be resourceful in tackling obstacles.
- Erase overnight success from your vocabulary. Stay invested in the process and be hopeful of the results.
- Keep your entrepreneurial flame alive at all costs. May Andy’s fortitude inspire you.
- Take your chances with investors, customers, new hires, etc.,
#Conclusion
An underlying common theme in all of the above movies: the change in circumstances. While some of the characters adapted to it, others perished because of it. It’s wise to remember that entrepreneurs will have to respond to change perpetually. Change should be easy to deal with as long as you don’t have plans carved in stone. And on days when that seems difficult, come back to our recommendations on the best Netflix movies for entrepreneurs!
Hope you loved our recommendations.
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