The best business films teach more than any MBA program.
They show the risk, the resilience, the failure, and the rare triumph of building something from nothing.
Here are 10 essential films for every entrepreneur and business leader.
1. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) 8.0
Genre: Crime, Drama, Comedy · Director: Martin Scorsese · Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie
A New York stockbroker refuses to cooperate in a large securities fraud case involving corruption on Wall Street, corporate banking world and mob infiltration. Based on Jordan Belfort’s autobiography.
2. The Social Network (2010) 7.4
Genre: Drama · Director: David Fincher · Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Armie Hammer
In 2003, Harvard undergrad and computer programmer Mark Zuckerberg begins work on a new concept that eventually turns into the global social network known as Facebook. Six years later, Mark is one of
3. Moneyball (2011) 7.3
Genre: Drama · Director: Bennett Miller · Cast: Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman
The story of Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane’s successful attempt to put together a baseball team on a budget, by employing computer-generated analysis to draft his players.
4. Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) 7.3
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery · Director: James Foley · Cast: Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Alec Baldwin
Times are tough at Premiere Properties. Shelley “the machine” Levene and Dave Moss are veteran salesmen, but only Ricky Roma is on a hot streak. The new Glengarry sales leads could turn everything aro
5. The Founder (2016) 7.1
Genre: Drama, History · Director: John Lee Hancock · Cast: Michael Keaton, Nick Offerman, John Carroll Lynch
The true story of how Ray Kroc, a salesman from Illinois, met Mac and Dick McDonald, who were running a burger operation in 1950s Southern California. Kroc was impressed by the brothers’ speedy system
6. Chef (2014) 7.1
Genre: Comedy · Director: Jon Favreau · Cast: Jon Favreau, John Leguizamo, Bobby Cannavale
When Chef Carl Casper suddenly quits his job at a prominent Los Angeles restaurant after refusing to compromise his creative integrity for its controlling owner, he is left to figure out what’s next.
7. Jerry Maguire (1996) 7.0
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance · Director: Cameron Crowe · Cast: Tom Cruise, Renée Zellweger, Cuba Gooding Jr.
Jerry Maguire used to be a typical sports agent: willing to do just about anything he could to get the biggest possible contracts for his clients, plus a nice commission for himself. Then, one day, he
8. American Made (2017) 6.9
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama · Director: Doug Liman · Cast: Tom Cruise, Domhnall Gleeson, Sarah Wright
The true story of pilot Barry Seal, who transported contraband for the CIA and the Medellin cartel in the 1980s.
9. Startup.com (2001) 6.7
Genre: Documentary · Director: Chris Hegedus · Cast: Kaleil Isaza Tuzman, Tom Herman, Kenneth Austin
Friends since high school, 20-somethings Kaleil Isaza Tuzman and Tom Herman have an idea: a Web site for people to conduct business with municipal governments. This documentary tracks the rise and fal
10. Joy (2015) 6.6
Genre: Drama, Comedy · Director: David O. Russell · Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper
A story based on the life of a struggling Long Island single mom who became one of the country’s most successful entrepreneurs.
These films won’t give you a roadmap — but they’ll give you something better: the emotional truth of what it takes to build something great. Watch them all.