In the movies I’ve picked you will easily learn how Wall Street works, know more about the most popular business founders and investors, and be surprised that even criminals are amazing at running their own business.
1) Fyre Festival
Movie: Fyre Festival
What it’s about: This is a documentary about a young entrepreneur and the failed Fyre festival that was doomed even before it began because of poor planning and problems with fund management. This is a perfect example of how planning is important in everything that you do and how hard work cannot be replaced by sheer passion and desire to do something great.
This movie shows how important planning and management is and can be a great warning for young fitness professionals who later on fail to deliver even after pouring in a massive financial investment.
Released in: 2019
IMDB Rating: 7.2/10 from 34,714 votes
2) The Founder
Movie: The Founder
What it’s about: This is a biography about how McDonald’s became one of the biggest businesses in the food industry. It’s a great warning to be careful who you get in bed with as it tells how salesman Ray Croc steals the McDonald brother’s idea and took credit for the growth of the company without paying them royalty for the brilliant concept.
This movie is very inspiring for those who want to start the next big thing in fitness.
Released in: 2016
IMDB Rating: 7.2/10 from 116,351 votes
3) Steve Jobs
Movie: Steve Jobs
What it’s about: This bio on the founder of Apple gives you a behind the scene look on his struggles on his journey to success. It gives you an insight as well into his personal life and what he had to overcome to building his brand.
Any gym owner will learn from this movie. There are big takeaways from this movie even for gym owners who had years of experience running a business.
Released in: 2015
IMDB Rating: 7.2/10 from 149,991 votes
4) The Social Network
Movie: The Social Network
What it’s about: This is a story about Facebook’s founder, Mark Zuckerberg, and how he brought this social media platform to life. It shows both his success and struggles, especially with his friend and first investor Eduardo Saverin.
This is a great movie to analyze and watch as it shows how big corporations once had small and struggling beginnings. This will be very inspiring especially for your gym owners who are starting to make a name for themselves in the fitness business.
Released in: 2010
IMDB Rating: 7.7/10 from 607,074
5) The Wolf of Wall Street
Movie: The Wolf of Wall Street
What it’s about: This is one of those movies that you won’t be able to take your eyes off on. The catastrophic mistakes that Jordan Belfort made will help you learn business mistakes and how to avoid them. This real-life story will prove how the business choices you make will later on define your life and how you are remembered – so choose wisely.
Cold-calling is one of the most exciting scenes of this movie as it shows how it was done with passion and commitment. Another takeaway would be how keeping your employees happy is important in running your gym. But make sure to keep those healthy boundaries in place, you will know why if you watch this.
Released in: 2013
IMDB Rating: 8.2/10 from 1,137,086 votes
6) The Big Short
Movie: The Big Short
What it’s about: This Oscar winner tells you a story of the 2007 financial crisis and how inside information on the housing market crash was used to their advantage. For a gym owner, this can be both educational and intriguing.
All that you hear in this movie is real and will give you an idea on what exactly happens in Wall Street. This is a must-watch for those who wants to invest in the stock market
Released in: 2015
IMDB Rating: 7.8/10 from 347,373 votes
7) Pirates of Silicon Valley
Movie: Pirates of Silicon Valley
What it’s about: This movie is about the work of Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, their brilliance and their challenges in the business world. If you are an innovator, this movie is for you as it teaches you how to protect your idea.
Released in: 1997
IMDB Rating: 7.3/10 from 23,345 votes
8) The Corporation
Movie: The Corporation
What it’s about: This is very different from the rest of the movies because this shows what would happen if corporations were people and how moral decisions will be made if that’s the case. Big-shots in the business world tell their stories and is presented as psychopathic characters.
It makes you question your beliefs and the influence of capitalism in the business world.
Released in: 2003
IMDB Rating: 8.1/10 from 20,211 votes.
9) American Hustle
Movie: American Hustle
What it’s about: This is a crime story that will keep you glued to the screen from start to finish. It touches on multiple topics but mostly focuses on the consequences of your mistakes and how you must pay to correct them.
It highlights the importance of loyalty when going into business and how you should always keep your word and stay true to yourself.
Released in: 2013
IMDB Rating: 7.2/10 from 439,649 votes
10) Casino
Movie: Casino
What it’s about: This makes you ask, how far are you willing to go to achieve your dreams? A story about a Las Vegas gambler, this depicts how power, greed, and money can change a man and how these can consume him.
This movie touches on sensitive topics in the business world and how going into business with friends are sometimes not the best idea to have.
Released in: 1995
IMDB Rating: 8.2/10 from 451,318 votes
11) Glengarry Glen Ross
Movie: Glengarry Glen Ross
What it’s about: Based on the award-winning play, this is one of the more popular business movies. This is a story about real estate agents and the pressure they had to go through under a new trainer.
This movie shows great hard sale mastery and can give you learnings on how to survive in a high-pressure environment.
Released in: 1992
IMDB Rating: 7.7/10 from 93,652 votes
12) Wall Street
Movie: Wall Street
What it’s about: Greed and ambition is what Wall Street is all about. This is a story about how one gets carried away by the glamorous lifestyle and gets caught in the danger of inside trading.
This movie is a clear depiction of how some people would go to great lengths to get to the top. It’s a take on how ambition can affect a person and lead one to do illegal acts.
Released in: 1987
IMDB Rating: 7.4/10 from 140,541 votes
13) Boiler Room
Movie: Boiler Room
What it’s about: How do you earn big money from nothing? This movie will tell you how. This movie is based on a stock trading company founded by young entrepreneurs and their obsession to reach the top.
This movie sends a warning to business people who may easily be blinded by rich lifestyle. It’s a reminder to stick to your moral code to stop that from happening.
Released in: 2000
IMDB Rating: 7.0/10 from 48,349 votes
14) The Pursuit of Happyness
Movie: The Pursuit of Happyness
What it’s about: This is based on the life of Chris Gardner and how he became a millionaire in just a year and the sacrifices he and his son made in pursuit of this dream.
This movie is not only inspiring but gives business people a realistic look into what it takes to rise above the challenges you may encounter as you are building your business.
Released in: 2006
IMDB Rating: 8.0/10 from 436,173 votes
15) Moneyball
Movie: Moneyball
What it’s about: this is about Billy Beane’s innovative strategies in attracting new players and how he was able to pull it off with his low budget. It shows how he used computer data analysis in order to acquire potential signings and how he was able to win against MLB elite rivals.
This movie shows the common challenges that startups usually face. The lesson here is that you can achieve your goals with the perfect mic of creativity and risk taking.
Released in: 2011
IMDB Rating: 7.6/10 from 353,071 votes.
16) Jerry Maguire
Movie: Jerry Maguire
What it’s about: Sports agents need to be pros at negotiating the best deals for their clients. This movie is very insightful on what it takes to be a great sports agent. It also gives you a lesson about starting over with dignity.
There is more to life than making money and for those who find themselves trapped in the money world, this would certainly be an eye opener.
Released in: 1996
IMDB Rating: 7.3/10 from 237,666 votes
17) Startup.com
Movie: Startup.com
What it’s about: This move is a heart-wrenching movie for entrepreneurs and tells the story of how a dot.com company’s rise and fall. It shows how two high school friends combine their business ideas. It teaches you to think twice about going into business with friends and to trust your instincts.
This depicts the effect that money, power, and greed can have on a relationship. This will make you go back and analyze your business decisions as well as the things that you prioritize as a business owner.
Released in: 2001
IMDB Rating: 7.0/10 from 3,253 votes
18) The Aviator
Movie: The Aviator
What it’s about: This story is about an American business magnate, filmmaker, and pilot who loved taking risks. It shows his journey in finding meaning in life as he struggled to keep his mental health intact.
As a business owner, you have to be aware if you are making smart business decisions or a foolish one. This movie will make you rethink your business decisions and see if some of them are crazy or will give you the jackpot.
Released in: 2004
IMDB Rating: 7.5/10 from 326,364 votes
19) Joy
Movie: Joy
What it’s about: As a business owner, it can be very frustrating to watch people around you become more and more successful using your ideas. Joy is about a divorced mother of two who was creative but didn’t have the guts to start on her own and didn’t give up on her dream of becoming an inventor.
This story is very inspirational especially to women entrepreneurs. It shows how determination and persistence can help you on your struggle through financial crisis and the crippling market.
Released in: 2015
IMDB Rating: 6.6/10 from 125,258 votes
20) The Devil Wears Prada
Movie: The Devil Wears Prada
What it’s about: This works on the saying the means justify the ends by showing how far people would go to reach success. It shows the cold-blooded and ruthless style of leadership and the effect this has on employees.
This is a business movie that you should watch because it focuses on topics such as morality in the workplace and how business owners should avoid stepping over their employees.
Released in: 2006
IMDB Rating: 6.9/10 from 361,426 votes
21) Becoming Warren Buffett
Movie: Becoming Warren Buffett
What it’s about: This is the right movie to watch if you want to get into the mind of one of the world’s most brilliant businessmen. He is wealthy and yet humble, there are so many things to learn while watching this movie.
One of them is what you can do with yourself once you don’t have to think about money coming in, how you can focus on your life goals and becoming a better human.
Released in: 2017
IMDB Rating: 7.6/10 from 3,180 votes
22) Billionaire Boys Club
Movie: Billionaire Boys Club
What it’s about: This story is about a group of wealthy men who get rich quick with the Ponzi scheme. It ends very badly for all of them when the investor ends up being murdered.
This is a clear depiction of how a Ponzi scheme might end and how the get-rich-quick methods never work and are not worth getting into.
Released in: 2018
IMDB Rating: 5.6/10 from 11,557 votes
23) Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
Movie: Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
What it’s about: This is the prequel to the movie Wall Street and offers some valuable advice about business. Trying to guild his future, Gekko works alongside his future son-in-law and uses unconventional strategies to fight competitors and business enemies.
This tells about how wrong business decisions will eventually catch up with you even if you are a changed man. But it makes you question yourself, do people really change or do they just evolve into a version of themselves that suits them more?
Released in: 2010
IMDB Rating: 6.2/10 from 96,806 votes
24) The Secret of My Success
Movie: The Secret Of My Success
What it’s about: This movie is about corporate America that gives you a glimpse of the way leaders live. This is about a woman who wants to experience living the big life in New York and how she faced multiple obstacles.
This movie is all about how you will achieve success by working smart, and not by working hard.
Released in: 1987
IMDB Rating: 6.5/10 from 28,860 votes
25) Margin Call
Movie: Margin Call
What it’s about: This movie shows the psychological side of the business world. It shows how one finance company was struggling to survive during the 2008 financial crisis and how everyone was just trying to make the most out of the circumstance.
This is an excellent watch for those who are more interested in the mindset of business people rather than all things money. This highlights the stress that business leaders have to endure and how a decision they make, not only affect them, but the entire company.
Released in: 2011
IMDB Rating: 7.1/10 from 113,934 votes
26) Catch Me If You Can
Movie: Catch Me If You Can
What it’s about: Based on a true story, this is a great depiction of how a conman works. It shows the skill set that one needs in order to gain success, which is also applicable to legit business people.
This is a reminder that every decision you make will have consequences. So, think twice before making your final decision.
Released in: 2002
IMDB Rating: 8.1/10 from 796,971 votes
27) Flash of Genius
Movie: Flash of Genius
What it’s about: This is inspired by the real-life story of Robert Kearns, the inventor of the windshield wiper. It tells about how he was able to build a thick skin in order to survive in business and how he learned not to let anyone walk all over him.
There are two main takeaways from this movie. First is the mindset of big sharks and the second is the value of the persistence of an honest man in business.
Released in: 2008
IMDB Rating: 7.0/10 from 16,334 votes
28) Office Space
Movie: Office Space
What it’s about: This is a movie about rebel employees who are not happy with their job or the attitude of their boss and how they decide to take matters into their own hands. This touches on important topics in the workplace and the importance of a leader’s communication style.
This depicts how unhappy employees think and will make you focus on keeping your employees happy.
Released in: 1999
IMDB Rating: 7.7/10 from 237,261 votes
29) The Godfather Trilogy
Movie: The Godfather Trilogy
What it’s about: One of the best movies of all time! This trilogy is the epitome of the rise and fall of an empire. Although this is a crime movie it tells you about human behavior and the consequences this has on business.
This movie is a masterpiece and a must see for everyone.
Released in: 1972, 1974 and 1990
IMDB Rating: 9.2/10, 9.0/10, 7.6/10.
30) Rogue Trader
Movie: Rogue Trader
What it’s about: Is too much ambition bad? This story is about a stockbroker who takes advantage of a big career opportunity and takes very risky investments.
Ambition is essential to make it big in business. However, it is also important to know when to stop.
Released in: 1999
IMDB Rating: 6.4/10 from 9,237 votes
