To change the world, one must be able to change themselves first. This can be difficult, but it’s never impossible. In fact, the most surefire way to make change happen is to see what must be done first.
Thus, any entrepreneur looking for a change needs to look at these awesome movies for a chance to gain some distance and perspective in order to change themselves. Doing so might even lead them on the pathway to success.
Jerry Maguire (1996)
Rated R
It’s never too late to make a change, and for proof of that, take a look at Jerry Maguire. The film follows a sports agent who, after a moral revelation, decides to go independent. Despite some rough starts and a turbulent life, the film shows us that all it takes to get back on your feet is some ambition, headed by a good heart and virtue.
Entrepreneurs take note, for the film shows that success can be driven by virtue – even when you are pinned against the odds. For those interested, the film is available to watch on Amazon Prime
Erin Brockovich (2000)
Rated R
At the beginning of this film, Erin Brockovich seems destined for failure. Unable to keep a job and with an ever-growing pile of bills, she was down in the dumps. Unwilling to stay down, she rose to the challenge.
It all heats up when she discovers a large company is illegally dumping toxic waste, and is poisoning the surrounding areas. Setting out to do what is right, Erin becomes the hero in this classic David and the Goliath tale setup, setting up one of the biggest class action lawsuits in American history.
For any entrepreneur looking to make a change, this true story will remind them that even when you’re down, you’re not out – until you leave the ring. The film is available to watch on Apple TV and Peacock.
Startup.com (2001)
Rated R
Now that we’ve gone through our uplifting films, let’s take a look at how to gain some perspective before going off to make a change. Luckily, Startup.com offers this insight by following GovWorks, a promising start-up that rose quickly before falling just as fast.
In short, the film is about how GovWorks was mismanaged, and how internal power struggles lead to its downfall. In the bigger picture, the film looks at how inflated ideals and dreams of instant wealth became supplanted by harsh economic realities and broken promises.
Any entrepreneur looking to make a change in their business practices by entering a fresh new enterprise, should take note of this cautionary tale. The film is available to watch on Tubi and Apple TV.
The Corporation (2003)
Not Rated
In addition to perspective, it’s important before going out in the world to understand why things are the way they are. Made for the curious entrepreneur, this documentary on the difficult task of explaining the concept of corporations and how they fit into the world that we live in today.
Providing insight based on historical events all the way back to the 18th century, the film analyses the importance of every facet of the corporation, from the pundits to the CEOs. It also examines their inner workings, controversies, and their potential impact in the future.
Anyone looking to make a change needs to understand where the wind is blowing, and this documentary will help them clearly see the path that lies ahead. The film is available to watch on Apple TV and Amazon Prime.
The Call Of The Entrepreneur (2007)
Not Rated
Perspective also means looking at yourself from afar, and the most uplifting way to do that is to look at your life’s story. Short and sweet, The Call of the Entrepreneur shows how this can be done by taking a look at three entrepreneurs who went looking for a change:; a failing dairy farmer, a merchant banker, and a refugee from China.
In this film’s measy sixty minute runtime, you will laugh and cheer when the failing dairy farmer becomes the owner of a million-dollar composting operation, the banker becomes a financial engineer, and the refugee creates Giordano, a retail outlet, and Next Media, a company that set trends by introducing tabloid-style journalism into Hong Kong and Taiwan.
For those looking to make a change, this film shows how the little things in your life can become the biggest things in the world. The film is available to watch on Amazon Prime.
The Company Men (2010)
Rated R
The odds are good that you’ve gone through tough times, and might have even experienced a few rounds of layoffs. Offering perspective is The Company Men, a film that follows a young executive, a rising star struck down into the unemployment line.
For those uninterested in the young rising star, there is also a senior manager who has worked his way to the top thanks to thirty years of hard work. After rising from the factory floor to the corporate offices, he too is fired.
The film takes time to follow both the rising star and the senior manager, showing how they both cope with their loss. One goes to work with his blue collar brother-in-law installing drywall, a job he has no passion for, and the other struggles to make ends meet while facing never-ending bills and finite funds.
While the film can be a downer at times, it has the power to show the struggling entrepreneur that sometimes they must redefine their life in order to change it. Watch it on Hulu and Amazon Prime as soon as you can.
The Social Network (2010)
Rated PG-13
Another film that offers plenty of perspective is David Fincher’s The Social Network. An education in how the controversial social media platform was started, the film flashes between Zuckerberg and his friends at Harvard as they create the controversial website, and the litigation between Zuckerberg and his friend-turned-partner-turned-rival Eduardo Saverin.
Beyond being both inspiring and cautionary, the film might give the clever entrepreneur ideas as to how a sequel might be made, especially since one is being written in real time. This film is available to watch on Netflix and Hulu.
The Big Short (2015)
Rated R
The stock markets affect everyone, even if they don’t know it. Thus, if you’ve decided to make a change in how you run your business, you have to understand the stock market and how it affects you. Putting that into perspective, The Big Short is the most comprehensive film about how the American financial crisis of 2007-08 went down.
Directed by Adam McKay, the movie employs unconventional techniques to explain and simplify complex topics, like subprime mortgages and collateralized debt obligations.
Highlighting the importance of risk-taking, the film serves as a cautionary tale for entrepreneurs navigating the current financial sector—especially since the necessary changes to prevent another financial crisis did not end up being made. The film is available to watch on Amazon Prime and Apple TV.
Contagion (2011)
Rated PG-13
Yes, we’re going here. While a film following a fictional pandemic might hit too close to home right now, the film thankfully offers some insight into how this real life pandemic might end, and what are the steps we might take to get there.
For entrepreneurs looking to make a change, they need a plan to navigate the current landscape. This film gives them much needed insight into making that plan. The film is available to watch on either Amazon Prime and Apple TV.
The Inventor: Out For Blood In Silicon Valley (2019)
Rated TV-14
This is the last film on this list, and arguably the most important. Released only a few years ago, the documentary follows Elizabeth Holmes, a woman who was deemed to be “The Next Steve Jobs,” and how her company was eventually dissolved.
An entrepreneur looking to make a change, Elizabeth Holmes took the easy path and made fraudulent claims that benefited only her. These outlandish claims ended up with people hurt, lives destroyed, and her in jail.
It’s a reminder to all entrepreneurs looking for a change that the easy path is often not the correct path and that everything you’ve worked tirelessly for can go away just like *that*. The film is available to watch on HBO Max and Amazon Prime.