Movies About Entrepreneurship

From Frank Capra, starring James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell
Rated PG

It's a Wonderful Life is a 1946 American Christmas fantasy drama film directed by Frank Capra and starring James Stewart, Donna Reed, and Lionel Barrymore. The film is based on the short story "The Greatest Gift", written by Philip Van Doren Stern. The film tells the story of George Bailey, a small-town businessman facing financial ruin. He is saved from despair by his guardian angel, Clarence, who shows George how life in his community would have been different if he had never been born. George comes to appreciate what his life has meant to his family and friends, and ultimately decides to stay in town despite his financial troubles. The film is often hailed as a holiday classic and has become a cultural icon in the United States. It was nominated for five Academy Awards and was selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 1990.

From Martin Scorsese, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie, Matthew McConaughey
Rated R

The Wolf of Wall Street is a 2013 American black comedy biopic directed by Martin Scorsese, based on the memoir of the same name by Jordan Belfort. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Belfort. The film follows Belfort's rise to a wealthy stockbroker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government. Set in the late 1980s, early 1990s, it details his hard-partying lifestyle and his career as a stockbroker in New York City. The Wolf of Wall Street is a highly entertaining and darkly comedic tale of excess, debauchery and greed, highlighting the corrupt nature of Wall Street and its inhabitants. The film also emphasizes Belfort’s ability to manipulate the stock market and evade justice. Along the way, he enjoys a lavish lifestyle of drugs, sex and lavish spending. The film garnered critical acclaim for its performances, direction and screenplay.

From Paul Thomas Anderson, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, Ciarán Hinds, Martin Stringer
Rated R

There Will Be Blood is a 2007 epic drama directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and based on the novel Oil! by Upton Sinclair. It stars Daniel Day-Lewis as Daniel Plainview, a self-made oilman in the early 20th century. The film follows Plainview's ruthless pursuit of oil and power, as he faces off against a young, ambitious preacher, Eli Sunday (Paul Dano). The film showcases a range of themes including ambition, family, religion, greed, and power. As Plainview's ambitions grow, he becomes increasingly isolated and obsessed with his own wealth and power, despite the cost to himself and those around him. Ultimately, the film culminates in a violent confrontation between Plainview and Sunday, as they battle for dominance over their own personal interests.

From Steven Spielberg, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Christopher Walken, Martin Sheen
Rated PG-13

Catch Me If You Can is a 2002 biographical crime-drama directed by Steven Spielberg, starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Frank Abagnale Jr., a young con artist and forger who ran away from home at the age of 16 and successfully posed as an airline pilot, doctor and lawyer, earning millions of dollars. Tom Hanks stars as FBI agent Carl Hanratty, who is determined to capture Frank and ultimately earns his respect. The story follows Frank's adventures and provides insight into his motivations and family life. Despite the criminal activities, the film is ultimately a sympathetic tale of Frank's attempts to find his way in the world and to be accepted by his father and Hanratty.

From Gabriele Muccino, starring Will Smith, Thandiwe Newton, Jaden Smith, Brian Howe
Rated PG-13

The Pursuit of Happyness is a 2006 film about a father struggling to make a better life for himself and his son. Chris Gardner is a salesman who is left to care for his young son after his wife leaves. With no job and no money, he is forced to live on the streets and take odd jobs to survive. Despite all the obstacles, Chris never gives up and works his way up to become a successful stockbroker. In the end, he and his son find the happiness they have been searching for.

From David Fincher, starring Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Rooney Mara
Rated PG-13

The Social Network is a 2010 biographical drama film directed by David Fincher and written by Aaron Sorkin that tells the story of the founding of the social networking website Facebook and the legal battles that followed. It stars Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, and focuses on the power struggle between him and his partners, as well as his relationship with his close friend and co-founder, Eduardo Saverin. The film also stars Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Armie Hammer, and Rooney Mara in supporting roles. The film chronicles the development of the website, the chaos and drama that ensued, and the lawsuit brought by the Winklevoss twins, who claim that Zuckerberg stole their idea for the site. In the end, the film reveals the power and impact of one of the most influential websites of all time.

From Dan Gilroy, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Bill Paxton, Riz Ahmed
Rated R

Nightcrawler is a thrilling crime drama directed by Dan Gilroy that follows the story of Louis Bloom, a small-time criminal who takes to the streets of Los Angeles as a freelance cameraman. Louis quickly excels in the nocturnal world of crime journalism, ruthlessly manipulating the police, criminals, and other media outlets to obtain the footage necessary to become the city's top nightcrawler. As Louis becomes more and more successful, his moral code deteriorates, pushing him to increasingly dangerous lengths in pursuit of his ambitions. As his sanity slowly unravels, Louis must decide how far he is willing to go to get the perfect shot.

From Adam McKay, starring Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt
Rated R

The Big Short is a 2015 American biographical comedy-drama film directed by Adam McKay and written by McKay and Charles Randolph. It is based on the 2010 book The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis about the financial crisis of 2007–2008 which was triggered by the United States housing bubble. The film follows four individual stories in which separate characters become aware of the impending economic crisis and take on different strategies to profit from it. The four characters include a hedge fund manager, a banker, a Wall Street trader, and a broker. The film centralizes on their efforts to take advantage of the situations in order to make a profit. They find ways to buy credit default swaps on the US mortgage bonds and make a fortune out of the collapse of the US housing market. The characters battle against the big banks and make millions of dollars while people around them suffer financially. The film stars an ensemble cast including Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt, Melissa Leo, Hamish Linklater, John Magaro, Rafe Spall, Jeremy Strong, Finn Wittrock, and Marisa Tomei.

From Mel Stuart, starring Gene Wilder, Jack Albertson, Peter Ostrum, Roy Kinnear
Rated G

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is a 1971 film directed by Mel Stuart. It is an adaptation of Roald Dahl's 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The film follows poor young Charlie Bucket as he and four other children win a contest to tour the world-famous candy factory and the eccentric owner, Willy Wonka. During the tour, Willy Wonka's mysterious behavior and seemingly magical powers amaze the children as they explore the factory's many secrets. As the tour progresses, each of the four other children is eliminated from the competition, leaving only Charlie to win the grand prize. Along the way, Charlie discovers that it's not just about the chocolate, but about the importance of family, friendship, and having a good heart. In the end, Charlie and his grandfather are rewarded with an incredible surprise from Willy Wonka.

From Mike Judge, starring Ron Livingston, Jennifer Aniston, David Herman, Ajay Naidu
Rated R

Office Space is a 1999 comedy film directed by Mike Judge, best known for the hit cartoon series, "King of the Hill". The film follows Peter Gibbons (Ron Livingston), a software engineer who works at a large tech company and hates his job. After undergoing hypnotherapy, Peter no longer cares about his job and starts to slack off, infuriating the company's management. With the help of his two friends, Michael Bolton (David Herman) and Samir Nagheenanajar (Ajay Naidu), they come up with a scheme to embezzle money from the company, with unexpected results. A satirical look at corporate life in the 1990s, Office Space is a cult classic that still resonates with audiences today.

From James Foley, starring Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Alec Baldwin, Alan Arkin
Rated R

Glengarry Glen Ross is a 1992 American drama film adapted from David Mamet's Pulitzer Prize-winning stage play of the same name. Directed by James Foley and starring an ensemble cast including Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Alec Baldwin, Alan Arkin, Ed Harris, and Kevin Spacey, the film follows four real estate salesmen in a cutthroat competition for prized sales leads. As their motivation for success builds, so does their desperation, leading to the ultimate clash between competing ethical and moral boundaries. Ultimately, through the film, Mamet reveals the seedy underbelly of the 1980s corporate culture.

From Bennett Miller, starring Brad Pitt, Robin Wright, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman
Rated PG-13

Moneyball follows Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) as he attempts to put together a competitive baseball team on a shoestring budget. With the help of an Ivy League-educated economics major, Peter Brand (Jonah Hill), Beane uses advanced data analysis to identify undervalued players and redefine how teams scout and recruit players. Despite being initially met with resistance from his coaches and scouts, Beane's unorthodox methods eventually pay off and he is able to assemble a winning team. Moneyball is a story of resilience, determination, and innovation against the odds.

From Andrew Niccol, starring Nicolas Cage, Ethan Hawke, Jared Leto, Bridget Moynahan
Rated R

Lord of War is a 2005 crime drama directed by Andrew Niccol and starring Nicolas Cage. The film follows the story of Yuri Orlov (Cage), an illegal arms dealer who is forced to confront his conscience as his life spirals out of control. With the help of his brother Vitaly (Jared Leto) and the beautiful Ava Fontaine (Bridget Moynahan), Yuri rises to the top of the illegal arms dealing world and makes a fortune. However, his success leads to pressure from the law and rival arms dealers. Yuri must also deal with the moral implications of his actions, as his life becomes increasingly volatile. As the stakes become higher, Yuri must decide how far he is willing to go to keep his illicit business alive. The film earned mixed reviews upon release, but it was a box office success and went on to become a cult classic. It was praised for its strong performances and intelligent script, as well as its exploration of the moral implications of illegal weapons trading.

From Jason Reitman, starring Aaron Eckhart, Cameron Bright, Maria Bello, Joan Lunden
Rated R

Thank You for Smoking is a satirical comedy-drama film directed by Jason Reitman and written by Reitman and Christopher Buckley, based on Buckley's novel of the same name. The movie follows the exploits of Nick Naylor, the chief spokesperson for Big Tobacco. Despite his job, Nick is portrayed as a likable character, a man of honor and wit, and a master of spin. He lobbies on behalf of cigarette companies, spinning stories to keep the industry alive while still attempting to remain a role model to his young son. Nick also befriends a journalist, Polly, and a Hollywood producer, Jeff, who help him promote his agenda. As Nick grows more successful in his job, he is confronted by an anti-smoking senator and an unethical tobacco executive. As the story progresses, Nick must make choices between his career and his family, and ultimately finds himself forced to confront the morality of his work.

From Martin Scorsese, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale, John C. Reilly
Rated PG-13

The Aviator is a biopic directed by Martin Scorsese that follows the life of Howard Hughes (portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio). It follows Hughes' story from his early years as a wealthy industrialist and movie producer to his later years as a reclusive and eccentric tycoon. The Aviator takes us on a journey as Hughes builds upon his movie production empire, invents revolutionary aircraft, and battles with mental illness. He falls in love with the beautiful Katharine Hepburn (Cate Blanchett), but his fear of germs and increasing paranoia begin to take their toll. In the end, Hughes is left alone and isolated from the world he once dominated. The Aviator is a powerful story about ambition, obsession, and the consequences of it all.

From John Landis, starring Eddie Murphy, Dan Aykroyd, Ralph Bellamy, Don Ameche
Rated R

Trading Places is a 1983 American comedy film directed by John Landis. It stars Dan Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy, and Jamie Lee Curtis. The plot follows a commodities broker and a homeless street hustler whose lives cross paths when they are unknowingly made part of an elaborate bet. The bet is made by two wealthy brothers who, for their own amusement, wager on which one of the two men will be more successful at turning their lives around if their situations were switched. Despite their differences, the two men ultimately team up to take down their common adversary and come out on top.

From Steven Soderbergh, starring Julia Roberts, Albert Finney, David Brisbin, Dawn Didawick
Rated R

From Aaron Sorkin, starring Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Kevin Costner, Michael Cera
Rated R

From Oliver Stone, starring Charlie Sheen, Michael Douglas, Tamara Tunie, Franklin Cover
Rated R

From Cameron Crowe, starring Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jr., Renée Zellweger, Kelly Preston
Rated R

From Jon Favreau, starring Jon Favreau, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Dustin Hoffman
Rated R

From John Lee Hancock, starring Michael Keaton, Nick Offerman, John Carroll Lynch, Linda Cardellini
Rated PG-13

From Danny Boyle, starring Michael Fassbender, Kate Winslet, Seth Rogen, Jeff Daniels
Rated R

From Nancy Meyers, starring Robert De Niro, Anne Hathaway, Rene Russo, Anders Holm
Rated PG-13

From J.C. Chandor, starring Zachary Quinto, Stanley Tucci, Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany
Rated R