Movies About Leadership For Students

From Francis Ford Coppola, starring Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Diane Keaton
Rated R

The Godfather is a classic American gangster movie directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The movie follows the Corleone family, a powerful mafia family based in New York City. The patriarch of the family, Don Vito Corleone, finds himself in a power struggle against rival families as well as the encroaching influence of the FBI. His son Michael eventually takes over the family business, determined to protect his family and its legacy. Through a series of violent and intricate plots, Michael is able to consolidate the family's power and expand their business. The movie is a powerful and timeless exploration of family, loyalty and the dangerous world of organized crime.

From Sidney Lumet, starring Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Martin Balsam, John Fiedler
Rated Approved

12 Angry Men is a 1957 American courtroom drama film directed by Sidney Lumet and starring Henry Fonda. The film tells the story of a jury of twelve men as they deliberate the conviction or acquittal of a defendant on the basis of reasonable doubt, forcing the jurors to question their morals and values. In the United States, a unanimous vote is required for a guilty verdict, and as the dozen men try to reach a unanimous decision while confined to the jury room, their different personalities clash and each juror's own prejudices and preconceptions about the trial come into play. As the deliberations become increasingly intense, the jurors become increasingly divided, with some attempting to bury their moral and ethical convictions in order to reach a guilty verdict. In the end, one man’s influence on the group is able to break down the barriers of prejudice and uncover the truth of the case.

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

It's a Wonderful Life is a classic Christmas film directed by Frank Capra. George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) is a small-town banker who has given up his dreams of traveling the world in order to help the citizens of his town, Bedford Falls. When he finds himself in financial trouble due to his uncle's mismanagement of the bank, George is ready to end his life. However, an angel named Clarence (Henry Travers) intervenes and shows George what life in Bedford Falls would be like if he had never been born. Through this journey, George discovers the true value of his life and the impact it has had on those around him. Ultimately, he is granted his wish to live again and return to a life of joy and love with his family and friends.

From Orson Welles, starring Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Dorothy Comingore, Agnes Moorehead
Rated PG

Citizen Kane (1941) is a landmark film directed, produced, and co-written by Orson Welles. It follows the story of Charles Foster Kane, a powerful and influential newspaper tycoon. The film investigates the mystery of the meaning of Kane's dying word, "Rosebud," and its connection to his past. Through a series of flashbacks, the film examines Kane's rise to prominence and his quest for power, his relationships with his family and friends, and his ultimate downfall. The film is renowned for its innovative cinematography, use of music, and its groundbreaking narrative structure, as well as Welles' groundbreaking performance as Kane. Citizen Kane has been consistently ranked as one of the greatest films of all time.

From Charles Ferguson, starring Matt Damon, Gylfi Zoega, Andri Snær Magnason, Sigridur Benediktsdottir
Rated PG-13

Inside Job is a 2010 American documentary film that follows the financial crisis of 2007–2008, which at the time was the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Director Charles Ferguson investigates the causes of the crisis and examines its devastating effects on the world economy. The documentary traces the rise of a rogue industry and unveils the corrosive relationships which have corrupted politics, regulation and academia. It features interviews with key financial insiders, politicians, journalists, and academics who expose the systematic corruption of the country's banking system and show how the biggest losers were ordinary citizens. The film also examines the regulatory failure that enabled the financial industry to operate without accountability and shows how corruption was able to become so pervasive.

From Directors: Victor Fleming, George Cukor, Mervyn LeRoy, Norman Taurog, Richard Thorpe, King Vidor, starring Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr
Rated PG

The Wizard of Oz is a classic 1939 film adaptation of L. Frank Baum's beloved novel of the same name. The film stars Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale, a young girl from Kansas who is swept away by a twister and finds herself in the magical land of Oz. Along the way, she befriends a Scarecrow, a Tin Man, and a Cowardly Lion, all of whom accompany her on her quest to find the Wizard of Oz, in the hopes that he can help Dorothy find her way home. With the help of Glinda the Good Witch, they must battle the Wicked Witch of the West and her minions to reach their destination. Along the way, they discover the true power of friendship and courage. The film features iconic songs like "Somewhere Over The Rainbow", and has become a classic in American cinema.

From Franklin J. Schaffner, starring George C. Scott, Karl Malden, Stephen Young, Michael Strong
Rated GP

Patton is a 1970 American epic biographical war film about U.S. General George S. Patton during World War II. The film stars George C. Scott in the titular role. It was directed by Franklin J. Schaffner from a script by Francis Ford Coppola and Edmund H. North, which won them both Academy Awards. The film follows Patton from his leadership of U.S. forces in North Africa, through the invasion of Sicily and Italy, and finally through the invasion of Germany. Along the way, Patton confronts the harsh realities of war, and the psychological and physical tolls it takes on a person. He also clashes with superiors who do not share his vision, and his own personal demons. In the end, despite being victorious, Patton finds himself unable to fully reconcile his own desire for glory with the horrors of war.

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

The Social Network is a 2010 drama film directed by David Fincher and written by Aaron Sorkin, based on the book The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich. It chronicles the rise of Mark Zuckerberg and the founding of the social networking website Facebook. The film stars Jesse Eisenberg as Zuckerberg, alongside Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Rashida Jones, Joe Mazzello, and Armie Hammer. The film follows the tumultuous journey of Zuckerberg from Harvard student to technology entrepreneur. In 2003, Harvard undergrad and computer genius Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) begins work on a new idea that eventually turns into the global social network known as Facebook. Six years later, he is one of the youngest billionaires ever, but Zuckerberg finds that his unprecedented success leads to both personal and legal complications when he is sued by the twins who claimed he stole their idea and by the co-founder who was later squeezed out of the business.

From Megumi Sasaki, starring Paula Antebi, Will Barnet, Robert Barry, Lynda Benglis
Rated Not Rated

Herb & Dorothy is a 2008 documentary film directed by Megumi Sasaki. The film follows the story of Herb and Dorothy Vogel, a retired librarian and postal worker from New York City whose passion for art brought them a world-renowned art collection. Through their commitment and dedication to the arts, Herb and Dorothy acquired a substantial collection of contemporary art that came to define their lives. The film captures their journey from working-class couple to world-renowned art collectors as they share their passion and knowledge of art with the world. It also chronicles their generosity and dedication to sharing their collection with young artists and the general public. Ultimately, Herb & Dorothy redefines the notion of collecting art, showing that anyone can become an art collector, regardless of financial resources.

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 starring Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy. The story follows two wealthy and powerful brothers, Randolph and Mortimer Duke (Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche), who make a bet over whether an early financial success or a lifetime of privilege is more important in determining one's life outcomes. In order to prove their point, they switch the lives of Louis Winthorpe III, a wealthy commodities broker (Aykroyd), and Billy Ray Valentine, a homeless street hustler (Murphy). With the help of Ophelia (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Beeks (Denholm Elliott), Winthorpe and Valentine scheme to get revenge on the Dukes. In the end, Winthorpe and Valentine emerge victorious, and the Dukes are taken down for their unethical actions.

From John Landis, starring John Belushi, Karen Allen, Tom Hulce, Stephen Furst
Rated R

From Jason Reitman, starring George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick, Jason Bateman
Rated R

From Martin Ritt, starring Sally Field, Beau Bridges, Ron Leibman, Pat Hingle
Rated PG

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

From Clint Eastwood, starring Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon, Tony Kgoroge, Patrick Mofokeng
Rated PG-13

From Norman Jewison, starring Cher, Nicolas Cage, Olympia Dukakis, Danny Aiello
Rated PG

From Alex Cox, starring Harry Dean Stanton, Emilio Estevez, Tracey Walter, Olivia Barash
Rated R

From Paul Brickman, starring Tom Cruise, Rebecca De Mornay, Joe Pantoliano, Richard Masur
Rated R

From Robert Zemeckis, starring Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Steve Valentine
Rated PG

From Mike Nichols, starring Melanie Griffith, Harrison Ford, Sigourney Weaver, Alec Baldwin
Rated R

From Herbert Ross, starring Michael J. Fox, Helen Slater, Richard Jordan, Margaret Whitton
Rated PG-13

From Ron Howard, starring Michael Keaton, Gedde Watanabe, George Wendt, Mimi Rogers
Rated PG-13