Words: Guy Aubrey Devito
If you’re a budding businessman – or consider yourself to be a future entrepreneur, there’s a multitude of films that will inspire you – or serve as a cautionary tale. Here are 10 movies that every entrepreneur needs to watch.
CITIZEN KANE (1941)
One of the greatest films of all time, Citizen Kane should be watched if you’re an entrepreneur – or even if you’re not. The film chronicles the life of Charles Foster Kane (Orson Welles), following the megalomaniacal newspaper publisher through his romances and his business dealings.
ROGUE TRADER (1999)
This excellent film about the man who singlehandedly brought down a bank is a wonderful cautionary tale about those that think they’re more capable than they actually are. If you want to play the markets watch this first!
TOO BIG TO FAIL (2011)
The seminal drama on the financial crisis of 2008, Too Big to Fail explains how the entire financial system was almost destroyed by the greed and incompetence of big banks such as the Lehman Brothers.
MARGIN CALL (2011)
Another fantastic film about the financial crisis, Margin Call is set over 24 hours as a bank releases all of its worthless bonds onto the market. It has an ensemble cast that includes; Jeremy Irons, Demi Moore, Simon Baker, Stanley Tucci, Paul Bettany and Zachary Quinto.
THE SOCIAL NETWORK (2010)
Whatever you think of the film or indeed Facebook, it cannot be denied that it is a brilliant – and sinister – portrayal of the minds of young, ambitious entrepreneurs.
ENRON: THE SMARTEST GUYS IN THE ROOM (2005)
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room is one of many business films which warn of the dangers of corporate greed and avarice. The documentary film chronicles the decline and collapse of the Enron Corporation and the scandal that followed in 2001.
ARBITRAGE (2012)
This phenomenal financial thriller is a brilliant and tense film about a man at his peak whose life begins to fall apart after being involved in a car crash with his mistress.
WALL STREET (1987)
A classic of 1980’s cinema, Wall Street is a film about greed pure and simple. Gordon Gekko proclaims ‘Greed is good’ and the Oliver Stone directed movie has gone on to be regarded as a great portrayal of 1980’s excess.
THE AVIATOR (2004)
The Aviator showed how a man could overcome his inhibitions and weaknesses through sheer willpower and Scorsese’s award winning film is a simply inspirational piece of work.
PIRATES OF SILICON VALLEY (1999)
The Pirates of Silicon Valley was made for television but make no mistake this is some film. The biopic is half documentary, half drama and it follows the big players in Silicon Valley; Gates, Jobs, Wozniak et al as they build their companies from the ground up.
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