From McDonald’s to Meta and Apple, here are 5 movies based on their founders that you need to watch

Movies and motivation start with the same alphabet. Coincidence, we think not. When we look for a story to lift us up, as we feel helpless and without focus, few do better than the heroics of entrepreneurs and founders. These films are entertaining, and watching these icons turn their setbacks into remarkable comebacks is the much-needed motivational boost that we need. 

If you’re looking at watching some valuable life lessons, we’ve got a list of thought-provoking movies, based on real life entrepreneurs who will inspire you like never before. 

The Social Network (2010)

Facebook (now Meta) and Mark Zuckerberg are always in the news, be it for the right or the wrong reasons. If you want to watch a film that brilliantly describes the rise of the man who built the world’s biggest social networking site, The Social Network tells the tale of how every success story comes from humble beginnings. Things aren’t easy for Zuckerberg (played by Jesse Eisenberg) who starts Facebook from his student dorm in Harvard University. He finds himself accused of stealing the idea from two brothers and is embroiled in a lawsuit with the duo as well as his best friend (Eduardo Saverin) and co-founder of the company. As far as the movie goes, the film tells us how entrepreneurs always know the gap between demand and supply—Zuckerberg realised it a long time ago—when to expand, and the need to have the right team and right people around you. 

Steve Jobs (2015)

If you’ve loved every page of Walter Isaacson’s brilliant biography on Steve Jobs, it’s time to witness a visual treat as the film provides a fascinating insight into the life of one of the world’s most-loved entrepreneurs (played by Michael Fassbender). The founder of Apple, the man wearing the iconic turtleneck, was known for his vision, passion to continuously innovate and improve his products, and a thorough understanding of what his customers needed. What you’re certainly going to love about this biopic with three sequences—each depicting important points in Jobs’ life—is the fact that it doesn’t only highlight the ups in his life, but also the failures, showing us that even the most successful of people have had to overcome multiple setbacks. 

The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

Here’s an inspirational movie that will bring a smile to your face and make you realise that there’s always light at the end of the tunnel, provided we take the steps and have the patience to reach that point. Will Smith is absolutely wonderful in this rags-to-riches tale playing the role of Chris Gardner. We see him being humiliated, rejected time and again—something which every successful entrepreneur must have faced in their early days—only to prevail amidst all adversity and become a Wall Street legend. Along with his struggles, watching his relationship with his son (played by his real son, Jaden) first take a beating only for it to blossom as the film progresses is as heart-warming as it can get. Always telling his little one to never give up and not letting anyone else define you will make you want to get up and work towards making your dream a reality. If you live your life by the ‘no pain, no gain’ motto, this is a movie, you certainly shouldn’t miss.

The Founder (2016)

You’ve devoured their burgers; it’s now time to relish the story of McDonald’s founding father—Ray Kroc. The film tells the story of the creation of the fast-food restaurant chain, which went on to become the biggest restaurant business in the world. Watching The Founder will help you understand and realise what it takes to survive in this cut-throat world and make a name for themselves. How does he go from a milkshake mixer salesman to establishing a global franchise? With determination and persistence. Building the most-recognisable fast food brand wasn’t easy though, as challenging the status quo is a task easier said than done. But here’s a movie, and a man, who showed the world how to make the impossible seem very possible. 

Jerry Maguire (1996)

Based on a real-life story, this engrossing story of the downs and ups of the sports agent Jerry Maguire, played by Tom Cruise, is one that you don’t want to miss. We see him fired from his very successful company only to start his own sports management agency with the only client who believes in him. An agent is only as good as the people he handles and Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding Jr.), a football player pushes him to become a force to reckon with. This movie proves that all you need, at the end of the day, is one good customer who believes in you. What follows is you then putting the client’s need before you own.