During the holiday season, business activity slows down, and finally, there is time to relax with family and friends. Although the retail sector heats up until Christmas, it is time to relax, refresh, and take stock of the year for other industries.
After a large meal or opening gifts, many families like to sit on the couch and watch a film together. Although not all of the movies on this list are geared toward family viewing, many are excellent choices for older teenagers, spouses, and other family members.
Those who are accustomed to working long hours may look forward to a rest but may still find their minds wandering back to the topic of business. This is particularly true of entrepreneurs whose waking hours are bound up with their companies. One way to make the most of movie time on the couch is to watch films that are entertaining and are relevant to the world of business.
The following Netflix films provide the best of both worlds. An entrepreneur can enjoy the escapism of watching a movie, and at the same time, explore concepts they deal with in their working lives. All of these films are available on Netflix, depending on the area.
Many Netflix viewers have the experience of finding a movie they want to watch only to discover that it is available only in specific countries. Many of the shows listed below can be viewed in the United States, but there are many other cases when US viewers may want to see content from other countries. Besides, Netflix viewers located outside of the United States may not be able to see many of Netflix U.S. based selections.
A VPN or Virtual Private Network is the best way to get past geo-restrictions because it provides an alternate IP address and shields the user’s IP address from a website. The alternate IP address may be in a region that includes access to films that would otherwise be not available in certain areas. A Netflix VPN lets you view all of these movies on the list wherever you are located.
#1 Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad was released way back in 2008, but it is still a classic for its superb writing, a dynamic performance by Bryan Cranston, the exciting story. Entrepreneurs can learn from Walter White, who faces a moral dilemma, a hunger to succeed, a desperate need for money, and the willingness to use his ingenuity, although for risky purposes.
The story is about a dispirited high school chemistry teacher diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer. He partners with a student for an illegal “startup” producing crystal meth to make money for his family before he dies. There is a cautionary tale in letting an ambition go too far, but White’s ingenuity and the storyline are undoubtedly addictive.
#2 Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened
No list of business films would be complete without a gripping documentary about success or failure (both can be equally interesting). The documentary was released in 2019 and is about the Fyre Festival fiasco involving the mass promotion of a music festival that was supposed to take place on a fancy private island.
The marketing campaign was nearly flawless and is worthy of admiration. However, the whole thing was a hoax, and the organizers could not deliver. An entrepreneur can learn a lot about the power of social media marketing from this film, but with the caveat that the promised goods should match the hype.
#3 Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker
This series is a period piece, but with plenty, the modern entrepreneur can learn from. Self-Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker is the story of a daughter of former slaves who rose to become the founder of a hair care empire and was the first female self-made millionaire according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
The series, released in 2020, started with Walker in 1908, working as a washerwoman and developing hair care products for African American women. The story is an inspiring look at Madame Walker’s first steps towards launching a business, a tall order in the early 1900s when women didn’t even have the vote. Racial discrimination was an almost insurmountable obstacle. This is a story of business victory against the odds.
#4 Steve Jobs
The name of the film says it all. Steve Jobs was the ultimate entrepreneur of the leading disruptive tech company, Apple. This biographical film was released in 2019 with a snappy and smart script by Aaron Sorkin. The film is divided into three parts, each marking a phase before launching a significant product.
Entrepreneurs can learn a lot from this film. Even though Steve Jobs was not a master coder or engineer, he had a compelling vision and inspired others. He was also able to lay the foundation for his ideas, and his plans worked.
#5 Moneyball
People who like baseball and business will enjoy this movie. Based on a 2003 Michael Lewis book, this 2011 Netflix release is written by Aaron Sorkin and stars Brad Pitt as the Oakland Athletics team manager Billy Bean. He, with a limited budget, uses data to analyze players and scout for the best talent.
This movie is a lesson on how data-driven strategies can make the most of a company’s budget and develop resources. Also, to the underlying lesson, Moneyball is entertaining, especially for sports fans.
#6 The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
This inspiring true story demonstrates the power of the entrepreneurial spirit when faced with crushing challenges. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, a Netflix original released in 2019, tells the story of William Kamkwamba in Malawi, whose village is sweltering under a drought.
William has to drop out of school because his family can no longer afford the fees, goes to the library, learns about turbines, and constructs a windmill that brings water and electricity to the village. This inspiring true story is a tribute to the human spirit and life-saving innovation.
#7 Wolf of Wall Street
There are many morality tales about Wall Street, but few are as compelling as Martin Scorcese’s 2013 Wolf of Wall Street starring Leonardo DiCaprio. The movie is based on a memoir by Jordan Belfort, who confessed to a career as a shady stockbroker involved with a firm engaged in stunning corruption.
This may seem like a familiar tale of ambition taken too far, but it is a powerful film that shows Wall Street’s intensity and underbelly. Make sure the kids are in bed before screening–Wolf of Wall Street holds the Guinness Book of World Records title for most swearing in a film, and many scenes are strictly for grown-ups.
Relaxing During the Holidays with Business in Mind
Hard work reaps its own rewards, but it is great to take some time off, especially for the holidays. However, vacation time doesn’t mean forgetting about business entirely. These Netflix movies are sure to entertain entrepreneurs. Having a VPN provides access to all of the film selections above and many more.
Photo by Thibault Penin on Unsplash