The 25 Best Business Movies of All Time

I’ve always been struck by the lack of a great business movie.  My idea of the perfect business movie is a rags-to-riches story – encompassed by Taylor Caldwell’s book, The Captains and the Kings, about a young immigrant who starts with nothing and then claws his way to the top.  Unfortunately, I don’t think that movie exists.  Business people typically do have an important role in movies…as the villian.  It’s usually the guy the girl is with after she leaves the jilted, lovable protagonist who believes art triumphs over money.  Come to think of it, money is villified in movies as well.  The bad guys are rich and the good guys are poor.

I think there are multiple reasons for this.  We, as moviegoers, can relate better to a protagonist that is something of an underdog.  We like regular guys, not guys that already have it all together.  We like movies that encourage us to believe that we can rise out of mediocrity and conquer the challenges that face us, whether it’s stealing the girl we love from the rich, jerk lawyer/wall streeter/doctor/trust fund baby or leaving a job we hate to pursue our true passion.  That’s one of the great things about movies, the hope they offer.  So it makes sense that there aren’t a lot of super business-centric movies.  That being said, I sort of wish there were.  I think business can add some spice to a movie.

Before you read the list, a brief note about the rankings.  I gave recent (post 1980) movies a preference over older, classic movies.  Several movies on the list were made before 1980, but I went with a majority of newer movies.  I also gave a preference to movies for “business movieness,” meaning a better movie might have a worse ranking than a lesser movie but the lesser movie is more on point with the list.  Finally, I went with movies I enjoyed, or had a different take on a particular business issue, or covered a niche better than any other movie available.  Obviously I’m going to miss some of the best.  Let me know when I do.  I’ll make sure I see them if I haven’t already.

The List:

26.  Rogue Trader – Ewan McGregor’s character is based on Nick Leeson, a derivatives trader who gambled away enough money to bring down Barings Bank.  I really like Obi-wan, er McGregor, but the movie is just okay as it builds towards the fall of the main character.  Warren Buffett has referred to derivatives as “financial weapons of mass destruction.”  Leeson would probably agree.

25.  Boiler Room – The stories’ protagonist leaves behind his illegal blackjack game to work for a fraudulent brokerage firm that was artificially creating a market for stocks and pushing them through cold calls to unknowing investors.  The movie has pushy sales, a little bit of entrepreneurship, and a lot of dishonesty.

24.  August – Two brothers and a startup that initially makes big money.  The old rise and fall business movie.

23.  Lost in Translation – This movie is for anyone who has been stuck in a foreign country on business.  You’ve gotta love Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson.

22.  Update 5/9/10: Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room – this is a documentary about all the scandal surrounding Enron.  It’s done in an entertaining way and is a fascinating story.  Maybe documentaries should have their own list, but until I have somewhere else to put this, you get it here.  My wife and I both really enjoyed this movie (romantic, right?).  Check it out.

21.  Pretty Woman – Why is this a business movie?  Because she’s an entrenpreneur of sorts and he is dealing with being a corporate raider.  Deal with it.

20.  For Love or Money and The Secret to My Success – I grouped these because (a) they’re both Michael J. Fox movies and (b) I always have trouble remembering which one is which.  I like For Love better, with Fox as a concierge who can get anything and aspires to own his own hotel.  The Secret is one of those deceiving everyone into thinking you’re an executive when you aren’t (i.e. Big, Working Girl, etc.)

19.  There Will Be Blood – “I’m an oil man.”  About a man so driven and competitive that he sees everyone as a competitor, even, at one point, his own son.  Enough said.

18.  Working Girl – Melanie Griffith poses as the big boss, and eventually becomes one.

17.  Glengarry Glen Ross - The ultimate sales movie.  Always be closing!

16.  Risky Business and The Girl Next Door – The Girl Next Door is an updated version of Risky Business in which the oldest profession is replaced by sex ed.  Both movies feature entrepreneurship under extreme circumstances.

15.  In Good Company – This movie is for any old bull with lots of wisdom and experience who has lost his job to a smug young bull only to have that young bull start dating his daughter.  No, that happens.  Really.

14.  Baby Boom – Diane Keaton directs her keen business sense toward feeding babies.  Great entrepreneurship movie.

13.  Forrest Gump – This took a hit for its lack of business-movieness, but Bubba Gump shrimp was still a great business and Cap’n Dan was still a great investor.

12.  Back to School - The scene where Rodney Dangerfield shows up his business professor is a great example of the gap between theory and practice.

11.  Office Space – All those boring jobs need to be done, but this movie is inspiration for any cubicle dweller who wants to take their life back.

10.  Goodfellas – All mob movies are business movies.  They give insight into the essence of competition, family business relations and team dynamics.

9.  The Aviator -  Howard Hughes was the consumate entrepreneur, driven by his big, hairy audacious goals.  Obsessed with his vision.  Plus, it’s a pretty entertaining movie.

8.  American Gangster – Denzel Washington’s character understands competitive advantages.  He obtains a product that is better than his competitors and that they are unable to duplicate.  Unfortunately for him, it’s also illegal.  Lots of team dynamics in this movie.  Notice that we’re low enough on business movies that many of the movies on this list involve mobsters and illegal activities.

7.  Trading Places – Back on the lighter side…apparently anyone can be a commodities trader.  I wouldn’t know.

6.  It’s a Wonderful Life – This movie has your basic business villian against the small town, ethical, small businessman of the people.  It’s a story of good versus pure business evil.

5.  Jerry Maguire – Remember (especially now) that losing your job can be an opportunity to pursue something more satisfying.  Pursue something you really believe in.  People matter in business.

4.  Citizen Kane – Another classic.  This one is commonly listed amongst the greatest movies of all time.  On my list it’s number four.  What do I know?

3.  Wall Street – Gordon Gekko’s character is allegedly a combination of Ivan Boesky, Carl Icahn, and Oliver Stone himself.  Reportedly a sequel is in the works.  Hopefully it will find a place on this list.

2.  The Godfather Pt. II - How to build a business, Sicilian style.  Keep in mind that it can be hard on your family.  Poor, sweet Fredo.

1.  The Pursuit of Happyness - A surprise number one.  I told you I like rags to riches stories.  Based on a true story, the text book Will Smith studies for his test is none other than Security Analysis by Benjamin Graham.

Also considered: Swimming with the Sharks, Network, Other People’s Money, The Insider, Startup.com, The Pirates of Silicon Valley, Michael Clayton, Sabrina, Erin Brockovich, Hudsucker Proxy, A Lot Like Love, and The Devil Wears Prada.  What’d I miss?  Feel free to weigh in.  Thanks for reading.

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