Startup Club’s Top 10 Movies to Watch in 2025 for Founders

Below is a list of movies that helped me become a better entrepreneur. Some of the movies inspired me and other movies taught me what not to do:

  1. The Social Network (2010)

Synopsis: The rise Mark Zuckerberg and how launched he launched Facebook one college at a time to eventually become one of the greatest social media sites of our time.

Key Lesson I Learned: Idea’s are worthless. Acting on them is the key. Just ask the Winklevoss twins.

  1. The Greatest Showman (2017)

Synopsis: P.T. Barnum’s rise from poverty to start what became the traveling circus. It’s a story about relentlessly following your dreams and embracing what makes us different. 

Key Lesson I Learned: Even when things go really bad you can rebuild. It takes a village or community of diverse people to raise a startup. 

  1. Steve Jobs (2015) 

Synopsis: Apple co-founder Steve Jobs rebuilds Apple

Key Lesson I Learned: Don’t be shy about how you launch your startup. Be bold. And believe in your vision. 

  1. MoneyBall (2011) 

Synopsis: Billy Beane, Oakland A’s manager, uses data and analytics to win.

Key Lesson I Learned: Everyone has innate bias. Focus on the results by your people and not how quirky they might be. 

  1. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

Synopsis: The rise and fall of Stratton Oakmont, a stock brokerage, and their founder Jordon Belfort.

Key Lesson I Learned: Don’t piss off the regulators. And creating a sales playbook with scripts for your sales people works.

  1. Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) 

Synopsis: Follows a sales boiler room and the personalities that succeed and fail in that environment.

Key Lesson I Learned: ABC – Always Be Closing!

  1. Jerry Maguire (1996) 

Synopsis: A sports agent quits his job and reinvents himself

Key Lesson I Learned: Success depends on focusing on what matters and following your why.

  1. Wall Street (1987): 

Synopsis – Explores ambition and what can go wrong when you go too far.

Key Lesson I Learned: Integrity over money – It may take longer to get rich but doing with integrity will get you there and in the long run make you even more money.

  1. The Founder (2017) 

Synopsis – The story of McDonalds and how Ray Croc was able to build to become a global success. 

Key Lesson I Learned: Consistency and creating processes matter.  Replicating those processes is key for scaling a business. 

  1. Catch Me If You Can (2002) 

Synopsis: A true story of Frank Abagnale Jr., a con artist who forges checks and always seems one step ahead of the law. 

Key Lesson I Learned: Confidence is key to success, but arrogance can lead to failure. 

       Bonus: Iron Man (2008)

Synopsis: A billionaire uses tech to become a superhero. 

Key Lesson I Learned: Technology can be a game changer for startups. Strap on that AI suit and change the world. 

The Power of Continuous Innovation

AI is revolutionizing the way startups operate, but are founders using it effectively? In a recent discussion on Start, Scale, Exit, Repeat, Joseph Hanna,...

AI Hacks for Startup Success

AI is revolutionizing the startup landscape, providing founders with powerful tools to accelerate growth, streamline operations, and gain a competitive edge. In our latest...

The Best Books & Movies for Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs draw inspiration from many sources, but books and movies often provide some of the most impactful lessons. On this episode of Start, Scale,...

Scaling Beyond the Startup Phase

Scaling a startup into a thriving business is no easy feat. Many entrepreneurs find themselves stuck in the "start" phase, unable to make the...

Funding Your Startup the Right Way

Venture capital (VC) is often seen as the golden ticket for startup success, but is it really the best funding option for your business?...

Lean Startup Strategies

This week, Dr. Kenan Sahin, an MIT professor and serial entrepreneur, and author of Lean Startup, Lean Company, Rich Exit: The Guidebook shared his...