I’ve seen a few movies over the years that have delivered some important, invaluable lessons about the business world unto me.

Here is Volume One of my collection of the top bestest business movies ever and how/why they have resonated with me.

Most of my first choices (for my first list on the topic) revolve around pretty straight-forward, main-stream role models in rags-to-riches stories; however, as I work on Volume Two and Three and so on, some of my choices may be kind of surprising (to both of us).

My criteria: any format (fiction, documentary, docu-drama), any length (short, mini-series, multi-part/serial); my feeling that the film imparts some kind of value, useful inspiration, lesson or insight into marketing.


10. The Hudsucker Proxy (1994)

This flick has a longstanding group of fans, of which I am one, who appreciate the story’s creative quirks and eccentric characters. In it, we follow the rise of an underdog to the head of his manufacturing company via inventing the sensation seen below.

This movie is a fun-house mirror reflection back on the business anecdotes and legends that some of us grew up on.

There are heaps of great scenes like this that are all centered on the rise and fall of those marketing their widgets.

This movie obviously resonates to those, like myself, who started their careers at the bottom-rung of major corporations. Every dreamer and entrepreneur can relate to the determination enacted by the picture’s hero, of constantly having his vision misunderstood and rejected. Of course, he is our hero because he stands by his vision despite all of this (until eventually, as seen above, the world see’s it, too).

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110074/


9. Tucker: The Man and his Dream (1988)

 

This picture had a pretty big impact on me  as a little kid when it was released. I was instantly drawn into the trailers promising two things: really cool classic cars that I’d never seen before; and, a David v. Goliath picture with an interesting looking guy playing the David archetype.

In the story, Tucker (Jeff Bridges) feverishly pursues his life’s passion of designing and running his own line of automobiles. The story follows his quest against his big business and government enemies. Great inspiration here per spirit, persistence, ingenuity and sheer courage.

As someone who’s interested in challenger brands and underdog stories (like that of Canada’s own Bricklin cars), this is an obvious choice for Part One of this list. Preston Tucker was a devout post-war innovator. His pioneering car was economical, safe and (most notably) really cool.

An automotive Steve Jobs of the industry and era, Tucker’s car had features, advantages and benefits that were ahead of their time: disc brakes, 4-wheel independent suspension, an air-cooled engine in back, a padded dashboard, a safety windshield, seatbelts and (most famously) a third-eye center headlight that aimed in the direction you were steering.

Of course, most importantly, Tucker was an amazing marketer, as showcased in the film. Despite earning widespread excitement and demand for his new line of cars, the powerful American auto industry successfully blocked their production and sale.

Don’t worry, though: David slays Goliath in the end and everyone lived happily ever after.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096316/


8. Flash of Genius (2008)

Twenty years later, Flash of Genius brings us a similar story (in the same industry) in the same genre and theme. In this David v. Goliath death-match, our hero is Robert Kearns, an American inventor: his quest is to slay Detroit automakers who have stolen his idea for the intermittent windshield wiper.

This picture speaks to the heart of marketing innovation: in finding a hole in the marketplace that needs a solution, of improving upon something ordinary to make something exciting and sale-able; as un-glamorous as windshield wipers might seem, this story encapsulates the essence of marrying creativity with technology to change marketplaces in profound ways.

A number of my family members have made their livings from the sale of their ideas, their intellectual property. Throughout my childhood, I watched my father contend with companies over the occasional theft and misuse of the rights to his works. And, in working in the industry now, myself, I have to deal with having had my owns ideas taken from me (or challenged as my own). This movie reminds me that we’re not alone in this struggle and that making every effort to protect your ideas is a worthwhile/necessary pursuit.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1054588/


7. Startup.com (2001)

To say that this doc had an impact on me is an understatement. I watched it at a distance years ago on TV but just recently watched it again. It was so good and relevant to what we’re doing in the 3.0, 4G era that it’s almost required-viewing for anyone reading this.

The movie spans a couple of years, leading up to the dot com bust around 2000. It’s a look at the now-surreal 1.0 era of the Internet’s first few years of commercialization: everyone creating dot com’s and raising heaps of seed money with a baffling level of ease. Startup.com follows the creation of govWorks, a website for paying government-centric bills.

What I found strangest and most alarming of all in re-watching the movie recently was the quest to find any of these people and their multimillion-dollar ventures today. With the advantage that 2010 brings with a netbook and Wi-Fi, viewers can Google along with the movie to discover nascent placeholder sites where these giants once stood. Literally, they’re nowhere to be found: enter dust bale blowing by, frame right.

Tens of millions of dollars lost on these ventures, the blood and sweat and tears and relationships ruined, sleepless nights programming and preparing pitches, and what? Where are their competitors like EZgov and LinkToGov? What’s to show for it all?

An amazing journey showcasing amazing pioneers and adventurers (all captured on video).

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0256408/


6. Minority Report (2002)

The concepts and art direction has been written about extensively since the picture’s release. Many in our industry consistently reference the advertising of the future illustrated in the move, below. The themes and imagery are so thoughtful, the ideas so realistically obtainable, that they deserve an entire website unto themselves.

I find myself referencing it at least once a week with clients. It allowed for many of us to debate how brands will engage with us, or won’t, moving forward.

As a harbinger of emerging communications technology, this movie is a benchmark for the potential of what marketers can (and will) achieve.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0181689/


5. Tetris: From Russia With Love (2004)

The ultimate underdog story, I have watched this doc about two or three times is as many recent years. It is the fascinating recollection of the fabled rise of one of the world’s most popular media titles in history, the game Tetris.

Here, we get to not only hear from the game’s creator itself about the trials and tribulations about developing the game in Soviet Russia, behind the Iron Curtain. What I find as interesting is the amazing story of the American distributor who discovered the game and tried, against seemingly insurmountable odds, to bring the game from Russia to the masses.

The tactics, relationships and characters in this movie can provide an invaluable education to today’s marketing innovator.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0409371/


4. Pirates of Silicon Valley (2000)

This is a must-see for anyone interested in tech and/or marketing: it tells the origins of the Microsoft/Apple saga. Although it was made-for-tv and/or straight-to-video, has some times where it’s a little corny and low-budget, it still has a large following for its creative perspective on the story.

Seeing some of the biggest moments in business history re-enacted is amazing in its own right. An example is when young Bill Gates (David) manipulates IBM (Goliath) in the DOS deal.

The perseverance portrayed in this film are a great reason to spend 90 minutes on it, to see what kind of dedication it takes to become a king.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0168122/


3. Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)

 

This is an obligatory choice.

This is the one that everyone in business makes a reference to at some point.

The essence of the famous Alec Baldwin scene, his sales formula, has been played-out a thousand times to real sales teams I have been on or lead. I have had that boss and I have had to be that boss (and the boss from The Office, but that’s another post for another day).

Similar to some of the movies listed in the Bonus section (crime dramas), below, Glengarry’s plot focuses on the rough life and times of group of real estate salesmen and the lengths they will go to to succeed.

Because it captures the desperation of living off of commissions and pounds some integral sales realities into your head, this movie has an impact on me as entrepreneur more than most, I imagine.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104348/

2. Bowfinger (1999)

I love this movie from a career perspective for so many levels: like MadMen, I can relate to the industry scenarios portrayed; it’s story about someone struggling to make a living at what they love, film; the technical references and jokes are especially funny to anyone in the media world.

In the comedy, Bobby Bowfinger (Steve Martin) risks everything to produce a corny sci-fi movie. Without any cash or connections, Bowfinger gathers a makeshift cast and crew and “borrows” equipment from a movie studio.

The only thing he lacks to make his dream film a reality is Hollywood’s biggest star, Kit Ramsey (Eddie Murphey). When Kit refuses, Bowfinger refuses to fail and does what it takes to complete the movie: secretly filming Kit and his look-alike brother.

This level of determination, guts and action really resonate with me per what I had to muster when starting in the industry: I have found that the one constant in my successes to date has been the “whatever it takes” attitude shown in this funny flick.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0131325/


1. The Century of Self (2002)

Just hit Play, below.

It will change your mind about how we change our minds.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0432232/


BONUS: Any Great Organized Crime Drama!

For obvious ethical reasons, I thought that I should lump all of these movies together from the start. Moreover, because their focus is on illegitimate business, their “golden nuggets” are pretty few and far between, respectively.

Movies of this genre, include white collar stories like Wall Street and Boiler Room, gang racket flicks like New Jack City, and of course the mob flicks like The Godfather trilogy and Goodfellas; they always seem to make lists like this and others because of the nature of organized crime (being business-centric, albeit illicitly).

Alongside the entertaining moral and criminal themes of these often exciting and gritty dramas we are frequently given insightful scenes: these narrative or expository nuggets of wisdom, while often humorous, may give you a reminder about street-level best practices.

One scene that has always stuck with me is DeNiro’s “Blueberry Muffin” dialogue, below, from Casino. Success is rooted in your approaching both the smallest details to the largest issues of a product/service with an equal passion and sense of ownership, real ownership.

If that’s not a lesson we can all learn from, fuggetaboudit.