Best 10 Finance Movies and Documentaries for Startups to Watch

These finance movies take us a glimpse into the world of entrepreneurship, where they highlight the challenges, triumphs, and setbacks that entrepreneurs face when they build and run a business. Moreover, each finance movie explores financial concepts, market dynamics, and strategic decision-making. They shed light on topics such as fundraising, risk assessment, market analysis, and navigating complex financial landscapes. Business owners must have common traits of successful entrepreneurs who can gain insights into these areas, helping them make more informed decisions for their own ventures. It benefits business owners who can learn valuable lessons in leadership and teamwork, which can be applied to organizations. 

Furthermore, these lists of inspiring finance movies often feature resilience, determination, and innovation stories. As a business owner, it can be your source of inspiration and to, remind the possibilities that lie ahead, and encourage you to persevere in the face of challenges.

1. Too Big to Fail 2011

The screenplay was adapted from the same-titled non-fiction book written by financial journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin. In the best finance movie, major players in the government and financial institutions discussed the actions and decisions made during the crisis, including the character’s efforts to prevent the downfall of financial institutions by Lehman Brothers and AIG. Too Big to Fail dramatically portrays the events that unfolded during one of the most significant financial crises in recent history.

2. The Big Short 2015

The highlight of this best finance movie, The Big Short, is a story of people who predicted and made money from the financial crisis by betting against the housing market. It exposes the fraud and recklessness in the financial industry and shows how ordinary people were affected by the crisis. Hence, you must watch this best movie for finance since it will show how business works for others to succeed and how greed will affect you. 

3. Margin Call 2011

One of the best finance movies, a must-watch for entrepreneurs also. In this best finance movie, a group working at an investment bank discovers that the company faces a massive problem because of bad investments in mortgage-backed securities. Later on, they face moral and ethical dilemmas and experience the ruthless nature of the financial industry. It will state how greed, risk-taking, and short-term thinking led to the financial crisis. The film gives a glimpse into the intense pressure and difficult decisions those involved in high-stakes trading face.

4. Money For Nothing: Inside the Federal Reserver 2013 Documentary

The documentary provides a glimpse at the Federal Reserve and shows the most important thing it does to shape the economy. Moreover, you will learn how the Federal Reserve plan, how to make a decision making that works, what it does to the economy, and the struggles it faces, especially during the 2008 financial crisis.

5.  Maxed out documentary

The documentary is all about the issue of consumer debt in the United States. Moreover, It evaluates excessive credit card debt and predatory lending practices. Also, the cycle of debt affects individuals and families and their struggles. At the end of this best finance documentary, it will help you see the light on the societal and economic implications of how wide consumer debt consume every individual.

6. Rougue trader 1999

Based on a true story, “Rogue Trader” focuses on the downfall of Nick Leeson, a young, ambitious worker at Barings Bank. He made risky and unauthorized trades that caused the bank to collapse. The movie deals with the consequences of his actions and the ethical issues surrounding rogue trading, which means making trades without permission. His actions led to a big financial loss and legal trouble.

7. The start-up kids 2012

In this documentary of young entrepreneurs in the tech industry, as they build and launch their startups, you will also see how they manage financial problems. Moreover, this documentary highlights the experiences, challenges, and successes given the facts and pieces of information of how an entrepreneurial mindset and the dynamics of the startup ecosystem. The end of this documentary indeed gives you chills and provides inspiration and valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs.

 8. Something Ventured Documentary 2011

Another documentary of the early days of digital businesses when they were still starting. Also, it focuses on venture capitalists responsible for contributing money and assistance to innovative startups like Apple, Intel, and Cisco. This documentary teaches you about how some investments require taking risks and how to help businesses grow. Furthermore, this documentary shows the significance of early-stage investment and its influence on the corporate and technological world.

9. The Call of the Entrepreneur

The story of three entrepreneurs’ challenges, motivations, and societal contributions. You will see the values of entrepreneurship, innovation, and the importance of free enterprise in driving economic growth. It showcases how these entrepreneurs took risks and created businesses that positively impacted the economy. Moreover, it would help if you noted how they handle their finances. 

10. Inside Job 2010

The documentary shows how greed, risk-taking, and questionable ethics were widespread in the financial industry during that time. It reveals how mortgage lenders, investment banks, and credit rating agencies played a part in creating and promoting risky financial products like mortgage-backed securities and collateralized debt obligations (CDOs).

Takeaways

In business, financial management, capital, and fundings are very important aspects of building your business. That’s why it is required to know the best legal structuring to choose for small businesses or big companies. Instead, hire bookkeepers and a team of skillful accountants to manage and track records. Apart from that, you can avoid those problems in many ways if you have the right people. Therefore, it’s necessary to know the small business mistakes that should be avoided.