Business: there are a lot of ups and downs to running one, getting one started, and the journey business owners undertake. The best business movies on Netflix and other platforms grab the audience’s attention for roughly two hours and share valuable stories and key takeaways.
The following list of the best movies includes a mix of fictional stories, true stories, horror films, and documentaries on businesses.
While these films may not be your gritty, noir-esque Quentin Tarantino film, nor your heartwarming yet charming Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio they are just as entertaining!
With that in mind, here’s the scoop on the best business movies on Netflix!
Best Business Movies on Netflix
Perhaps you’ll find some new movies to watch here for your next night of binge-watching Netflix, or partake in the television shows listed at the end!
1. The Dilemma
The Dilemma follows two best friends and business partners, Ronny and Nick, played by Vince Vaughn and Channing Tatum respectively. The movie also shows their up-and-coming success with a deal that could change the trajectory of their business.
However, everything comes to a crashing stop in this American romantic comedy when Ronny learns a scandalous secret Nick’s wife has been hiding from them both. This very secret is threatening the emotional health of the business.
2. Burnt
Burnt is a fictional story that shows a once-famous chef attempting to regain his lost acclaim in the cooking world. Bradley Cooper plays this film’s main character, who single-handedly destroyed his career in a series of poor choices.
This is a tale of rising to fame after once being famous and overcoming one’s past along the way.
3. The Laundromat
The Laundromat is a Netflix Original that shows a widowed woman (Meryl Streep) on her journey to regain the money she was swindled out of upon her husband’s death.
Her journey leads her to well-to-do lawyers, hiding her cash for their clients.
Meryl Streep portrays a comedic spin on honesty in the business world, pursuing what is rightfully hers.
4. Tower Heist
Tower Heist, starring Eddie Murphy, Ben Stiller, and Casey Affleck, follows a rich businessman and a crook breaking into a luxurious condo to steal back the businessman’s stolen retirement funds.
5. The Power of Dog
The Power of Dog, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Kodi Smit-McPhee, portrays a rancher who balances business and familial affairs.
This movie was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, and rightfully so!
6. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery follows Detective Benoit Blanc, played by Daniel Craig, who starts unraveling a murderous mystery.
After a massively wealthy novelist dies, his family is left to sort through his will, whilst being on Detective Blanc’s list of top suspects for the murder.
Director Rian Johnson works alongside Daniel Craig, Janelle Monáe, and Eddie Murphy to depict this enthralling New York City mystery for glory!
7. Stowaway
This dramatic film follows three astronauts dealing with a surprise fourth crewmember on their journey to Mars.
Anna Kendrick’s character, Zoe Leven, and her fellow crewmates need to quickly reassess their plan of action for survival for this surprise stowaway jeopardized their mission.
8. The Pursuit of Happyness
The Pursuit of Happyness is a fictional story showing single father Chris Gardner, played by Will Smith, navigating the world of stockbroking in the corporate world.
As he rises to acclaim, Chris Gardner also takes care of his young son, played by Jaden Smith.
As audience members watch Chris Gardner gain business acclaim, they are brought to tears in the heartfelt scenes on screen. This film is worthy of Will Smith’s Academy Award nomination in 2007 for his portrayal!
His portrayal truly depicted his character’s pursuit of happiness in Pursuit of Happyness.
9. Rising High
Rising High is a German film following a young Berliner and his shady friend turning the property market on its head.
When suddenly, in their business life, their desires for good times end up being a threat to erase all of the progress they have made.
This film explores the balance between fast and loose business ideas and their longevity.
10. Trust No One: The Hunt for the Crypto King
In the cut-throat cryptocurrency exchange business, Trust No One: The Hunt for the Crypto King tells the story of the unexpected death of a creator of a failing cryptocurrency and the backlash investors and investment firm gave upon the news of their death.
However, investors suspect there is more to the death than meets the eye, hiding shady business tactics to get out of dodge.
11. Our Father
Our Father is a documentary that highlights a fertility fraud scheme that took place in Indianapolis where a fertility doctor unknowingly impregnated several of his patients.
This scheme is unveiled when a young woman, a child of this scheme, takes a DNA test that reveals a multitude of half-siblings she was previously unaware of.
This documentary shows the fraudulent side of business, warning viewers to be wary of unsavory business practices.
12. Coded Bias
Coded Bias is a scandalous investigation into MIT’s Media Lab. The movie uncovers biases codes that were made to hold in facial recognition technology.
This documentary highlights the lack of a boundary between personal beliefs and innovation, unveiling personal prejudices impacting new bleeding-edge technology.
Will these biases ultimately harm business success? Find out and watch one of the best business movies Coded Bias on Netflix!
13. Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened
Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened is based on a true story, documenting the ins and outs behind the failed music festival.
Hosted by Billy Mcfarland, the festival was meant to take place on a private island with luxurious amenities for participants to partake in. However, the festival crashed and burned due to improper management.
This film serves as a stark reminder that, no matter the number of promises a business person’s idea makes, the delivery of their promises is what determines their success. It has been like this for a long time.
14. Skandal! Bringing Down Wirecard
Skandal! Bringing Down Wirecard tells the story of a group of journalists taking note of a financial firm, Wirecard.
In their investigation, the journalists end up exposing the fraudulent practices of the company that led it to its success.
Wirecard hit the scene hard and fast and almost ran away scott-free with its riches in this re-telling of a tale of financial crisis.
15. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind retells the true story of a boy named William Kamkwamba, who built wind turbines to help his African village survive through a severe drought and famine.
His feat of ingenuity saved lives, as do many other business ventures.
16. The Woman King
The Woman King, starring Viola Davis, follows a group of all-female warriors in the 1800s. They do everything it takes to protect their livelihood from enemies.
This film shows the business side of politics, negotiating and fighting when need be.
17. The Irishman
The Irishman, directed by The Wolf of Wall Street’s Martin Scorsese, reflects on the secrets character Frank Sheeran, (Robert De Niro) kept while working alongside the infamous Bufalino Crime Family.
After all, crime family is business, no?
This business film shows the messier side of crime families. The film provides a view of the cut-throat nature some experience while navigating the world of businesses. It also has a star-studded cast, including Al Pacino, Jesse Plemons, and Joe Pesci.
18. American Gangster
American Gangster follows a drug kingpin in 1970s Harlem. The detective is in a moral battle between growth and justice, despite one having a criminal history.
This film asks its audience to consider the lengths one is willing to go to just to see their successes unveil before them.
19. American Hustle
American Hustle is a biographical drama based on a true story, starring Christian Bale, where a con man and his significant lover aid an FBI agent in exposing early-1980s Congress corruption.
This cut-throat deal between two clashing ideologies shows what lengths some business individuals are willing to go to not only pursue a morally just route in life but also, success in their career.
20. The Departed
The Departed follows an undercover cop, (Leonardo diCaprio) sneaking into Boston’s infamous Irish mob, per his boss’s orders (Matt Damon).
In this gritty mobster film, directed by Martin Scorsese, audiences are on the edges of their seats watching a young cop navigate the world of the criminal business.
21. The Dirt
The Dirt is a biographical movie of Mötley Crüe, showing four misfits from Los Angeles and their rise to musical stardom.
Along the way, they face the highs and lows of stardom. They are also tasked with the challenge to navigate the road carefully to not sacrifice their reputation and status as international stars in this biographical comedy-drama.
22. Worth
Worth is an intimate consideration of the worth humans put on life itself. The film sees actor Michael Keaton play a lawyer post-9/11, tasked with putting a monetary cost on the lives lost that day.
Based on a true story, Worth reminds us of the true reason businesses see the success they do and the moral of the story of humans: humanity.
23. Jobs
Jobs, as the film title may suggest, is based on the story of Steve Jobs and his challenges while developing Apple. Steve Jobs, played by Ashton Kutcher, has dropped out of college to forge his way into the up-and-coming Silicon Valley.
As the character of Steve Jobs faces loneliness, we are reminded of the balance Steve Jobs used to progress his career and social networking life simultaneously.
With success comes sacrifice, but success can only come with balance.
24. The Founder
The Founder is based on the success story behind the now-famous fast food chain, Mcdonald's.
Michael Keaton and Nick Offerman star in this film as Ray Kroc and Dick McDonald to help showcase the rise to fame this famous chain experienced after a few smart business moves.
This film is a true rags-to-riches tale, showing the harsh beginnings McDonald's and the McDonald brothers faced before striking gold in the world of business.
25. White Hot: The Rise & Fall of Abercombie & Fitch
White Hot: The Rise & Fall of Abercombie & Fitch takes its viewers back to the early 2000s, documenting the rise of the well-known brand Abercombie & Fitch and its reputation among teens.
All good things must come to an end, though, and this Netflix documentary also retells and recaps the downfall of the brand.
26. Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal, and Greed
Bob Ross was a happy-go-lucky painter, hosting a show that encouraged his viewers to paint alongside him. In this happy scene, he created a business empire that soon overshadowed the happy feelings his show evoked.
The battle for control over Bob Ross’s painting empire starkly contrasts the tone of his show, as is revealed in the true documentary Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal, and Greed.
27. Untold: The Rise and Fall of And1
And1 was a popular basketball shoe brand. This brand brought local basketball icons to stardom by using them as symbols for their company.
However, the brand came crashing down suddenly in the early 2000s. This insightful documentary unravels the reasons for the company’s fame and misfortune.
28. The Good Nurse
Nurse Amy Loughren (Jessica Chastain) is surprised to find out her colleague was found guilty of the murder of several patients, and avoided punishment along the way.
This film showcases the horror of business malpractice where success is vital, such as the medical field.
29. Athlete A
Athlete A is a documentary based on a famous United States gymnastics doctor. Larry Nassar exposes his abuse of young girl athletes in his practice.
The exposure of his abuse ultimately led to the unraveling of the toxicity within the USA’s Gymnastics realm. This also shows an imbalance between success, personal life, and wellbeing.
30. Hustle
Hustle follows a down-on-his-luck basketball scout, played by Adam Sandler, finding his potential next star in Spain.
As the scout and star make their way to stardom, they have to make the right moves to ensure the basketball player’s spot in the NBA. With some smart moves, will the duo make it to stardom?
31. Jerry Maguire
Jerry Maguire (played by Tom Cruise) is tired of his job as a sports agent. He is pursuing one last client to hopefully regain the love he once had for his career along the way. The loyalty of his client has guided them both on a path to success.
This film shows that everybody has the chance to make it big, as long as they find the right people to do it with!
33. Rocky
Rocky is a classic film that is well-known among die-hard movie fans! This movie focuses on a young boxer named Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) who gets a career-changing opportunity to fight a world-champion boxer.
Rocky throws himself at his sport, putting in the hard work, and training to be ready and win his fateful match.
33. The Social Dilemma
The Social Dilemma is a hybrid documentary and hybrid experience, exploring the harmful ways social media has on modern-day teenagers.
This film asks its viewers to consider their pursuits to “make it big” and what they are willing to do to go down a better way.
34. The Great Hack
Based on a true story, the documentary The Great Hack outlines the rise to infamy data company Cambridge Analytica was subjected to. In the wake of the 2016 Presidential Election, Cambridge Analytica symbolized a sinister side to social media.
This film shows viewers a cautionary tale that, while a business can positively impact the world and its clients, the same can be said about a business harming the world and its reputation too.
In this case, it was the CEOs of social media giants, such as Mark Zuckerberg, who were used as an example.
35. Return to Space
With the turn of the century, flying to outer space slowly faded into irrelevancy. Several businesses involving space travel faded into the background of popular culture.
With prominent space thinkers like the late Stephen Hawking in mind, Return to Space documents Elon Musk working alongside his company, SpaceX.
This company wants to revolutionize modern-day space travel by returning astronauts to space, making space once again relevant today. This is quite an ambitious business idea.
36. André & His Olive Tree
André & His Olive Tree is a documentary hosted by Michelin-star chef, André Chiang, who reflects on his culinary journey and his path to forge himself as a recognizable figure in the cooking business.
As his career comes to an end, Chiang recalls the turmoil and successes he found himself face-to-face with as his work continued.
37. Brené Brown & The Call to Courage
Professor Brené Brown, in her self-titled documentary, recalls her rise in branding through her trials and tribulations in this heartwarming documentary.
On her path, she recalls one noteworthy lesson she learned: to choose courage over comfort every single time.
38. Get Smart with Money
It seems like every day there are talks on the news about what to do with your money. They use terms that the average Joe isn’t familiar with.
However, the documentary Get Smart with Money is hosted by several financial advisors, giving viewers a crash course on how to manage their wealth and use their money wisely.
39. Yes Man
Starring Carl Allen, this romantic film is about a bank loan officer who has to participate in a self-help program.
Once he meets a woman named Allison, his whole perspective on life begins to change. This movie is based on the 2005 memoir by Denny Wallace.
Recommended TV Shows About Business
We hope you enjoy these great movies and documentaries! If you’re in the mood for TV shows in your free time, check out Money Explained, The Playlist: Spotify Untold, The Billion Dollar Code, Trainwreck: Woodstock ‘99, and Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker.
Best Business Movies Guide
If you’re looking for other films that are not Netflix originals, try watching Social Network, or Inception starring Tom Hardy and Leonardo DiCaprio as Dom Cobb. Dom navigates the subconscious mind to steal secrets for his own gain, portraying this story alongside fellow actor Eddie Redmayne on Amazon Prime.
The Terminal is about a foreigner, played by Tom Hanks, who gets trapped in New York City’s JFK airport in this whirlwind tale of international politics, alongside costar Cillian Murphy).
In addition, The Big Short is a film that depicts several bankers, among them being one played by Brad Pitt that takes advantage of the impending 2008 crash to make a fortune.
The best business movies on Netflix offer viewers a variety of outlooks on businesses, from warnings on unsavory business practices to heartwarming stories.
With social media on the rise, businesses can expand even faster than ever before, making the mixture of pros and cons of business ownership a topic more prominent than ever. These top business movies make the perfect messenger for this!
Regardless, we hope you manage to sit back, relax, and enjoy some of the best Netflix movies and best content on your next movie night!
Get the scoop on more movies by visiting the ones below:
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Janet Green says
You must see Skandal! Bringing Down Wirecard if you are a real crime and espionage illuminati. If you enjoyed reading the epic fact based spy thriller "Beyond Enkription" in The Burlington Files series you should love watching James Erskine’s Skandal! Bringing Down Wirecard on Netflix and vice versa. The Burlington Files was about a British Chartered Accountant (MI6 codename JJ, aka Edward Burlington) who was employed by Coopers & Lybrand (now PwC) in the seventies.
He was one of Pemberton’s People in MI6 and unwittingly started working for them and infiltrating international organised crime gangs and then got good at it. His bio makes most investigative journalists jealous! If you are an espionage aficionado or an aspiring investigative journalist the raw and noir thriller Beyond Enkription is a must read. For starters, see the brief News Article dated 31 October 2022 in TheBurlingtonFiles website.