Most of us enjoy losing ourselves in a gripping documentary. But while true crime might be dominating living rooms right now, there’s a swathe of business films and series out there that hold valuable lessons for boardrooms too.
“Documentaries about business” might sound a little dry – trust us – there’s some riveting ones out there, even if the subject matter isn’t strictly ‘all business’.
We’ve put together a list of the best docs to watch to boost your business acumen along with examples of how to get started, and how not to start (we all secretly love the schadenfreude of watching a disaster, don’t we?).
1. Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Just the name ‘Enron’ alone has become synonymous with a business cautionary tale, ever since the Texas based energy and commodities company infamously declared bankruptcy in 2001. In order to pay their high-flying corporate salaries, the top brass at Enron resorted to some shady business practices, to say the least.
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room is a fascinating look at corporate greed run amok, and an important lesson in not letting arrogance and vanity define your organisational culture. These guys clearly missed the “Don’t Be Evil” memo from Google’s company values.
2. American Factory
The American dream meets the Chinese work ethic. American Factory explores what happens when salt-of-the-earth Ohio factory workers go to work for a Chinese tech billionaire. Defining company culture is always a big hurdle for any business, and this might just be one of the most extreme, and fascinating, examples out there.
It would be reductive to boil American Factory down to just a rote lesson on “culture clash”. It’s a poignant and moving look at globalisation, wealth divide and the state of US industrialisation. For entrepreneurs, it provides some acute insight into how at the heart of your business is the people working for you, and why your leadership style is so vital.
3. Jiro: Dreams of Sushi
Want to start a successful business? You need a quality product. The film focuses on sushi-master Jiro Ono, owner of then three-Michelin star Sukiyabashi Jiro restaurant, and how he strives for perfection in his work.
Jiro: Dreams of Sushi is a charming watch, but it also has valuable lessons to impart about precision and pride in the product you’re putting out into the world. When you’re charging hundreds of pounds per plate, you need an exceptional customer experience too! A doc to make your mouth water, as well sharpen up your business skills.
4. FYRE: The Greatest Party that Never Happened
Billy McFarland has been making headlines again after announcing Fyre Festival 2. A music festival aimed at those who have never heard of the phrase “fool me once…”. McFarland promised festival-goers an exotic luxury experience. But upon arrival at the island resort, they quickly discovered that reality was far from the marketing spiel. Fyre Festival offers a masterclass in how not to run an enterprise.
Overpromising and under-delivering is a common killer for new businesses and entrepreneurs. Just avoid the blueprint set by McFarland and his brainchild, the Fyre Festival, and you’re off to a strong start. McFarland was a self-serving con artist, disregarding the advice of those around him, leading to inevitable disaster. To run a business successfully, it is good teamwork that makes the dream work.
5. Startup.com
Not to be confused with the fabulous Startups.co.uk, a documentary that is now a time-capsule capturing the dotcom boom of the early 2000s, Startup.com gives a detailed look at the life-cycle of a business. It provides a looking glass into how precarious going into business for yourself can be.
Now over two decades old it might seem dated, but the lessons are timeless. Even with the best intentions, things can go wrong, and fast. That’s why you need a rock-solid contingency plan for your business. Startups.com stands as a sobering document on the mistakes that can curse a business, the problems with working your best pals, and how quickly the ground can disappear from under you.
6. Inside Bill’s Brain: Decoding Bill Gates
Considering he’s currently the world’s second richest man, and one of the most influential businessmen of all time, there’s not much that a budding entrepreneur couldn’t learn from Bill Gates. The series touches on Gates’s philanthropy, his problem solving skills, his tumultuous business partnership with Paul Allen and how his childhood shaped his introverted leadership style.
Inside Bill’s Brain is a three-part Netflix series that gives us an insight into the Microsoft co-founders thought process, straight from the horse’s mouth, and delves into what makes the billionaire business guru tick. If you’ve got your sights set on becoming one of the most influential entrepreneurs of all time, it only makes sense to learn from the best.
7. Indie Game: The Movie
Following four indie game developers, Indie Game: The Movie is an inspirational look at self-belief, creativity, and how you don’t need a huge staff or millions in funding to get your idea off the ground and into reality.
For any entrepreneurs dragging themselves through development hell, and feeling like there’s no light at the end of the tunnel, prepare to be inspired by developer Jonathan Blow and his uphill struggle to complete his passion project Braid. A uplifting exemplar in how you can find meaning in your work.
What next?
Now those neurons are firing and inspiration is taking flight, you can look at our guide to 101 small business ideas to help you get started on your next venture.
If you want even more media to help you along your startups journey, you can also check out our roundup of the top podcasts for small business owners.
Or, just listen to Speaking of Startups, the brand new podcast from Startups.co.uk. Our very first episode is with Two Chicks founders, Anna Richey and Alla Ouvarova.
